THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
BRADENTON, Fla. — Right-hander Jeff Karstens has won the final spot in the Pittsburgh Pirates’ starting rotation.
Karstens locked up the job Wednesday, when the team optioned right-hander Virgil Vasquez to triple-A Indianapolis. That ended a five-week spring training battle in which neither pitcher dominated.
Karstens pitched in seven games, including three starts. He went 0-2 with a 6.17 ERA and allowed 30 hits and eight walks in 23 1/3 innings.
