Dennis

Santana

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).

The move is retroactive to Monday, so Santana can be activated in as few as two or as many as six days. The right-hander has been the Pirates’ most important reliever to date, amassing a 1.46 ERA and three saves, but he’s droppable in fantasy leagues now that David Bednar is back and getting another shot in the closer’s role.

Santana gave up a hit, but was easily able to hold a three-run lead while picking up his third save of the season. Even with David Bednar back from the minors, it seems like Santana has good chance of seeing save chances. Just keep in mind Bednar is there, and the Pirates aren’t exactly going to be among the win leaders in the National League, either.

Bednar returns to the majors following an early-season demotion after reeling off five scoreless innings with seven strikeouts over five appearances for Triple-A Indianapolis. The 30-year-old former closer figures to be in the mix for high-leverage work right away, but it’s unclear whether the club will immediately thrust him back into save situations. It’s been journeyman Dennis Santana handling the closing duties of late. Given his track record, Bednar is worthy of a speculative pickup for fantasy managers chasing saves.