Pirates' David Bednar: First appearance since recall
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Bednar allowed two hits and struck out two in a scoreless ninth inning Saturday against the Guardians.
Bednar was recalled from Triple-A Indianapolis on Saturday and immediately made an appearance. He entered the game with the Pirates down 3-0 in the final inning and struck out the final two batters he faced after allowing consecutive singles. Dennis Santana has performed adequately as Pittsburgh's closer, but Bednar should work his way back into high-leverage work if he pitches well.
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Pirates' David Bednar: Returning to big club
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The Pirates recalled Bednar from Triple-A Indianapolis on Saturday, Noah Hiles of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.
Bednar was optioned to Triple-A after a rough start in the majors, but he's found his form in Indianapolis, where he has not issued a walk while allowing one hit and striking out six batters across four scoreless innings. Even with Dennis Santana faring well as the Pirates' closer, Bednar should get another chance at the role as long as he carries his strong play from Triple-A into the majors.
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Pirates' David Bednar: Finding form with Indianapolis
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Bednar has thrown five scoreless innings with a 7:0 K:BB with Triple-A Indianapolis.
Bednar struggled through an inconsistent 2024 season, though it was still a surprise when he was demoted after three poor appearances to kick off the new campaign. While it's a limited sample against a lower level of competition, he seems to have regained some confidence with Indianapolis. Dennis Santana has fared well in his duties as closer since Bednar was optioned, though it wouldn't be surprising to see Bednar get another chance in the big leagues sometime soon.
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Pirates' David Bednar: Optioned to Triple-A
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The Pirates optioned Bednar to Triple-A Indianapolis on Tuesday.
Bednar really struggled last season and has been tagged for four runs (three earned) over three appearances while recording just three outs so far this season. The Pirates have elected to have him work out his issues in a less pressurized environment. Dennis Santana and Colin Holderman are the top candidates for saves in the Pirates' bullpen.
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Pirates' David Bednar: Fails to register an out again
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Bednar (0-2) took the loss Sunday against the Marlins, allowing a run on one hit while not securing any outs.
Bednar capped off an opening weekend to forget in Miami, as he suffered his second walk-off loss in three appearances on the season. The Pittsburgh reliever allowed a leadoff hit to Derek Hill, who then stole second and advanced to third on an errant throw by Endy Rodriguez. Bednar subsequently allowed Hill to score on a wild splitter he threw in the dirt to Nick Fortes. The 30-year-old has now pitched to an unsightly 27.00 ERA and 5.00 WHIP while retiring just three of the nine batters he's faced over three outings. Bednar is likely skating on thin ice as the closer for the Pirates, who could turn to Colin Holderman or Dennis Santana in future save situations.
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Pirates' David Bednar: Escapes with save against Marlins
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Bednar (save) picked up the save against the Marlins on Friday in a 4-3 win but allowed two runs on one hit and one walk. He recorded one strikeout.
Bednar took the loss on Opening Day for Pittsburgh and nearly cost his club again. The 30-year-old entered the ninth inning with a comfortable 4-1 lead but immediately walked Matt Mervis before Otto Lopez took the first pitch he saw and redirected it 418 feet over the center field wall to get the Marlins within one run. Bednar then retired the next three batters, preserving the 4-3 win. It's indeed been a rough start to 2025 for the two-time All-Star, who struggled to a 5.77 ERA last season. If he can't find his way, he may be in jeopardy of losing save opportunities.
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Pirates' David Bednar: Takes Opening Day loss
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Bednar (0-1) was charged with the loss in Thursday's contest against the Marlins after he allowed one earned run off two hits and one walk while failing to record an out.
Bednar was called out of the bullpen in the bottom of the ninth with the game tied 4-4, and he surrendered the lead on just eight pitches via a triple, an intentional walk and a single. The 30-year-old opened the season as Pittsburgh's presumed closer despite his 5.77 ERA last year, and though Thursday wasn't a save situation, his rocky start to 2025 puts him on even shakier ground.
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Pirates' David Bednar: Cleaning performance up
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Bednar has thrown two scoreless innings with a 3:0 K:BB across his last two Grapefruit League outings.
