39 Chad Kuhl RP

Kuhl (2-3) tossed seven scoreless innings to pick up the win against the Cubs on Thursday, allowing two hits and three walks while fanning five.

It was a fantastic final start for Kuhl, who will finish the year at 2-3 with a 4.27 ERA. The right-hander silenced the Cubs' offense in seven innings of work, allowing just two hits and three free passes. Aside from a poor outing Sept. 13 in which he allowed nine earned runs against Kansas City, Kuhl did not allow more than three earned runs in his other 10 appearances.

Kuhl (1-3) took the loss in the second game of Friday's doubleheader against the Cardinals, giving up four runs (one earned) on five hits and two walks over five-plus innings as the Pirates fell 7-2. He struck out six.

The Bucs committed three errors in the nightcap, leading to six unearned runs for the pitching staff. Kuhl still delivered a solid effort after blister issues cut short his last start, throwing 53 of 87 pitches for strikes, and he'll take a 5.03 ERA, 1.47 WHIP and 39:25 K:BB over 39.1 innings into his final outing of the season Thursday, at home against the Cubs. He did walk off the mound nursing his right hand with blood on his jersey, so there is a chance he could miss his final start.

The Pirates list Kuhl (finger) as their probable starter for the second game of Friday's doubleheader versus the Cardinals, Kevin Gorman of TribLive.com reports.

Kuhl's inclusion on Pittsburgh's pitching schedule is an indication that the blister and cuticle issues he experienced in his most recent outing Sept. 13 versus the Royals won't be much of a concern as takes the hill for his eighth start of 2020. Through his first seven starts, Kuhl has posted a 6.14 ERA, 1.47 WHIP and 28:20 K:BB over 29.1 innings.

Blister and cuticle issues to his right index finger likely contributed to Kuhl's poor pitching performance Sunday against the Royals, DK Pittsburgh Sports reports.

"As soon as we kind of figured out that I really couldn't throw a fastball, we just kind of showed it just for hoping it would end up in a good location," Kuhl said. The 28-year-old walked six batters while recording only seven outs. Pittsburgh's MLB-worst defense didn't do him any favors, either. As a result, it might be wise to keep Kuhl benched until he proves he's healthy.

Kuhl (1-2) allowed nine earned runs on four hits and six walks while striking out five across 2.1 innings to take the loss Sunday against the Royals.

Kuhl was in trouble from the outset of the start, as he walked three batters and threw a wild pitch in the opening frame, resulting in four earned runs. He was finally chased in the third inning after allowing two additional earned runs while also exiting the game with the bases loaded. After some positive outings to begin the campaign, Kuhl has walked 19 batters across his last 20.1 frames with the result being short and subpar starts. Overall, he has maintained a 5.50 ERA across 34.1 frames this season.

Kuhl allowed two runs on two hits and four walks across three innings against the Reds on Sunday. He struck out five.

Kuhl was limited to just three innings in large part because he issued four free passes. Although the start didn't go as he planned, the right-hander can feel good about the fact that he fanned five and didn't let the tilt get out of hand. He will look to work deeper into the game when he toes the rubber next Sunday in Kansas City.

Kuhl didn't factor into the decision Tuesday, giving up four runs (three earned) on six hits and two walks over four-plus innings in an 8-7 extra-innings loss to the Cubs. He struck out three.

The right-hander seemed headed for his second loss of the season, exiting the game after 86 pitches (51 strikes) with the Bucs down 6-1 by the end of the fifth inning. However, a rally on both sides of a lengthy rain delay got him off the hook. Kuhl will carry a 3.10 ERA, 1.21 WHIP and less impressive 23:13 K:BB through 29 innings into his next start Sunday, at home against the Reds.

Kuhl allowed one run on four hits and four walks across six innings pitched in Game 1 of Thursday's doubleheader against the Cardinals. He struck out one and did not factor in the decision.

The four walks are definitely a bit concerning for the right-hander, but he was still able to get through six frames while allowing just a solo homer to Yadier Molina. Kuhl will take a strong 2.52 ERA into Tuesday's start against the Cubs, or to another team if he's traded before the deadline.

Kuhl (1-1) allowed one run on two hits and three walks while striking out one over five innings as he earned the win Friday against the Brewers.

Kuhl was sharp over his first three appearances this season but failed to record a decision during that time. He struggled during his last turn through the rotation, but he held the Brewers in check Friday to pick up his first win of 2020. Overall, the right-hander has been much more effective to begin the season than he's been in the past, as he carries a 2.84 ERA and 1.00 WHIP over 19 innings. His next start should come on the road Thursday against the Cardinals as part of a doubleheader.

Kuhl (0-1) allowed three runs on four hits and a walk while striking out six over five innings. He took the loss in an 8-1 result against the Reds on Friday.

