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Pirates should deploy opener more often in 2022

The Pittsburgh Pirates have begun the 2022 MLB season with various ups and downs.

The Bucs have lost four in a row after starting the year 8-8, being swept at home by Milwaukee and dropping the first of a three-game series against the San Diego Padres. 2022 is looking like another building-block season for an organization eager to turn a corner and find new ways to win.

Teams have experimented with the opener to begin games throughout the past few seasons and maybe a logical solution to the Pirates’ early-inning struggles.

The Pirates are allowing exactly one run in the first inning following the team’s first 20 games, second-worst in baseball behind the Texas Rangers (1.