David Bednar removed from closer role with Pirates

CLEVELAND — Following his sixth blown save of the season Wednesday, David Bednar is being removed from the Pirates’ closer role for the time being time being, manager Derek Shelton announced Friday. Instead, Shelton will opt for a closer-by-committee approach.

“It’s something that will take a little pressure off of him,” Shelton said in Progressive Field’s visitors’ dugout pregame before Friday’s series opener against the Guardians. “We know that this guy has been really good over the last couple of years. Right now, he’s scuffling a little bit. So, we’re adjusting that up a bit to take a little bit off of him.”

Bednar has struggled after back-to-back All-Star campaigns in 2022 and 2023, going 3-7 with a 6.32 ERA, 23 saves and six blown saves, compared to just seven blown saves in his previous two years combined.

Health has been a recurring issue for Bednar this year, missing almost all of Spring Training due to right lat tightness. He was able to start the season on the active roster, but struggled out of the gate, recording an 11.45 ERA through his first 13 games.

However, he started to resemble his old self, rattling off a stretch of 19 consecutive saves, but he hit the injured list again on June 23, and he has not been as effective since returning, allowing 16 runs (15 of which were earned) over his last 15 2/3 innings.

That included allowing five runs against the Cubs Wednesday in a 14-10 loss, as the Pirates’ bullpen blew a seven-run lead in the final three innings. The bullpen was expected to be one of the strengths of the club this year, but the unit’s 4.58 ERA was the fourth-worst in the Majors entering Friday’s series opener, while their 26 blown saves and 29 losses are tied for the most in the National League.

The Pirates have other options to pitch the ninth, the most obvious being Aroldis Chapman. While he has had his stretches of inconsistency, he had a respectable 3.55 ERA this season entering Friday and has saved 325 games in his career. Kyle Nicolas has also received more leverage spots of late, and Colin Holderman — the team’s normal setup man — is on a rehab assignment with Triple-A Indianapolis and potentially close to returning.