Kuhl started off the season as a primary reliever in a tandem with Steven Brault, but after both Joe Musgrove (triceps) and Mitch Keller (oblique) hit the IL with injuries, a spot in the rotation opened up for Kuhl to make at least one start. The 28-year-old right-hander was off to a good start prior to Friday's outing, allowing just two runs and striking out 12 over nine innings. If he recorded a quality start Friday, Kuhl may have been considered a lock to stick in the Pirate rotation for the foreseeable future. Now, he may have to prove to manager Derek Shelton that he belongs as a starter with a solid outing Wednesday at home against Cleveland.

Kuhl will start against the Reds on Friday, Alex Stumpf of DKPittsburghSports.com reports.

The right-hander has registered a 4.22 ERA in two career starts in Cincinnati, allowing five homers in 10.2 innings. Kuhl is off to a strong start in 2020, limiting opponents to two earned runs in nine innings with a 12:3 K:BB. He's dropped his fastball usage from 58.7 percent to 37.6 percent while increasing his breaking ball repertoire. He's benefited thus far from being deployed in a tandem with Steven Brault, but both pitchers will get the opportunity to make starts in Cincinnati this weekend. Expect Kuhl to be capped at around five innings in Friday's outing.

Kuhl allowed one run on one hit over four innings while striking out seven during Friday's 17-13 extra-innings loss to the Tigers. He didn't factor into the decision.

A second-inning solo shot by C.J. Cron was the only offense Detroit could muster against the right-hander, who was exceedingly sharp and threw 37 of 58 pitches for strikes before giving way to a far less effective Pittsburgh bullpen. Kuhl should lock himself into a rotation spot with this performance, but his win probability remains low until he can get fully stretched out. His next start is very tentatively scheduled for Wednesday in St. Louis.

Kuhl will start Friday's game against the Tigers, Adam Berry of MLB.com reports.

There was apparently an internal miscommunication where Steven Brault had been listed by the Pirates as the starter for that game, but it will instead go to Kuhl. Brault could still piggyback Kuhl if he remains on the roster. Kuhl went 1.1 innings in his most recent outing against the Cubs, so he should not be expected to go deep enough in this outing to qualify for the win.

Manager Derek Shelton said it was his "full expectation" that Kuhl (finger) would be available to pitch whenever his spot next comes up, DK Pittsburgh Sports reports.

The team has given no guidance as to whether Kuhl take the rotation spot of Mitch Keller (oblique) or continue to piggyback with Steven Brault or another pitcher. Coming off Tommy John surgery, Kuhl has appeared in two games, allowing one earned run in five innings.

Kuhl was removed from Sunday's game against the Cubs with an abrasion on his right index finger.

The 27-year-old covered 1.1 innings and allowed one run on two hits with one strikeout and one walk before leaving the game. Kuhl has been piggybacking off Steven Brault to begin the season, and his status for the next turn through the rotation remains unclear.

Kuhl was removed from Sunday's game against the Cubs with an apparent hand/finger injury, Adam Berry of MLB.com reports.

The right-hander appeared to be checking over his pitching hand throughout his outing, so he could be dealing with a blister or a similar issue. Kuhl allowed one run on two hits with one strikeout and one walk over 1.1 innings before exiting the contest.

Kuhl allowed three hits and two walks while striking out four over 3.2 scoreless innings of relief in Monday's 6-5 extra-inning loss to the Brewers.

Steven Brault got the start Monday and delivered two scoreless frames of his own, but it was Kuhl who was the more effective pitcher overall in the tandem. The right-hander tossed 55 pitches (33 strikes) and was in line for the win when he exited the game, although the 1-0 lead didn't survive eruptions from both offenses in the late innings. Kuhl and Brault are splitting the No. 5 starter spot for now, but if Kuhl continues to be the second man into the game, his win potential will make him the better fantasy asset of the duo.

Kuhl could combine with Steven Brault to serve as the team's fifth starter, pitching several innings in the same game, along with Brault, DK Pittsburgh Sports reports.

Kuhl has looked strong thus far during summer camp, with catcher Jacob Stallings referring to his repertoire as both "nasty" and "filthy." Manager Derek Shelton sounds more interested in making sure Kuhl gets enough innings, even though the righty's returning from Tommy John surgery. "Now, we don't have to worry about 162 games and how we're going to monitor that," Shelton said. "We have to worry about 60 games. My concern now would be, can we get him enough work? Can we get him enough innings?"

Kuhl was pleased with his results after throwing in an intrasquad game at Pirate City on Tuesday.

Pitching to mostly minor leaguers, Kuhl threw 32 pitches, including his entire repertoire. "I felt really good," he said. "I was able to work on a lot of things we've been working on in the bullpen." Kuhl is set up to pitch every fifth day and add an inning to his workload each time out. Although the organization hasn't officially stated whether the righty will be used as a starter or reliever, it's preparing him to operate as the former. There were no remarks concerning the decreased velocity which was reported in his last outing.

Kuhl pitched a scoreless inning Thursday but saw a drop in his fastball velocity, DK Pittsburgh Sports reports.

Kuhl, who averaged 96.3 mph with his fastball in 2018 (prior to Tommy John surgery), was sitting in the 92-93 mph range. It's possible he could simply be shaking off the rust in spring training, but since his best pitch is his fastball, the decrease in velocity is worth tracking.