Ready for new season Kuhl is healthy after dealing with an assortment of injuries during his first season back from Tommy John surgery in 2020, Kevin Gorman of TribLive.com reports. Impact Kuhl went 2-3 with a 4.27 ERA and 1.36 WHIP in 46.1 innings in 2020. Subtract the Pirates' 11-0 loss at Kansas City on Sept. 13 -- when Kuhl, bothered by a bleeding blister and cuticle, allowed nine earned runs on four hits and six walks in 2.1 innings -- and his ERA drops to 2.77. The righty's fastball velocity (94.1 mph) dipped slightly in 2020, but he nearly doubled his slider usage (34.9 percent) while relying on his fastball less than ever (43.9 percent). While Kuhl has a chance to outperform his expected performance, he did benefit from a .235 BABIP against him last season, well lower than his .305 career mark.
FEBRUARY 24, 2021 • ROTOWIRE