Steven Brault

Steven is in his first year with the Cubs after spending the last seven seasons in the Pittsburgh Pirates organization... Is 12-18 with a 4.77 ERA (182 ER/343.1 IP) and one save in 107 career major league games (52 starts), all with the Pittsburgh Pirates... Has held left-handed hitters to a career .232 average (71-for-306) with 74 strikeouts... Posted a career-low 3.38 ERA (16 ER/42.2 IP) in 11 games (10 starts) during the shortened 2020 season... Was named the winner of the Steve Blass Award following the season, recognizing the Pirates' Pitcher of the Year... In 2017, was named Pittsburgh's Minor League Pitcher of the Year, International League mid-season and post-season All-Star and the International League Most Valuable Pitcher... Led the league with a 1.94 ERA (26 ER/120.1 IP) and held opponents to a .199 average, the league's second-lowest mark... Was traded from Baltimore to Pittsburgh on Feb. 20, 2015, as the player to be named to complete a deal from Jan. 27, 2015, in which Pittsburgh acquired pitcher Stephen Tarpley from Baltimore for outfielder Travis Snider... Was originally selected in the 11th round of the 2013 First-Year Player Draft by Baltimore... Attended Regis University in Denver for three years from 2010-13, playing both pitcher and outfielder... Was named a Third Team All-American by the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association in 2013... Graduated in 2010 from Grossmont High School in El Cajon, CA, where he played four years of baseball and two years of football.
2021
In his final season with the Pirates in 2021, Steven went 0-3 with a 5.86 ERA (18 ER/27.2 IP) in seven starts... Was limited to seven starts due to a left lat strain, that sidelined him from April 1-Aug. 4 and Sept. 11-end of the season... Held left-handed hitters to a .133 average (2-for-15)... Tossed a season-high 5.2 scoreless innings, allowing only three hits on August 16 at Los Angeles (N.L.)... Posted a 1.84 ERA (3 ER/14.2 IP) over his first four starts of the season, compared to a 14.00 ERA (14 ER/9.0 IP) over his last three.

2020
Was voted by the local chapter of the BBWAA as the winner of the Steve Blass award (created in 2012 recognizing the Pirates top pitcher)...Posted a 2.53 ERA (42.2ip/13r/12er) in his 10 starts, having been charged with one or zero earned runs seven times...Recorded a 1.52 ERA (29.2ip/5er) in his six starts at PNC Park...Gave up just one run and four total hits in his last two starts (16.0ip)...Finished the season by pitching a team-high 13.0 consecutive scoreless innings over his final two starts, which included 10 straight hitless innings from the fifth inning on 9/17 through the fourth inning on 9/22...Pitched his first career complete game on 9/17; a 5-1 victory over the Cardinals at PNC Park... Made the Opening Day roster and started the fourth game of the season on 7/27 vs. Milwaukee (the Home Opener) and did not allow a run in 2.0 innings before exiting after a 1:42 rain delay...Made his second start on 8/2 at Chicago (NL) and retired all nine batters he faced...Made his lone relief appearance on 8/7 vs. Detroit and failed to retire a batter while being charged with four earned runs...Came back on one day’s rest to start on 8/9 and tossed 2.0 hitless innings...Pitched 5.0 scoreless innings in his start on 8/19 vs. Cleveland (no-decision)...Became the first Pittsburgh pitcher since 1900 to not allow a run in his first four starts... Suffered loss on 8/25 at Chicago (AL); gave up four runs in 4.0ip while opposing Lucas Giolito, who threw a no-hitter... Pitched 7.0 scoreless innings in his last start - his 100th career appearance - on 9/22 vs. Chicago (NL); left the game with a 2-0 lead before the Cubs tied it in the eighth.

