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.
... See More... See Less
Pirates' David Bednar: Shaky in save situation
Rotowire
Bednar allowed one unearned run on two hits while striking out two across two-thirds of an inning Wednesday against the Marlins.
Bednar started the ninth inning with a 3-0 lead. He had an inconsistent performance as he allowed a leadoff double and an RBI single, but he struck out two and would have stranded the runner successfully had there not been an error behind him. Bednar hasn't recorded a save since Aug. 23 and has since been removed from the closer role, though it appears the Pirates may be willing to give him more save chances before the close of the season.
... See More... See Less
Pirates' David Bednar: Loses hold on closer spot
Rotowire
Manager Derek Shelton said Friday that Bednar will be temporarily removed from the closer role and pitch in lower-leverage situations, Alex Stumpf of MLB.com reports.
The decision to relieve Bednar of his duties as closer comes two days after he allowed five earned runs on three hits and two walks in just two-thirds of an inning during Wednesday's loss to the Cubs. The Pirates will now use a closer-by-committee approach, making Aroldis Chapman and Jalen Beeks likely candidates to see increased opportunities in the ninth inning.
... See More... See Less
Pirates' David Bednar: Earns 23rd save
Rotowire
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.
... See More... See Less
Pirates' David Bednar: Takes loss vs. Rangers
Rotowire
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.
... See More... See Less
Pirates' David Bednar: Another clean outing
Rotowire
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.
... See More... See Less
Pirates' David Bednar: Collects 21st save
Rotowire
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.
... See More... See Less
Pirates' David Bednar: Struggles continue in loss
Rotowire
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.
... See More... See Less
Pirates' David Bednar: Blows another save, takes loss
Rotowire
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.
... See More... See Less
Pirates' David Bednar: Blows save Wednesday
Rotowire
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.
... See More... See Less
Pirates' David Bednar: Escapes with save No. 20
Rotowire
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.
... See More... See Less
Pirates' David Bednar: Secures save in return from IL
Rotowire
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.
... See More... See Less
Pirates' David Bednar: Back from injured list
Rotowire
The Pirates reinstated Bednar (oblique) from the 15-day injured list Friday.
The right-hander delivered a scoreless frame in his lone rehab appearance with Double-A Altoona on Tuesday, and that's apparently all the Pirates needed to see before bringing him back from the injured list. Bednar missed about three weeks due to an oblique strain, and he should reclaim closing duties from Aroldis Chapman now that he's healthy.
... See More... See Less
Pirates' David Bednar: Cleared for rehab assignment
Rotowire
Bednar (oblique) has been sent to Double-A Altoona to begin a rehab assignment.
Bednar has missed the last two-plus weeks with a left oblique strain but was cleared for rehab games after getting through a bullpen session over the weekend with no issues. It's possible he requires just the one rehab appearance before being activated, although with the All-Star break looming, the Pirates also have the option of taking things a little slower with their closer.
... See More... See Less
Pirates' David Bednar: Progressing, but timeline unknown
Rotowire
Pirates general manager Ben Cherington said Sunday that Bednar is making progress in his recovery from a left oblique strain, Andrew Destin of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.
Though Cherington struck an optimistic tone about Bednar's health, the two-time All-Star doesn't appear to have a concrete timeline to return from the 15-day injured list. Bednar is first eligible for activation next weekend, but because he has yet to resume throwing since landing on the shelf, he doesn't appear to be on track for a return in the minimum amount of time.
... See More... See Less
Pirates' David Bednar: Placed on IL
Rotowire
The Pirates placed Bednar on the 15-day injured list Sunday with a strained left oblique, Alex Stumpf of MLB.com reports.
Bednar reported feeling tightness in his side during his throwing session before Saturday's contest against the Rays and wasn't available to pitch in the game. His injury was initially believed to be relatively minor, so it's possible the 29-year-old reliever will be able to return after a minimum-length stay on the IL. Until then, Aroldis Chapman will likely see the majority of save opportunities, and Justin Bruihl will come up from Triple-A to replenish the Pirates' bullpen depth.
... See More... See Less
Pirates' David Bednar: Records 15th save
Rotowire
Bednar pitched a perfect ninth inning to pick up the save against the Reds in Monday's 4-1 win.
After serving up homers in each of his last two appearances, Bednar got back on track with a clean frame Monday. Bednar had a disastrous start to the season with 14 earned runs allowed in his first 13 outings, but he's turned it around with a 1.88 ERA over his last 19.1 innings. Despite the 5.34 ERA for the season, Bednar remains one of the better late-inning options, as his 15 saves are tied for eighth most in the majors.
... See More... See Less
Pirates' David Bednar: Nabs win in 10th
Rotowire
Bednar (3-3) picked up the win Tuesday, striking out one in a perfect 10th inning during a 7-6 victory over the Giants.
After the Pirates rallied for four runs in the ninth, Bednar got the call for the top of the 10th and set down three straight pinch hitters in Mike Yastrzemski, LaMonte Wade and Patrick Bailey. The right-hander then got rewarded when Nick Gonzales walked it off by singling on the first pitch he saw in the bottom of the frame. Bednar has turned things around following a bumpy first month of the season, and over 10 appearances in May he's posted a 2.89 ERA, 1.07 WHIP and 7:3 K:BB through 9.1 innings while converting all five of his save chances and chipping in two wins.
... See More... See Less
Pirates' David Bednar: Nails down ninth save
Rotowire
Bednar picked up the save against the Cubs on Thursday, pitching a perfect ninth inning while striking out one.
Bednar entered the game to protect a one-run lead in the bottom of the ninth and needed only eight pitches to retire the side and secure his ninth save of the season. The right-handed reliever has converted each of his last eight save attempts and carries a 2.57 ERA in May to go along with a 6:2 K:BB. Bednar has also recorded at least one strikeout in three straight appearances and in six of seven appearances overall this month.
... See More... See Less
Pirates' David Bednar: Collects seventh save
Rotowire
Bednar gave up a run on two hits in the ninth inning Saturday to record his seventh save of the season in a 10-9 win over the Cubs.
The right-hander made things interesting, giving up back-to-back hits to begin the ninth and allowing the tying run to get to third base with two outs, but Bednar escaped the jam. He's converted his last six save chances but has been volatile while doing it, getting tagged for runs in five of 11 appearances over that stretch while posting an 8.38 ERA and 12:3 K:BB through 9.2 innings. Bednar still has a grip on the Pirates' closer role and there is incentive to keep him in the ninth inning and build his trade value.
