Pirates name starting rotation, Correia takes lead

Kevin Correia signed with the Pirates in the offseason to fill the back of the starting rotation, but now he is going to lead it.

He will take the mound against the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field on April 1.

Correia may have been the least likely of candidates to head the Pirates’ rotation considering he came off a 2010 campaign in which he recorded a 5.40 era. In five starts this spring he has put up a 6.38 era, second worst among Pirates starting pitchers.

Paul Maholm will follow Correia and will start the team’s home opener against Colorado on April 7. Maholm posted a 5.10 era last season, but has played better this spring with a 4.50 era in five starts.

The next three in the rotation will be Ross Ohlendorf, Charlie Morton and James McDonald.

Ohlendorf has been the most consistent pitcher on the Pirates staff in the last two seasons, posting a 3.92 era in 2009 and 4.07 in 2010.

However, he has struggled this spring in four starts with a 10.24 era.

Morton was rocked by batters in 2011. He put up a 7.57 era, but improved this spring in four starts for a 1.29 era.

He has the best stuff on the club, but he has not been able to control it, often leaving breaking pitches hanging for batters to hit home runs.

McDonald is widely regarded as the Pirates’ most promising big league arm. With the Pirates last year he started 11 games for a 3.52 era, the lowest era for a Pirates’ starting pitcher since Zach Duke posted a 1.81 era in 2005.

McDonald is the number five starter due to an undisclosed injury. Making him the last man in the rotation to open the season will give him more time to recover and hopefully pitch.

This year’s the team’s success will depend heavily on the rotation. McDonald and Ohlendorf are the two young, promising arms, and their performance could help to stabilize the Pirates’ future.