Santana (2-1) blew the save but earned the win against the Cubs on Friday, striking out one batter across 1.2 innings without allowing a run, hit or walk.
Santana was brought out of the bullpen for the eighth inning with runners on the corners. He was able to force a fielder's choice groundout against Dansby Swanson, but that allowed Kyle Tucker to score from third base to tie the game at 1-1. Santana returned to the mound for the ninth and kept the Cubs off the board, and he was credited with the win after the Pirates scored in the top of the 10th. Santanta has a 1.80 ERA, 0.80 WHIP and 25:5 K:BB across 30 innings this season.
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Pirates' Dennis Santana: Notches fifth save
Rotowire
Santana struck out two in a perfect ninth inning Wednesday to record his fifth save of the season in a 3-1 win over the Reds.
David Bednar worked Monday and Tuesday and collected the save in the latter game, leaving him unavailable Wednesday afternoon. Santana also worked the eighth inning Tuesday but was still fresh enough to remain a perfect 5-for-5 in converting save chances this season. Bednar appears to have inched back ahead in the pecking order for the Pirates' closer job, but Santana's 1.77 ERA, 0.79 WHIP and 13:3 K:BB through 20.1 innings on the year will keep him firmly in the high-leverage mix.
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Pirates' Dennis Santana: Works in setup role
Rotowire
Santana didn't allow a baserunner or record a strikeout in one scoreless inning to record a hold Tuesday against the Reds.
The Pirates have had very few save chances of late, as they've gone 4-14 in May. Despite the limited opportunities, Santana seemed to have the upper hand over David Bednar for the closer role, but he entered Tuesday's game in the eighth inning to face the bottom of Cincinnati's order while ceding the ninth to Bednar. Positively, Santana managed to work his fourth consecutive scoreless appearance, though he doesn't appear to be in line to earn every save chance in Pittsburgh for the time being.
Santana allowed one hit with no walks and no strikeouts across a scoreless ninth inning Wednesday against the Mets.
He didn't get a save because the Pirates held a four-run lead, but he entered the game following David Bednar. Santana has now pitched in the ninth inning in four consecutive appearances, picking up a save and a win in that span. Given that, Santana appears to be the top choice for saves in Pittsburgh for the time being.
Santana (1-1) picked up the win in Sunday's 4-3 victory over Atlanta, pitching a clean inning with one strikeout.
The 29-year-old fired a clean ninth inning in a 3-3 tie, requiring only 11 pitches, eight of which were strikes. Santana was then credited with his first win of the season when Joey Bart drove home the winning run in the bottom of the frame. Santana, who is battling with David Bednar for the closer role in Pittsburgh, bagged the latest Pirates' save in Friday's contest. Through 17.1 innings, Santana has pitched to a 2.08 ERA, 0.98 WHIP and 11:3 K:BB.
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Pirates' Dennis Santana: Nabs save despite two earned runs
Rotowire
Santana collected his fifth save of the season Friday against Atlanta, allowing two runs on three hits in the ninth inning. He did not record a walk or a strikeout.
It was a low-scoring affair Friday, and Santana was brought in to protect the Pirates' three-run lead in the ninth inning. He was on the back foot immediately after giving up a triple, and after yielding two runs on a sacrifice fly and an RBI single, he was able to close things out by getting Ozzie Albies to fly out to center field. This was far from a convincing performance from Santana, who is competing with David Bednar for saves in Pittsburgh. Santana has a 2.35 ERA, 0.98 WHIP and 9:3 K:BB across 15.1 innings this season.
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Pirates' Dennis Santana: Back from bereavement leave
Rotowire
The Pirates reinstated Santana (personal) from the bereavement list Sunday.
Pittsburgh optioned right-hander Kyle Nicolas to Triple-A Indianapolis to clear room on the 26-man roster for Santana, who had been away from the team since Tuesday while tending to a personal matter. David Bednar scooped up a save Wednesday, but he took a loss in a non-save situation Saturday, leaving the team's closing picture murky. Prior to going on bereavement leave, Santana had gone 3-for-3 in save chances while posting a 1.46 ERA and 0.89 WHIP in 12.1 innings.
Pirates' Dennis Santana: Lands on bereavement list
Rotowire
The Pirates placed Santana (personal) on the bereavement list Tuesday, Kevin Gorman of TribLive.com reports.
Santana will step away from the team for a few days in order to tend to a personal matter. David Bednar is back in the closer mix after a brief stint at Triple-A Indianapolis, and he'll be the favorite for saves while Santana is away from the club.
Pirates' Dennis Santana: Works eighth inning Friday
Rotowire
Santana gave up a hit in a scoreless eighth inning Friday to record his fourth hold of the season in a 3-0 win over the Dodgers.
The Pirates had said they were going to give David Bednar another look as the closer at some point, and that moment may have arrived -- Bednar pitched a scoreless ninth Friday for his second save of the year. Santana should remain in a high-leverage role given his 1.46 ERA and 0.89 WHIP through 12.1 innings, but his 7:3 K:BB hasn't matched the dominance Bednar is capable of when he's in top form.
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Pirates' Dennis Santana: Notches third save
Rotowire
Santana surrendered one hit and no walks while striking out one batter in a scoreless ninth inning to collect a save in Wednesday's 3-0 win over the Angels.
Santana struck out Jo Adell on four pitches before allowing a double to Jorge Soler, but a groundout from Zach Neto followed by a Mike Trout flyout allowed the 29-year-old to pick up his third save of the year while preserving the shutout. Santana now owns a 1.59 ERA and 0.89 WHIP through 11.1 innings on the year and should continue to see regular save opportunities even though David Bednar is back with the Buccos.
Santana (0-1) allowed one unearned run without allowing a hit to take the loss Sunday against the Guardians.
Santana was called upon to pitch the 10th inning and retired every batter he faced, but he still was stuck with the loss after allowing the ghost runner to score on a sacrifice fly. He has turned in seven scoreless efforts in nine appearances this season and appears to be Pittsburgh's preferred option at closer, even with David Bednar back on the roster.
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Pirates' Dennis Santana: Secures second save
Rotowire
Santana struck out a batter and didn't allow a baserunner in two-thirds of an inning to earn the save in Thursday's 1-0 win against Washington.
Southpaw Ryan Borucki stayed in for the start of the ninth inning to face the lefty-hitting Nathaniel Lowe, but Santana was called upon to secure the final two outs of the combined shutout. Both relievers have received a look in save situations since the demotion of David Bednar at the start of April, but Borucki blew his only ninth-inning chance while Santana is 2-for-2 in converting save opportunities. The 29-year-old righty has pitched well early in 2025 with a 2.00 ERA, 1.00 WHIP and 5:3 K:BB over nine innings.
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Player Bio
HT/WT: 6-2, 190 lbs
Birthplace: San Pedro de Macoris, Dominican Republic
Age: 29
Experience: 7
Bats/Throws: R, R
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