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.