Pirates Make Starting Pitcher Decision vs. Dodgers
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PITTSBURGH — The Pittsburgh Pirates are looking to avoid a sweep against the Los Angeles Dodgers and will hope their pitching can lead the way to a victory.
The Pirates will have right-handed pitcher Lake Bachar start vs. the Dodgers in the series finale at Dodger Stadium on Aug. 23, per manager Don Kelly
It marks the second start for Bachar with the Pirates, last doing so vs. the Boston Red Sox in the 8-3 win at PNC Park on Aug. 16.
Kelly also noted that right-handed pitcher Carmen Mlodzinski will be available to follow, which would give him a bulk role.
Why Pirates Are Going With Bachar vs. Dodgers
The Pirates had Bachar start vs. the Red Sox after they pushed back Paul Skenes from that game to three days later against the Detroit Tigers at PNC Park on Aug. 19.
Bachar got himself into a jam in both the second inning and third inning, but worked out of them and finished with both four strikeouts and three scoreless innings in the victory.
The Pirates acquired Bachar at the trade deadline from the Miami Marlins and he's pitched well for his new team, with a 3.27 ERA over five outings and 11.0 innings pitched, 12 strikeouts to six walks, a .179 BAA and a 1.18 WHIP.
Bachar should give the Pirates three innings and then Mlodzinski can come in and provide a bigger bulk role, if possible.
He also has pitched just once since his last start vs. the Red Sox, in the series opener vs. the Dodgers on Aug. 21, walking three batters, but throwing a scoreless frame in the seventh inning.
It's a big chance for Bachar to continue showing his reliability out of the bullpen, but doing so in the starting role this time.
Can Mlodzinski Finally Pitch How the Pirates Expect Him to?
The Pirates have this hole in the starting rotation after Mitch Keller suffered a right arm teres major muscle injury, landing him on the 60-day injured list and ending his season.
Mlodzinski, who already had a two-month stint in the Pirates rotation, went right back into that spot, but struggled massively in his second stint this season.
He posted a 14.04 ERA, 13 earned runs over 8.1 innings pitched, five walks to five strikeouts, two home runs, 20 hits (21.00 H/9), 3.00 WHIP and a .455 BAA, with a 53.8% hard-hit rate.
The Pirates lost all three of his starts and his poor pitching put them into a tough situation early in those games.
Mlodzinski is much better coming out of the bullpen, but he's also had a bulk role before in this season.
He pitched two bulk role outings vs. the Washington Nationals on April 15 and Colorado Rockies on May 14, both at PNC Park, and gave up a combined two runs over 11 innings.
Mlodzinski has also posted a 2.15 ERA as a reliever this season and that might just be where the Pirates will get the most out of him over the last five weeks of the season.
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Dominic writes for Pittsburgh Pirates On SI, Pittsburgh Panthers Pn SI and also, Pittsburgh Steelers On SI. A Pittsburgh native, Dominic grew up watching Pittsburgh Sports and wrote for The Pitt News as an undergraduate at the University of Pittsburgh, covering Pitt Athletics. He would write for Pittsburgh Sports Now after college and has years of experience covering sports across Pittsburgh.