Dennis

Santana

Bednar got the call to close out the game against the Diamondbacks on Tuesday with a three-run lead. He struck out two batters in a perfect inning to collect his sixth save of the season. Bednar has three of the team’s last four saves, with Dennis Santana working the eighth inning.

Bednar got the call to close out the game in the ninth following Dennis Santana, who pitched the eighth. Protecting a one-run lead, Bednar worked around a hit batter and a base hit to record his fifth save of the season, matching Santana’s five as the two alternate save chances.

Bednar struck out Jackson Chourio to start the ninth before giving up a homer to William Contreras and walking two in a row. Just 11 of his 24 pitches were strikes, with two producing whiffs. It’s a definite setback as he tries to reestablish himself in the closer’s role. Dennis Santana previously pitched a scoreless inning tonight, though he allowed two inherited runners to score.

Santana struck out two and didn’t allow a baserunner en route to his fifth save of the season. David Bednar, who recorded the save on Tuesday, had thrown in back-to-back days and was unavailable on Wednesday. This has the makings of a full-blown committee between Santana and Bednar.

Dennis Santana, who had the Pirates’ only save this month until tonight, worked a perfect eighth. Bednar allowed a single to start the ninth, but he then got Santiago Espinal (still batting second for some horrible reason) to ground into a double play, and Elly De La Cruz flew out to end the game. Bednar was handed the ninth tonight despite giving up two runs in the eighth on Monday. It’s a good sign for his fantasy value, but he’ll almost certainly be down Wednesday after throwing 41 pitches the last two days. Santana could close if the Pirates have another lead then.

Brought into a tie game, Bednar retired the first batter he faced before the second reached on an Isiah Kiner-Falefa error. A single and a game-ending sac fly followed. Bednar won’t get much blame for this one, but it can’t help matters as he contends with Dennis Santana for late-game opportunities.

Santana was brought in to face the bottom three hitters in Atlanta’s order in a tie game in the ninth inning and earned a win when the Pirates walked it off in the bottom of the inning. Santana has now pitched the ninth inning three days in a row after the Pirates made a managerial change. None of those appearances were against the middle of the order; that role has gone to David Bednar. But it’s clear that Santana will be in a position to pick up a few wins and saves even if Bednar keeps the high-leverage role.

Bednar got the eighth inning against the heart of the Braves lineup with the Pirates down by one run. He actually recorded four outs as Ozzie Albies reached on a throwing error after striking out. Bednar struck out two in the scoreless inning. Dennis Santana took the ninth with the game tied for a scoreless inning to take it to extra inning. Bednar has allowed two runs over ten innings with a 15/1 K/BB ratio since retuning from the minors on April 19. Save chances have come few and far between for the Pirates, but it seems the team will be utilizing a matchup-based approach to the ninth inning with Bednar facing the tougher part of the order.

It seemed like David Bednar was back in the closer’s role for Pittsburgh, and he still might be; the Pirates used him against the top of the Braves order in the eighth, leaving the bottom half for Santana. That Santana wound up allowing two runs seems like good news for those who have held on to Bednar.

Santana rejoins Pittsburgh’s high-leverage mix ahead of Sunday’s series finale against the Padres. The 29-year-old journeyman has recorded three saves this season to accompany a strong 1.46 ERA across 12 1/3 innings (13 appearances).