Impressive Reliever With 1.86 ERA Named Pirates' Biggest Breakout Player

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The Pittsburgh Pirates are off to a solid start this season with a 35-34 record, backed by one of the most impressive offenses in baseball.

Pittsburgh's offense has led the way for the team this season, ranking near the top of the league in both runs scored and batting average. The pitching staff, however, has not been as proficient this season, especially out of the bullpen. Despite posting a bullpen 4.44 ERA, one of the Pirates' newest relievers is in the middle of an extremely impressive season.

Evan Sisk, 29, is boasting a 1.86 ERA with 36 strikeouts across 25 appearances. Bleacher Report's Tim Kelly named the sophomore reliever Pittsburgh's biggest breakout player this season.

"Evan Sisk posted a 3.57 ERA in 19 games between the Royals and Pirates last season as a 28-year-old rookie, so it's not as though there wasn't any evidence he could potentially stick in the majors," Kelly wrote on Thursday. "Still, it's pretty surprising the degree to which he's been effective this year, as the left-hander has a 1.29 ERA and 2.54 FIP in 23 games in 2026.

"Sisk isn't overpowering, as his fastball and cutter both sit around 91 mph. But he's found success against both left-handed and right-handed batters this year, largely because his delivery makes it very difficult to pick up his pitches."

Sisk has had a dominant season despite not being an overpowering pitcher with a triple-digit fastball. The 29-year-old reliever is primarily used in middle relief and is in the middle of a breakout campaign in his second year in the big leagues.

The Pirates will need players like Sisk to continue producing if the team has any chance to reach the playoffs for the first time in over a decade.

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