The Pirates named pitcher Jeff Locke as the fifth starter in the rotation Monday, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.
Locke wasn't at his best this spring, giving up 10 earned runs in 13 2/3 innings while posting a 9:5 K:BB ratio, but he is still set to open the season in the rotation. He went 7-6 with a 3.91 ERA and 89:40 K:BB ratio in 131 1/3 innings in 2014.Vance Worley
Vance Worley, who was Locke's primary competition for the role, will head to the bullpen after allowing 10 earned runs in 17 innings while striking out 11 and walking one.
"With these two men … we wrestled all over with this, right down to their ages. And they're both 27," Hurdle said. per MLB.com. "Both worked so hard and wanted to be the guy. We looked at the [time] Jeff has been in the [Pittsburgh] uniform. We feel that getting out of the gate, we wanted to start with Locke in the rotation."