2019
Set career highs in starts, innings pitched and strikeouts...Went 3-5 with a 4.99 ERA (95.2ip/53er) in his 19 starts and 1-1 with a 6.11 ERA (17.2ip/12er) in six relief appearances...Was a member of the Opening Day roster for the second straight season...Made his first appearance in game three and suffered the loss in relief (1.2ip/1er)...Singled as a pinch hitter and pitched 3.0 innings of relief (4r) on 4/8 at Chicago...Did not pitch again before being optioned to Triple-A Indianapolis two weeks later on 4/22...Was recalled the next day when Nick Burdi went on the injured list...Gave up three runs in 2.0ip on 4/24 vs. Arizona - his first appearance in 15 days...Pitched 2.0 innings of scoreless relief on 4/30 at Texas...Made his first start of the season on 5/7 vs. Texas (4.0ip/2er)...Pitched a career-high 5.2 innings of relief on 5/24 vs. Los Angeles (NL) - the longest relief stint by a Pittsburgh pitcher since Kris Johnson went 6.0ip on 8/18/13 vs. Arizona... Tossed 5.1 scoreless innings and won his second decision on 5/29 at Cincinnati...Pitched 6.0 scoreless innings and went 2-for-4 with a double at the plate while winning an 11-0 decision on 6/14 at Miami...Posted a 2.52 ERA in June...Pinch ran and scored the winning run in the seventh inning of a 2-1 victory vs. San Diego on 6/21...Singled as a pinch hitter in back-to-back games on 7/1-2 vs. Chicago...Prior to Brault doing so, the last pitcher to collect a hit as a pinch hitter in consecutive team games was Milwaukee's Brooks Kieschnick (former position player turned pitcher) on July 15-16, 2004...Don Larsen was the last everyday pitcher to do so; with the Kansas City Athletics on May 21-22, 1961...Left his start on 7/5 vs. Milwaukee in the fifth inning with left shoulder discomfort...Was placed on the 10-day injured list on 7/6 with a left shoulder strain...Made one rehab start with Indianapolis on 8/1; threw 76 pitches and gave up five walks, three hits and two runs in 4.0ip...Was recalled from rehab and reinstated from injured list on 8/6...Retired the first 12 Milwaukee batters he faced and gave up two runs in 5.1ip while receiving a no-decision on 8/6...Had a seven-game hitting streak between 6/14 and 8/6 (8-for-10); the first Pirates pitcher with a seven-game streak in one season since Rick Rhoden hit safely in 10 straight in 1984...Flied out as a pinch hitter on 8/19 vs. Washington...Pinch ran and scored a run on 8/20 vs. Washington...Flied out as a pinch hitter on 8/24 vs. Cincinnati...Connected off Jesus Tinoco for first Major League home run on 9/1 at Colorado...Gave up five home runs (tied club record) and 10 runs in 2.2ip on 9/13 at Chicago; the first starting pitcher in the Live Ball Era to allow 10 earned runs and five home runs in a start of 3.0 innings or less...Struck out a career-high 10 batters in his final start on 9/26 vs. Cincinnati (5.0ip/4er)...Grounded out as a pinch hitter on 9/28 vs. Cincinnati...Went 14-for-42 (.333) with a double, homer and two RBI as a batter; went 4-for-8 as a pinch hitter.

2018
Spent majority of the season pitching in relief for the Pirates...Pitched 2.0 innings of relief or more 20 times with Pittsburgh and posted a 2.19 ERA (49.1IP/12ER)...Allowed just one of his 18 inherited runners to score; stranded the bases loaded twice...Led the team in walks (57) and tied for second in wild pitches (nine)...Went 5-2 with a 4.25 ERA (65.2IP/31ER) and 67 strikeouts in 40 relief appearances...Went 1-1 with a 5.54 ERA (26.0IP/16ER) in five starts; made last big league start on 4/27 vs. St. Louis...Tossed 3.0 scoreless innings on Opening Day (3/30) at Detroit and recorded the win in Pittsburgh's 13-10, 13-inning victory...Went 2-0 with a 3.09 ERA (11.2IP/4ER) and 18 strikeouts in eight outings in May...Struck out for the first time in his career on 6/12 at Arizona (Silvino Bracho), snapping a streak of 34 straight plate appearances without a strikeout to begin his big league career...Sang the National Anthem prior to the game at PNC Park on 6/19 vs. Milwaukee...Walked a career-high five batters while giving up two runs in 3.0IP on 8/1 vs. Chicago (NL)...Was optioned to Triple-A Indianapolis on 8/3...Posted a 3.38 ERA (5.1IP/2ER) in his five Triple-A outings; was scored upon in just one appearance...Was recalled by the Pirates on 8/20 and pitched 2.0 scoreless innings that night vs. Atlanta... Pitched 4.0 hitless innings on 8/24 at Milwaukee...Tossed 3.1 scoreless frames and struck out six batters on 8/28 at St. Louis; became the first Pirates left-handed reliever to strike out six batters in a game since Ron Villone on May 13, 2002, vs. Arizona...Produced a 3.63 ERA (22.1IP/9ER) in 14 appearances after being recalled on 8/20...Pitched a career-high 13.1 consecutive scoreless innings between 8/1 and 9/2...Surrendered his first career home run to a left-handed batter (KC's Taylor O'Hearn) on 9/17 (his first allowed in 185 plate appearances against lefties)...Gave up a homer to left-handed hitting Mike Moustakas in his next outing on 9/21... Did not allow a run in his last four games (5.1IP) after being scored upon in four straight (3.1IP/8R)...Went 3-for-20 (.150) with a double and a walk as a batter with the Pirates; grounded out as a pinch hitter vs. Cincinnati on 4/7 (his second career pinch-hitting appearance).

