Jameson Taillon's refined delivery is already paying dividends

Last season, excess movement in Jameson Taillon’s delivery interfered with his command. A spring spent eliminating that movement appears to have paid off.

“Last year I felt like I had to fight to throw the ball where I wanted sometimes,” Taillon said Monday after striking out nine without walking a batter in his first start of the season, a 5-4 Pirates win. “And then so far, so good in spring training, and now where I feel like nothing's really holding me back.”

Taillon is probably the best starter in a Pirates rotation that includes only one veteran pitcher in Ivan Nova, and has already lost a starter to injury in Joe Musgrove. Chad Kuhl begins his second full year in the rotation, Trevor…