PITTSBURGH -- The Pirates are pulling George Kontos out of the eighth-inning role after the setup man's shaky start to the season. For now, they'll go with a bullpen-by-committee approach to set up closer Felipe Vazquez.
"We're basically going to use the bullpen to get outs to get to Vazquez without anybody being anointed an eighth-inning guy," Pirates manager Clint Hurdle said before Tuesday's game against the White Sox.
Kontos put together a strong finish to last season in the Pirates' bullpen and entered the year as their unquestioned eighth-inning reliever.