Bubba Chandler’s epic bounce back vs Nationals surprised even Pirates manager Don Kelly

After a disastrous first MLB start last week against the Milwaukee Brewers, Pittsburgh Pirates rookie Bubba Chandler needed a strong performance against the Washington Nationals on Saturday – and he got one.

Chandler threw six innings, allowing just two hits and one run, while posting seven strikeouts over 81 pitches for the Pirates, who rallied for a 5-1 victory over the Nationals to avoid a series sweep. And that's not all – Chandler had a perfect game through the first five innings before he gave up a pair of singles and a run in the bottom of the sixth.

According to the Elias Sports Bureau, Chandler became just the fourth Pittsburgh rookie in the Expansion Era (since 1961) to carry a perfect-game bid through five innings. That's certainly impressive in its own right, but even more so considering his last start five games earlier had seen him surrender more runs (nine) than outs he recorded (eight).

“I don’t see Bubba struggle very often, so if you see one, you can bet on the next one being pretty damn good,” said Nick Yorke (via Alex Stumpf of MLB.com).

Indeed, it was.

Even Pirates manager Don Kelly didn't expect Bubba Chandler to bounce back as well as he did vs Nationals

Like Yorke, Pirates manager Don Kelly expected that last week's outing against the Brewers wouldn't keep Chandler down for long. But flirting with perfection? No one could have predicted that.

“It’s hard to expect that – perfect through five innings – and I’m sitting there thinking it’s going to be hard to take him out of the game,” Kelly said (via Stumpf). “Coming off of 2 2/3 [innings] and sixty-something pitches, he pitched so well. We see the competitor that he is and how he gets after it."

Saturday's game ended up being a no-decision for Chandler, but the top pitching prospect in baseball already has a pair of saves and a win under his belt at the Major League level. If he continues to put up performances like he did against the Nationals, he will be an early favorite for National League Rookie of the Year in 2026.