The Pirates still haven't named a closer and Bednar had a pair of rocky outings -- one heavily influenced by poor defense -- in mid-March. However, he's managed to get on the right track as the regular season nears by not allowing a baserunner in his last two appearances.
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Pirates' David Bednar: Closer still not named
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Bednar is presumed to begin the season the Pirates' closer, but manager Derek Shelton elected not to officially name the team's closer Sunday, Noah Hiles of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.
It's the second time during spring training that Shelton has made clear a decision at closer has yet to be made, though the skipper also indicated Sunday that he's happy with how Bednar has look during spring training, despite a 14.40 ERA and 6:3 K:BB over five innings. After two consecutive All-Star seasons in 2022 and 2023, the right-hander struggled to a 5.77 ERA in 62 appearances last year and was removed from the closer role down the stretch.
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Pirates' David Bednar: Implodes against Twins
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Bednar allowed five earned runs on three hits and two walks across one-third of an inning during Thursday's Grapefruit League game against the Twins.
This marked Bednar's fifth appearance of the spring, and he had maintained a 5:1 K:BB while allowing only one earned run across his first four innings. However, Thursday's outing was particularly concerning in light of Bednar's struggles in 2024, when he posted a 5.77 ERA and 1.42 WHIP while being removed from the closer role to end the year. The departure of Aroldis Chapman this offseason likely gives Bednar some leeway for save chances to begin the campaign, but he'll need to perform to maintain the role.
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Pirates' David Bednar: Takes eighth loss
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Bednar (3-8) was charged with a blown save and took the loss against the Cardinals on Wednesday, allowing three runs (two earned) on one hit and one walk over one-third of an inning.
Bednar entered the contest with the score tied in the bottom of the seventh and proceeded to give up a leadoff homer to Masyn Winn on a hanging curveball. The right-handed reliever would then manage to retire just one of the next three batters he faced before being relieved by Jalen Beeks, who didn't fare any better. It marked the seventh blown save of the season for Bednar, with his previous one coming back on Aug. 28, just before he was removed from the closer role. He's now allowed at least one run in three of his last six appearances and carries a 5.14 ERA in the month of September to go along with a dreadful 6:8 K:BB.
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Pirates' David Bednar: Earns 23rd save
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Bednar earned the save against the Reds on Friday, allowing one hit and one walk while striking out one over a scoreless ninth inning.
Bednar was summoned to protect a 6-5 lead in the ninth frame and put runners on the corners with two outs before getting Elly De La Cruz to line out. It was just his third scoreless outing in nine August appearances, but the closer has converted three consecutive save chances. On the year, Bednar has converted 23 of 28 save attempts with a 5.56 ERA, 1.37 WHIP and 49:16 K:BB across 45.1 innings.
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Pirates' David Bednar: Takes loss vs. Rangers
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Bednar (3-6) took the loss Wednesday against the Rangers, allowing a run on three hits over two-thirds of an inning. He struck out one.
With the game scoreless in the bottom of the ninth, Bednar allowed a pair of singles to lead off the frame. He managed to retire Nathaniel Lowe and Josh Jung before giving up a two-out, walk-off single to Wyatt Langford. It's the third loss in six outings for Bednar, who's allowed nine earned runs in his last nine innings. His ERA is up to 5.68 on the season with a 1.35 WHIP and 48:15 K:BB across 44.1 innings. Bednar has 22 saves in 27 chances this year, though he could lose work in the ninth to Aroldis Chapman if his struggles continue.
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Pirates' David Bednar: Another clean outing
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Bednar struck out one without allowing a baserunner in a scoreless ninth inning Tuesday against the Rangers.
Bednar allowed at least one earned run in six consecutive outings from July 29 to Aug. 16, and he also blew two saves and took two losses in that span. Nevertheless, he has maintained the closer role and has now turned in consecutive scoreless appearances. If Bednar can remain on track, he should be a decent source of saves the rest of the season.
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Pirates' David Bednar: Collects 21st save
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Bednar gave up a run on two hits in ninth inning Friday, recording his 21st save of the season in a 5-3 win over the Mariners. He struck out three.
