Niese won his first game as a Pirate, despite allowing four runs - three earned - in six innings against the Tigers Monday afternoon. He struck out five in the outing.

EDGE Analysis

Although Niese has allowed nine runs in his 11 innings in 2016, he has showed pinpoint control, walking just two batters compared to 12 strikeouts. The lefty's career-best strikeouts per nine innings came way back in 2011 when he fanned 7.9 batters per nine. His strikeout rate may come back down to earth as soon as Saturday's start against the Brewers.