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Pittsburgh Pirates: Three Goals for September
By Marty Leap
How will Derek Shelton manager the bullpen?
When the Pittsburgh Pirates traded then closer Richard Rodríguez to the Atlanta Braves at the trade deadline it changed the make up of the Pirate bullpen. Since then manager Derek Shelton has used a bit of a closer by committee approach with both David Bednar and Chris Stratton getting save opportunities.
Since returning from the IL in August Chad Kuhl has become a mainstay in the Pirate bullpen as well and has looked strong out of the ‘pen. This should not be a surprise, after all many people have long thought Kuhl was best suited for a relief role.
Watching what Shelton does with the bullpen in September will be worth keeping an eye on. Bednar and Stratton will undoubtedly continue to pitch in high-leverage situations. If Kuhl continues to do the same instead of transitioning back to the rotation, or even a long-relief role, it could indicate the Pirates plan to keep Kuhl in that role moving froward. This could give the Pirates one heck of a back-end trio entering 2022.
Young righty Nick Mears will be another reliever to watch in September. While he has struggled to the tune of a 5.02 ERA and 6.23 FIP in 14.1 innings pitched this season he possesses the power stuff needed to be a successful high-leverage reliever in the Majors. His 20.6% strikeout rate is solid, but he has struggled with the long ball (2.51 HR/9). If Mears can get his home run issues under control he could make that previously mentioned strong back-end trio a strong back-end quartet for 2022.
Duane Underwood Jr. will be worth keeping an eye on this month as well. His 4.20 ERA and 3.91 FIP do not paint a completely accurate picture of how well he has pitched this season. Since some woes in June and early July that ballooned his ERA, Underwood Jr. owns a 2.61 ERA and has struck out 17 batters in his last 20.1 innings pitched. Under team control through 2025, Underwood Jr. could emerge as a key piece of the bullpen moving forward, or an offseason trade chip, with a strong month of September.