ATLANTA — The Pittsburgh Pirates wouldn’t be headed to the postseason for the second straight year without the lift that Edinson Volquez has given the starting rotation.
Signed as a potential replacement for A.J. Burnett after a dismal 2013, the right-hander has been a $5 million bargain.
Volquez, who will face the Atlanta Braves on Thursday night in his final regular-season start, leads the Pirates in victories and his 12-7 record doesn’t really indicate just how well he has pitched.
The 31-year-old veteran had a 0.59 ERA in his past nine starts, going 4-0. He has won eight of his past 10 decisions and is 11-4 since early May.
Few expected a turnaround quite like this after Volquez went 9-12 with a 5.71 ERA last season for the San Diego Padres and Los Angeles Dodgers.
This season, the native of the Dominican Republic has a 3.15 ERA — even better than the 3.22 mark he posted while going 17-6 with the Cincinnati Reds in 2008.
“I think I signed in the right place,” said Volquez, who has clicked with pitching coach Ray Searage.
The Pirates’ key offseason assignment will be trying to re-sign catcher Russell Martin, who can also become a free agent.
Like Martin, Volquez has indicated he wants to return to Pittsburgh. He also wants a multi-year contract like Martin, though, and the Pirates may not be able to afford both players.
Martin is sure to be in demand by other teams. Unlike last winter, Volquez will be as well.