LOS ANGELES–When Luis Ortiz was sent down to Triple-A Indianapolis prior to Wednesday evening’s game, it slightly opened the door to the possibility of Roansy Contreras regaining a role in the starting rotation.
Such speculation can seemingly be put to rest, at least for the time being. Instead, discussing Contreras’ multitude of issues seems to be in order.
Contreras gave up four runs in a single inning of work in relief of starter Osvaldo Bido, in turn blowing a two-run lead against the Dodgers as the Pirates fell 6-4. Prior to a blow-up appearance against the Brewers on July 1, Contreras had settled into something of a groove, giving up only one run in the last 7 ⅓ innings he pitched in June.
After giving up a pair of home runs to J.D. Martinez and David Peralta in the loss, his season ERA has ballooned to 6.59 after back-to-back ineffective showings.
“I was just trying to find myself on the mound,” Contreras said postgame. “I’m trying to find control of my fastball. It’s the thing right now, just controlling my fastball.”
But location is hardly the only issue for Contreras’ fastball these days.
On Wednesday, his fastball velocity was down even on his season totals, registering on average at 93 mph and as low as 91.7, per Statcast. Manager Derek Shelton attributed the diminished speed to Contreras not working quick enough through his delivery, and that the pitch itself is too often over the middle of the plate.
The first home run that Contreras gave up, though, came on an 0-2 slider to Martinez. Contreras had issued back-to-back walks before getting ahead of Martinez and trying unsuccessfully to bury a slider that turned into a go-ahead three-run dinger.
“I wanted to throw it lower,” Contreras said. “But it stayed down the middle.”
Two pitches later, Peralta tattooed an inside fastball a tick under 93 mph for a solo shot, pushing the Dodgers’ advantage to the final tally of 6-4. Contreras said right now, he’s trying to focus on controlling his fastball instead of throwing it too hard.
The four-seamer he threw to Peralta, though, hovered over the black on the inside part of the plate to the lefty batter. It showed that not only is Conteras missing, but even if a pitch isn’t over the heart of the plate, it’s not coming firm enough to consistently retire MLB hitters.
"I think that's the inconsistency of the fastball,” Shelton said. “We have to make sure we're trying to figure out [how] to get back to not only the velo, but the execution."
Mentally, Contreras said he’s kept the confidence in himself even in the face of his current adversity. Rather than change his mindset, he sides with his manager that he needs to improve his mechanics to produce better results on the bump.
“I have to continue to feel confidence with my mechanics and trust my pitches and throw them in the strike zone to get good results,” Contreras said.
Regardless, Contreras’ regression in his second full MLB season has now reached new heights. Those struggles came to the forefront once more against the Dodgers as the Pirates plunged to six games below .500.
ON THE MOUND
Bido wiggled his way in and out of danger in giving up just two runs, but he lasted only four innings on the same day that Shelton pointed out that his starters haven’t been lasting particularly deep in games.
Bido struggled with his command, walking four batters and twice requiring a mound visit from pitching coach Oscar Marin. The Pirates’ bullpen had been asked to cover 8 ⅔ innings the previous two games, so a lengthy start from Bido would’ve been a huge boost.
Instead, Bido departed early, necessitating a reliever to eat a few innings. Even so, Shelton thought Bido did a good job for the most part through the first three innings before a walk-filled fourth.
"It was just like he lost his arm slot a little bit,” Shelton said. “For three innings it was really good, and then he was able to battle through the fourth. Just a little bit of inconsistency there."
AT THE PLATE
Unlike on the Fourth of July when the Pirates were able to rally from a late deficit, such a chore went unfulfilled.
The Pirates seriously threatened in both the seventh and ninth innings, each time loading the bases with nobody out. Each time, the Pirates stranded all three base runners.
Bryan Reynolds and Henry Davis both lined out sharply before Carlos Santana popped up to end the seventh. Davis then went down looking, Santana flew out to left and Jack Suwinski struck out swinging to close out the contest.
“In that situation, we understand, especially against a good ballclub like the Dodgers, we have to capitalize in those moments,” Andrew McCutchen said. “Not being able to do it, get it done, it's part of the reason we weren't able to win this tight ball game.”
The Pirates plated all four of their runs on homers, though, courtesy of Bryan Reynolds’ first four-bagger since June 18 and a three-run shot by Suwinski. Reynolds also nearly made it a two-homer night, roping a drive just foul down the right-field line that certainly had the distance if it were fair and would’ve put the Pirates up 7-6 in the ninth.
QUOTABLE
"Oh, I knew it was gone off the bat,” McCutchen said of Reynolds’ near-homer. “I just was hoping it'd stay fair and it just missed.”
UP NEXT
Johan Oviedo will start for the Pirates in the fourth and final game of their series in Los Angeles. He’s lost five straight decisions, last earning a win on May 19. Left-hander Julio Urias will toe the rubber for the Dodgers.
Andrew Destin: adestin@post-gazette.com and Twitter @AndrewDestin1.
First Published: July 6, 2023, 4:56 a.m.
Updated: July 6, 2023, 9:57 a.m.