Pirates 2023 season recaps: Starting pitching

The injuries

It had looked as though J.T. Brubaker, who threw 144 innings in 2022, was making strides in camp before he went down with an injury that eventually led to him having Tommy John surgery. Top 100 prospect Mike Burrows, who was on track to debut this year, followed suit a few weeks later.

Then off-season acquisition Vince Velasquez, who had an ERA in April of 3.06 in large part due to increased slider usage, left his start early in Tampa Bay on May 4th with elbow discomfort. He gave it a second go on May 27 in Seattle but had to leave early again. This time for good. Having season ending elbow surgery shortly after.

Three pitchers the Pirates were hopeful to at the very least eat a…