Pirates A to Z: Dillon Peters added lefty arm to starting rotation that struggled to stay healthy

During the offseason, the Tribune-Review will offer Pirates A to Z: An alphabetical player-by-player look at the 40-man roster, from outfielder Anthony Alford to pitcher Miguel Yajure.

Player: Dillon Peters

Position: Pitcher

Throws: Left

Bats: Left

Age: 29

Height: 5-foot-11

Weight: 190 pounds

2021 MLB statistics: Peters was 1-2 with a 3.71 ERA and 1.35 WHIP in 26 2/3 innings over six starts.

Contract: Not eligible for arbitration until 2024.

Acquired: In a trade from the Los Angeles Angels for cash considerations on July 19.

This past season: With Pirates pitchers spending more time on the injured list than in the starting rotation, Peters was added for depth and a lefty arm.

After spending two seasons with the Miami Marlins and two with the Angels, Peters was 2-2 with a 4.35 ERA in eight starts at Triple-A Salt Lake when he was designated for assignment. In 24 career starts in the majors, he was 7-8 with a 5.38 ERA.

“We’ve heard good things about him as a person,” Pirates manager Derek Shelton said. “It just adds to our starter depth throughout the organization. The ability to command the strike zone is something (Pirates baseball operations) isolated. That’s important. With left-handers who can do that, that can play.”

The Pirates cleared room for Peters on the 40-man roster by designating reliever Kyle Crick for assignment. They optioned Peters to Triple-A Indianapolis, where he was 1-0 with a 1.50 ERA in 12 innings over five appearances, including two starts. He was recalled Aug. 15, amid a stretch where the Pirates had lost 11 of 13 games.

Peters made history by becoming the 55th player for the Pirates, tying a franchise record. He gave up two runs (one earned) on five hits and three walks with three strikeouts on 75 pitches in 4 2/3 innings in a 2-1 loss to the Brewers.

“He did what we expected,” Shelton said. “He commanded the ball. He did a nice job of keeping a very right-handed lineup off balance.”

The Pirates liked Peters’ four-pitch mix, especially a curveball with a spin rate (2812 rpm) that ranked in the 88th percentile, per Statcast. His first start was good enough to earn another, especially with Bryse Wilson going on the IL with arm fatigue.

“I think he has some deception with the way he throws and with the way his ball moves, and he’s got good command,” Pirates catcher Jacob Stallings said. “Deception and command are a good combination. He didn’t have his best curveball today, but I think next time, when he, hopefully, has a better curveball, he’ll be even tougher.”

Peters credited Stallings for his pitch-calling in a 5-4 win to the Cardinals on Aug. 21, as he allowed one run on three hits and one walk while striking out three in five innings but got a no-decision. Peters threw 54 of his 72 pitches for strikes.

Peters relied on his changeup in a 4-3 loss to the Cardinals in his next start, as he pitched four scoreless innings before giving up an RBI double to Harrison Bader and a two-run homer to Tommy Edman.

“I just try to move my fastball around the zone, and that changeup looks appetizing,” Peters said. “It’s got some fade and some run, and just trying to get off the barrel. So I think it helps my fastball play up, and the changeup plays off the fastball, so back and forth we go.”

Peters went on the IL the next day, however, with a low back strain. He returned to pitch four innings in a 3-2 win over Detroit on Sept. 7, then earned his first victory as a Pirate in a 6-5 win over the Cincinnati Reds on Sept. 14, when he tossed 57 of 80 pitches for strikes and registered five strikeouts in five scoreless innings.

Here is the Pirates Performance that Made you Smile - brought to you by Eat n Park. https://t.co/h2vy4gQ9kw

Dillon Peters night against the Reds – 5 IP, 5 H, 0 ER, 1 BB, 5 K@EatnPark |@Pirates | #LetsGoBucs pic.twitter.com/BFcrCSk0bL

— AT&T SportsNet™ PIT (@ATTSportsNetPIT) September 15, 2021

“We’re going out there to attack hitters and stay ahead of hitters,” Peters said. “When you do that, you get ahead, you stay ahead and you’re gonna have some success against any lineup.”

Shelton credited Peters for effectively using his fastball and said it was “probably the best changeup we’ve seen him have since we acquired him.”

“He throws strikes, he pitches to contact and he executes pitches, and we got exactly what we needed out of him,” Shelton said. “We got five innings out of him. He did a nice job. He put the ball on the ground and executed pitches. Another solid showing for Dillon.”

The future: More than anything, Peters was pumped about getting a chance to show what he can do after falling out of favor with the Angels.

“Feels good, being at a place that’s giving me opportunity and support and help between starts,” Peters said. “Feels really nice to have a organization behind me.”

After a 9-5 loss to the Reds on Sept. 20, Peters finished the season on the IL. It’s no wonder his goal going into the offseason was to stay healthy enough to put himself in position to start next season.

Peters is one of 10 returning starters on the 40-man rotation, with Steven Brault the only other lefty. The Pirates agreed to a one-year, $2 million deal with another, Jose Quintana, on Sunday, so that adds to the competition.

“That’s for them to decide,” Peters said in late September. “I know that I’m ready to take the ball whenever I’m asked, and I’m gonna go out there and compete and go after guys. And if that’s for three innings or six innings, you’re going to get everything I got.”