ST. LOUIS -- One of the Pirates’ top prospects will make his Major League debut on Sunday at Busch Stadium.

Max Kranick, the club’s No. 26 prospect per MLB Pipeline, will start for the Pirates on Sunday, manager Derek Shelton confirmed. Shelton said right-hander Geoff Hartlieb is expected to be the corresponding move for Kranick.

“We’ve talked about giving opportunities to people, and this is one of the opportunities we’re going to give,” Shelton said. “It fit in line with when he was starting.”

Kranick, an 11th-round selection in the 2016 MLB Draft, has recorded a 4.37 ERA in seven starts split across Double-A and Triple-A this season. Those were his only starts at Double-A or higher; in '19, he spent the full season at then-High-A Bradenton, where he had a 3.79 ERA in 20 starts with 78 strikeouts to 30 walks. That command has improved in 2021, as he’s notched 36 strikeouts to nine walks in 35 innings.

Shelton and the Major League staff got to watch Kranick work up close in person during Spring Training, when the right-hander fired 3 2/3 innings and allowed four runs (two earned).

As he’s climbed up the ladder in the Minor Leagues, Kranick has been able to add velocity to his fastball, which sits around 94 mph and can touch 97-98 mph. The right-hander’s most effective offspeed pitch is a slider, which has cutter-like action, and he also has a changeup in the bag.

With Trevor Cahill injured and potentially in the bullpen long term and Mitch Keller working out his game at Triple-A, the Pirates were looking for a sixth starter to give them a spot start during this 20-game stretch. Kranick’s start Sunday moves back Tyler Anderson, whose turn would have fallen on Sunday.

“We’ve talked that during these times, we’re going to get guys spot starts,” Shelton said. “This was the good opportunity for us and for Max.”

Kranick is on the Pirates’ 40-man roster, so his addition will not require a 40-man roster move.

Kranick is a native of Pennsylvania. Born in Scranton, he attended Valley View High School in Archibald. The Pirates went over slot in 2016 to sign him away from a commitment to the University of Virginia.