Locke allowed three runs on six hits and a walk in five innings Wednesday. He struck out three and gave up one homer.

EDGE Analysis

Locke has survived rotation battles in the past -- he beat out Vance Worley last year, but Juan Nicasio's stellar spring performance may finally boot Locke (or Ryan Vogelsong) to the bullpen. Pittsburgh has tinkered with Locke's delivery, effectively simplifying it, but the results haven't improved. The lefty has compiled a spring earned-run average of 6.63 in 19 innings.

Locke struck out five batters in four innings Saturday against the Tigers. He allowed two runs -- including a solo shot to J.D. Martinez -- and a walk. "I think he's shown improvement, making improvement," manager Clint Hurdle told the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. "I really like what I see going on."

EDGE Analysis

Locke has simplified his delivery, eliminating a Luis Tiant-type twist. "It felt really good today. Since the new year working with Ray (Searage), I've been trying to hammer this delivery down," Locke said. "The results are starting to come for me ... the results in how you feel out there. You try to go fastball away, and you hit that pitch." Locke has shown the ability to pitch well for stretches against certain teams (the Brewers, for one), but he's never been able to put together a productive full season.

Locke agreed to a one-year, $3.025 million deal with the Pirates on Thursday, avoiding arbitration, FOX Sports' Ken Rosenthal reports.

EDGE Analysis

Locke showed solid durability during the 2015 campaign, logging 30 starts, but his production was a tick below his previous seasons as he posted a 4.49 ERA. That said, his FIP was at 3.95, suggesting he was the victim of some bad luck. The 28-year-old lefty figures to be a fixture in the middle of the Pirates rotation once again in 2016.

Locke covered 5.2 innings and gave up four runs on eight hits while striking out five, but didn't factor into the decision in Thursday's 5-4 nipping of the Rockies.

EDGE Analysis

Locke's performance since his eight-inning shutout against the Indians on July 4 has been thoroughly mediocre, as he's managed only three quality starts in his last 14 opportunities. He's still pitched adequately enough to hang on to a back-end rotation spot, but look for the Pirates to move him to the bullpen during the postseason, if not leave him off the roster entirely.

Locke (8-11) allowed five runs (four earned) on eight hits and two walks while striking out four across in a loss to the Dodgers on Friday.

EDGE Analysis

Locke had allowed just two runs on seven hits over his two previous starts, so the regression was disappointing to see him struggle on Friday. On the other hand, it was against the Dodgers and Zack Greinke and that's a tough matchup for any pitcher. A 4.48 ERA and 1.41 WHIP are less than desirable and he'll likely miss out on making any starts in the playoffs with the depth of the Pirates rotation. Locke has to pitch in dreaded Coors Field on Thursday in his next start.

Locke (7-10) went five innings Monday, giving up one earned run on four hits while walking two and striking out six in a 3-1 loss to the Reds.

EDGE Analysis

Pittsburgh's abysmal defense overshadowed an effective start by Locke, committing four errors during the left-hander's outing. Longevity has been a persistent issue for Locke, who has exceeded six innings just once in his last nine starts. Amidst rumors that Locke's rotation spot was not guaranteed through the season, the 27-year-old likely pitched well enough to secure his next scheduled start Saturday against the Brewers.

Locke (7-9) couldn't make it out of the fourth inning in Milwaukee on Wednesday, giving up five runs on nine hits in a losing effort.

EDGE Analysis

An extra day between starts didn't help Locke build on his promising outing against the Marlins last week, as he gave up four-plus runs for the sixth time in his last 10 outings and the 12th time in 26 starts overall. Obviously, all those blowups haven't done a whole lot of good for Locke's stats -- he currently owns easily his worst ERA and WHIP in three seasons since breaking into the majors full-time. Locke next starts Monday in Cincinnati, where he allowed three runs over five innings in a mediocre winning effort at the end of July.

The Pirates have pushed Locke's next start back from Tuesday to Wednesday in Milwaukee, Stephen Nesbitt of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.

EDGE Analysis

With an off-day Monday, the move will give Gerrit Cole two starts in the coming week -- he'll start Tuesday in Milwaukee. Locke has pitched well against the Brewers in 2015 but holds a 5.61 ERA one the road as compared to a 3.62 ERA at PNC Park.

Locke (7-8) gave up two runs on five hits and a walk in seven innings against the Marlins on Wednesday. He struck out three in the 7-2 win.

EDGE Analysis

Locke had been struggling lately, having allowed four or more runs in four of his prior six starts, but a matchup against the cellar-dwelling Marlins was just what the doctor ordered. Still, the lefty is in the midst of by far his worst full season in the majors, and he's been particularly prone to the home-run ball of late, having given up seven of them -- including one to Martin Prado on Wednesday -- in his last six starts.

Locke (5-5) allowed four runs -- one earned -- on five hits and three walks while striking out five in Thursday's loss to the Cardinals. Despite losing Thursday, Locke has now given up two earned runs or fewer in each of his past six starts. During that stretch, Locke has a 1.59 ERA and has seen his season ERA drop from 5.37 to 4.03.