(Sports Network) - Although it certainly wasn't a good April for the Pittsburgh Pirates, this past week has provided a ray of hope another potentially gloomy season.

Many prognosticators had predicted the Pirates to take a big step in the right direction prior to this year, with a promising young pitching staff featuring lefthanders Oliver Perez, Zach Duke and Paul Malholm expected to lead the way. However, Pittsburgh's young guns weren't firing too many blanks -- at least not on the scoreboard -- during the season's first 3 1/2 weeks, and the rotation's overall ineffectiveness was a main culprit in the Bucs' rotten 5-18 start.

Pirates starters had combined for a woeful 6.51 earned run average heading into last weekend's series with the Philadelphia Phillies, but the club has since received four quality starts in six games.

No. 4 starter Ian Snell started the charge with his best outing of the year in Friday's opener versus the Phils, yielding just one unearned run and racking up seven strikeouts over seven innings in a 3-1 Pittsburgh win. Malholm followed by earning his first victory of the season on Saturday, as the former first-round pick held Philadelphia to a run over seven frames.

Perez threw another clunker on Sunday, but Victor Santos limited the Chicago Cubs to one unearned run in seven innings Monday in a game the Pirates eventually lost 2-1.

Duke, who had been Pittsburgh's lone reliable starter in the early going, then tossed a gem Tuesday in Wrigley Field as the Bucs earned a split of the two- game set with an 8-0 decision. The 23-year-old went the distance on a five- hitter for his first career shutout.

It wasn't the first time Duke had baffled the Cubs during his brief major league career, however. He has now won all four of his lifetime starts against Chicago and has surrendered a mere two earned runs over 32 innings in those outings, an ERA of 0.56. At Wrigley Field, Duke is 3-0 with a microscopic 0.36 ERA in 25 innings of work.

"It just seems like every time I face them, I'm on top of my game," said Duke afterward.

A CHANGE WILL DO YOU GOOD

Pittsburgh manager Jim Tracy also credits rookie catcher Ronny Paulino for the club's recent pitching resurgence. The results can't be argued, as the Pirates have amassed an outstanding 2.64 ERA in the 25-year-old's 10 starts behind the plate since his recall from Triple-A Indianapolis in mid-April.

Tracy has been particularly impressed with Paulino's game-calling ability and his ability to work with the young staff, many of whom he had caught extensively in the minors.

Paulino, who batted .306 with 19 home runs between Double and Triple-A last season, has been quite solid at the plate as well. He is carrying a .303 average through 11 games with the Pirates and hasn't struck out in any of his 33 at-bats.

INJURY REPORT

Ryan Doumit, Pittsburgh's Opening Day catcher, was activated from the disabled list on Wednesday as the club began a two-game series with the New York Mets. However, he may have to fight for at-bats with Paulino playing so well. Doumit, who had been sidelined since April 11 with a left hamstring injury, could possibly share time with Craig Wilson at first base while Sean Casey continues his recovery from two fractures in his lower back.

Third baseman Joe Randa, hobbled by a bone bruise in his right foot, has missed the team's last two games and may not return to action until the weekend.

WHO'S HOT

Infielder Freddy Sanchez is 9-for-23 over his last eight games to raise his season average to .339. He had three hits and three RBI in Wednesday's win over the Cubs, then followed up with a solo home run off Pedro Martinez Wednesday against the Mets.

WHO'S NOT

While the rest of the rotation appears to be rounding into form, Perez continues to struggle. The once-promising lefthander allowed four runs and walked five in just 3 2/3 innings Sunday against the Phillies, which dropped his season record to 1-4 and raised his ERA to a poor 7.53. Perez served up two home runs in the loss and has yielded eight in 28 2/3 innings this year.

ON DECK

Malholm (1-3, 5.86) will try to build off last weekend's outstanding start when he takes the ball in Thursday's series finale with the Mets. He will be opposed by veteran Tom Glavine (3-2, 2.29). Pittsburgh then wraps up its seven-game road swing with a weekend set in Washington.

Perez will face Zach Day (1-3, 9.82) in Friday's opener against the Nationals, with Santos (1-4, 5.06) and Ramon Ortiz (0-3, 5.65) each getting the call on Saturday. Duke will square off against rookie Washington rookie Michael O'Connor (1-1, 0.75), who beat the Mets in Shea Stadium with seven strong innings in his last start, on Sunday.