The Pittsburgh Pirates have announced that closer David Bednar has been activated from the injured list. He’ll join the Pirates in Chicago on Friday for their weekend series against the White Sox. In the corresponding move, Ryder Ryan, Mr. Frequent Flyer Miles of 2024, has been dispatched to Triple-A Indianapolis once again.
We have made the following roster moves:
• Ended the rehab assignment of LHP Marco Gonzales and reinstated him from the 60-day injured list
• Designated RHP Brent Honeywell Jr. for assignment to make room for Gonzales on the 26- and 40-man rosters.
• Ended the rehab…— Pittsburgh Pirates (@Pirates) July 12, 2024
Pirates Closer Bednar Activated from IL
Bednar, 29, has 16 saves in 2024. Yet he hasn’t been his old lock-down self. His ERA is 5.17 to go with an ERA+ of 79. You’d have a hard time convincing Pirates fans that his 1.117 WHIP is accurate. His record is 3-3 and he’s blown three saves. Even so, after a rough April that ended with his ERA ballooning to 11.70, he was more effective in May and June.
Bednar’s April struggles may have been due to an injury that resulted in a shorter spring training. When his left oblique muscle tightened up, the Pirates finally decided not to take any chances and placed him on the IL on June 23. However, now the question becomes whether he’s being rushed back again. The hard-throwing right-hander’s rehab assignment consisted of one inning on Wednesday in Double-A Altoona. He faced just three batters, allowing no baserunners and striking out one, and, less importantly, was credited with a “hold.” Nonetheless, he’s headed to Chicago for the final weekend series before the All-Star break.
Reshuffling the ‘Pen
Pirates fans, if not the players themselves, will be happy to see Bednar reinstated and reinserted into the closer’s role. Since Bednar went on the IL, the save situations have been entrusted to Aroldis Chapman. For Chapman, it’s been a mixed bag. He’s 1-4 with a 4.01 ERA and 1.634 WHIP. He has four saves but has also been “credited” with three blown saves. Part of his problem has been a lack of control. Although he still throws hard and has struck out 14.7 per nine innings, he’s also walked 8.6 per nine. With Colin Holderman as a reliable eighth-inning man, despite some recent chinks in the armor, Chapman can settle into a role where he can work out his control issues.
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