2017
Was named Pittsburgh's Minor League Pitcher-of-the-Year...Was selected to the International League mid-season All-Star team and was named the League's Most Valuable Pitcher and starting pitcher on the postseason All-Star squad...Led International League in ERA (1.94) and held opponents to a .199 batting average; the second-lowest mark in the league...Also ranked third with a 1.07 WHIP...Lost his first three Triple-A decisions before winning first game on 5/11 vs. Norfolk...Was named the International League Pitcher-of-the-Week for the week of 5/15-21 after posting a 0.69 ERA (13.0ip/1er) and limiting opponents to a .114 average (5-for-44) in two starts...Posted a 1.26 ERA (28.2ip/4er) in five starts during the month of May...Made his only relief appearance with Indianapolis on 6/11 vs. Columbus and tossed a scoreless inning (18 pitches)...Gave up a total of 10 runs over a 10-start stretch between 5/6 and 7/4 (65.2ip - 1.37 ERA)...Was recalled by Pittsburgh on 7/22...Gave up two runs in 1.0 inning of relief on 7/22 at Colorado and pitched 3.0 scoreless frames on 7/25 at San Francisco; also went 1-for-2 at the plate on 7/25...Was optioned back to Indianapolis on 7/26...Was named International League Pitcher-of-the-Week a second time on 8/14 after going 2-0 with a 0.00 ERA (14.0ip) in two starts during the week of 8/7-13; pitched 7.0 scoreless innings on 8/7 vs. Buffalo and 7.0 scoreless frames in his final Triple-A start on 8/12 vs. Syracuse...Was recalled a second time by Pittsburgh on 8/18 and threw 64 pitches in 4.0 innings of work that night vs. St. Louis...Was optioned back to Indy on 8/19...Was recalled three days later on 8/22 when George Kontos went on the disabled list...Gave up one run in 2.2 innings of work on 8/24 vs. Los Angeles; went 0-for-1 at the plate...Gave up a total of seven runs (four earned) in back-to-back outings at Wrigley Field on 8/28 and 8/30...Made his first start with the Pirates on 9/5 and received a no-decision against the Cubs (5.0ip/3er)...Allowed just one hit while tossing 6.0 scoreless innings and winning his first Major League game on 9/11 at Milwaukee...Collected his first big league RBI while going 2-for-3 with a double and two RBI at the plate on 9/11 - the first Bucco LHP with two hits and two RBI since Paul Maholm on 9/12/08...Pitched 3.0 scoreless innings and picked up his first professional save on 9/26 vs. Baltimore... Started the final game of the season (2.0ip/4er) and received a no-decision in Pittsburgh's 11-8 win on 10/1 at Washington ...Went 1-0 with a 4.50 ERA (18.0ip/9er) in his four starts with Pittsburgh (the Pirates went 4-0)...Went 3-for-13 (.231) with a double and two RBI as a batter.

2016
Began season with Indianapolis and won his first Triple-A decision in third start on 4/22 at Louisville...Went back-to-back starts without being charged with an earned run on 4/22 (5.0ip) and 4/27 (6.0)...Posted a 1.83 ERA (19.2ip/4er) in four starts during the month of April...Strained his left hamstring while running to first base on 5/8 and was placed on the disabled list...Made one rehab start with Short-Season West Virginia on 6/20...Was reinstated from the D.L. at Indy on 6/25...Pitched 5.0 scoreless innings in an 11-1 win at Toledo...Did not allow an extra-base hit to a left-handed hitter during his first nine minor league starts thru 6/30...Was selected by Pittsburgh on 7/5 and made his Major League debut that night in St. Louis; received a no-decision in Pittsburgh's 5-2 win (4.0ip/4h/2r/1er/2bb/5so)...Singled off Mike Leake in his first big league plate appearance...Was optioned back to Triple-A on 7/6...Made lone relief appearance with Indy (52 pitches) on 7/10 at Columbus (3.1ip/3h/2r/2er/1bb/6so)...Pitched 6.0 hitless innings, but received a no-decision on 7/16 at Louisville...Struck out a season-high nine batters and pitched 6.0 scoreless innings on 7/22 vs. Charlotte, but received another no-decision...Went 0-1 with a 1.17 ERA (15.1ip/2er) in three games with Indianapolis during the month of July...Was recalled a second time by Pittsburgh on 7/29 and made the start that night at Milwaukee; gave up three runs in 6.0ip and lost a 3-1 decision to Junior Guerra...Was optioned back to Indianapolis on 7/31...Gave up five runs (four earned) in 2.1ip on 8/4 at Columbus...Allowed just one run in 7.0 innings of work on 8/14 at Lehigh Valley, but lost a 1-0 decision...Surrendered a season-high seven runs (six earned) in 4.1ip on 8/20 at Louisville (no-decision)...Went 0-3 with an 8.14 ERA (21.0ip/20r/19er) in five starts with Indianapolis during the month of August...Was recalled by Pittsburgh on 8/29 and opposed Jake Arrieta that night in Chicago; received a no-decision (4.0ip/5h/3r/2er/2bb/4so)...Went 0-2 with a 5.40 ERA (23.1ip/21r/14er) in six games (five starts) with the Pirates after his final recall on 8/29...Suffered losses on 9/4 vs. Milwaukee (5.0ip/1er) and 9/14 at Philadelphia (3.2ip/5r/3er)...Made lone relief appearance with Pittsburgh on 9/26 vs. Chicago (1.2ip/6h/7r/3er/3bb/3so)...Went 2-for-8 (.250) with a sac bunt and one run scored as a batter in the big leagues.

*Courtesy ChicagoSportsHQ.com