BRADENTON, Fla. — It was a day for coming attractions today at McKechnie Field. The 40 percent of the Pirates’ rotation that joined the team during the offseason, righty Ryan Vogelsong and lefty Jon Niese, pitched the first four innings of the Pirates’ 10-8 loss to the Toronto Blue Jays.
After the departure of A.J. Burnett and J.A. Happ, the Pirates signed Vogelsong and traded for Niese to restock a rotation that finished fifth in Major League Baseball in ERA last season. The Pirates saw similar things in both: A pitcher who had succeeded not long ago but struggled last season.