MILWAUKEE -- The Pirates have repeatedly expressed their belief that Roansy Contreras, in the long-term, can be a Major League starting pitcher. Over the last two seasons, Contreras has shown flashes that have validated that belief.

Contreras is in the midst of the worst funk of his career, a funk that has landed him in the bullpen for the time being, but on Saturday afternoon, he took a much-needed step in the right direction. 

Contreras recorded one of his best outings in several weeks in the Pirates’ 5-0 loss to the Brewers at American Family Field, retiring all six batters he faced and inducing five whiffs. The last month-and-a-half hasn’t been kind to Contreras, but across two innings, he exhibited the stuff that earned him a spot in the rotation to begin with.

“I know that things have been rough for me, lately," Contreras said through team interpreter Stephen Morales. "But the confidence that the team has put in me and the work I’ve put in is the key, as well as the support I get from my teammates and the staff."

The last month-and-a-half have been nothing short of a whirlwind for Contreras, the youngest player on the Pirates’ roster.

Contreras pitched well to begin the season, ending April with a 3.58 ERA and 2.95 FIP across five starts. The right-hander closed the month out by recording three consecutive quality starts, the first time he had done so in his Major League career.

The sophomore couldn’t replicate that success the following month. In his first four starts in May, Contreras allowed 14 earned runs across 22 1/3 innings (5.64 ERA), walking as many batters as he struck out (11). Those struggles prompted the Pirates to move Contreras to the bullpen. On May 28, Contreras made his relief debut, pitching two scoreless innings against the Mariners.

The Pirates planned to keep Contreras in the bullpen for longer than one appearance, but when Vince Velasquez landed on the injured list with what became a season-ending right elbow injury, Contreras found himself right back in the rotation after one game in the bullpen.

In his first start back in the rotation on June 2, Contreras allowed five runs in four innings against the Cardinals, all those runs coming in a five-run third inning. In his next start against the A’s, Contreras allowed seven earned runs and recorded only one out before his afternoon came to an end.

Across those two starts, Contreras allowed 12 earned runs in just 4 1/3 innings. Following Contreras’s start against Oakland, general manager Ben Cherington told 93.7 The Fan that Contreras would, once again, be rejoining the bullpen.

In his first appearance back in the bullpen, Contreras hit the lowest point of his Major League career. On Wednesday, Contreras inherited a four-run lead in the bottom of the fifth inning against the Cubs. After retiring the side in the fifth, Contreras allowed five runs and recorded just one out as Chicago scored six runs in the sixth.

“I think we have to stay positive,” Pirates manager Derek Shelton said. “He’s the youngest player on our roster. He’s 23 years old. We’ve seen with guys that it takes time to be a really good Major League starter. We’ve seen it with Mitch [Keller]. 

“[The Brewers] are the perfect example. You’ve seen it with [Brandon] Woodruff and [Corbin] Burnes; those guys pitched in relief. [Freddy] Peralta pitched in relief. Those guys are all good Major League starters.

"Being a Major League starter is hard. I think at times, because we’ve seen good starts and some good appearances, we want it to really speed up and we know we have to take our time and make sure that we continue to coach and he continues to get better."

Prior to Friday’s 5-4 loss to the Brewers, Shelton discussed the team’s decision to keep Contreras in the Major League bullpen as opposed to having him join Triple-A Indianapolis’s starting rotation. 

“We feel like the work he’s going to do at the Major League level right now is the most important,” Shelton said. “Some of it is we need a long guy, too, and we know he can fill that role because he’s been stretched out. But I think it’s more the fact we know he can get Major League hitters out and we need him to continue to work against Major League hitters.”