The right-hander served up a solo shot to Jorge Polanco, marring what was otherwise an impressive performance. Bednar has been tagged for at least one run in a stunning six straight appearances, posting an 8:7 K:BB in 6.1 innings over that stretch and blowing two of five save chances. That August swoon has sent his ERA on the season soaring to 5.83, and while the Pirates don't seem inclined to remove him from the closer role, Aroldis Chapman has a 0.82 ERA, 0.55 WHIP and 17:2 K:BB in 11 innings since the All-Star break.
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Pirates' David Bednar: Struggles continue in loss
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Bednar (3-5) took the loss Sunday against the Dodgers, allowing two runs (one earned) on three hits and a walk while striking out a batter over 1.2 innings.
Bednar was able to successfully send the game into extras with a scoreless ninth inning. He was staked a one-run lead after the Pirates scored in the 10th but immediately gave it back after Enrique Hernandez led off the bottom half with a double. He was able to get a strikeout on Jason Heyward and a foul out by Shohei Ohtani before Teoscar Hernandez walked things off with a base hit to right. Sunday was the fifth straight outing for Bednar allowing at least a run. He's only given up one home run over that span but has a 5:7 K:BB as well. Aroldis Chapman has allowed just one run in 10 appearances since July 20, however, there's been no indication of a possible change at closer for right now. Bednar, who came into this year making each of the last two All-Star games, now owns a 5.75 ERA, 1.35 WHIP and 41:15 K:BB in 40.2 innings.
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Pirates' David Bednar: Blows another save, takes loss
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Bednar (3-4) took the loss Thursday, allowing three runs on two hits and two walks over two-thirds of an inning against the Padres. He struck out one.
Bednar couldn't finish the ninth, blowing his second save in as many days. It was the fifth blown save for the Pirates' closer, who allowed at least one earned run for the fourth consecutive outing, though it's the first time he's given up more than one earned run since April 26. Bednar once again struggled with his command, walking two to give him seven walks and a hit batsman over his last five appearances after having walked only seven batters over his first 37 outings. Bednar's ERA now stands at 5.77 with a 1.31 WHIP, though he had posted a 2.86 ERA and 1.09 WHIP over 29 games prior to these last two performances against San Diego.
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Pirates' David Bednar: Blows save Wednesday
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Bednar blew a save opportunity against the Padres on Wednesday, giving up one run on one hit and one walk while striking out one batter over one inning.
Bednar entered in the top of the ninth frame with the Pirates clinging to a one-run lead. He retired one batter before Jackson Merrill knotted the score with a solo shot to center field. Bednar then got into more trouble with a hit-by-pitch and a walk, but he was able to bounce back with consecutive outs to send the game into an extra inning. The blown save was his first since April 9 and just his third in 23 chances this season. That's a perfectly acceptable save percentage, but Bednar hasn't been as sharp this year as in seasons past, as evidenced by his 5.17 ERA and 1.23 WHIP through 38.1 innings.
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Pirates' David Bednar: Escapes with save No. 20
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Bednar recorded his 20th save of the season in Saturday's 4-2 win over the Diamondbacks, giving up one run on two hits and one walk over one inning. He struck out two.
Entrusted with a 4-1 lead in the ninth inning, Bednar fanned the first two batters he faced before a Geraldo Perdomo double kicked off an Arizona rally that saw Alek Thomas come to the plate as the potential winning run, only to fly out. Bednar has been charged with a run in five of his last 10 appearances, but he's still converted all seven of his save chances during that stretch -- in fact, the right-hander hasn't blown a save since April 9.
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Pirates' David Bednar: Secures save in return from IL
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Bednar struck out one in a perfect ninth inning Friday to record his 17th save of the season in a 4-1 win over the White Sox.
Activated from the IL earlier in the day after recovering from an oblique strain that cost him nearly a month of action, Bednar fired nine of 12 pitches for strikes while topping out at 97.1 mph with his fastball. Aroldis Chapman had a 4.70 ERA over 7.2 innings in Bednar's absence while converting three of four save chances, and he should return to setup duties now that Bednar is healthy.
