A certain number of positives have developed for the Pirates in the first 20 percent or so of the season.
Chief among them is being able to stay close to .500 despite have an anemic offense. The Pirates went into Tuesday night's game at Miami averaging 2.86 a runs a game, easily behind San Diego's 3.17 for the worst mark in the major leagues and less than half as many of Texas' 5.78.
While the Pirates continue to search for a loophole in the rulebook that would allow them to win 0-0 games, a No. 1 starting pitcher has been developing in their midst.
Getting too excited about a pitcher seven starts into a season can prove to be folly. However, it cannot be disputed that right-hander James McDonald has pitched like an ace so far and, at 27 years of age, should only get better.
McDonald is 2-2 with a 2.42 ERA. In 44 2/3 innings, he has allowed just 31 hits while striking out 39 and walking 15.
Those are the numbers of a dominant starting pitcher, the type of staff ace the Pirates have been lacking since Doug Drabek headed home to Houston as a free agent following the 1992 season. That also happens to be the last season in which the Pirates had more wins than losses.
McDonald pitching well is not a complete surprise. He had shown flashes of brilliance since the Pirates acquired him from the Los Angeles Dodgers at the July 31 non-waiver trading deadline in 2010.
The difference between McDonald of the past two seasons and this year is consistency.
McDonald has turned in quality starts -- six or more innings, three earned runs or less -- in five of his seven outings and allowed one earned run.
McDonald has bordered on brilliant in his last four starts as he has gone 2-1 with a 1.86 ERA. He has struck out 33 in 29 innings while allowing six runs on 18 hits and nine walks.
McDonald has also thrown strikes on 63 percent of his 421 pitches, something that had been a problem for him in the past.
"I saw a different James McDonald when he reported to spring training," Pirates manager Clint Hurdle said. "He really wanted to work to get better. He asked a lot of questions in an attempt to find ways to improve."
McDonald's work ethic has carried over into this season. Teammates say he's more serious and focused than in the past.
McDonald already had the talent with a plus fastball and curveball to go with a decent changeup. He has mixed in a slider this season along with a larger dose of maturity that comes with a player moving into his later 20s.
Now that he is putting it all together, the Pirates hold baseball's equivalent of a winning lottery ticket -- a starting pitcher on track to becoming a legitimate No. 1.
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