Pirates' blueprint with Bubba Chandler has already worked with these 2 young pitchers

The Pittsburgh Pirates are finally calling Bubba Chandler up to the Major Leagues. His long-awaited debut is one many Pirates fans are looking forward to. Chandler is a starting pitching prospect, but the Pirates are beginning his Major League career out in the bullpen, with the plan of later moving him back into the rotation.

While some may question that decision, Chandler has more to gain from it, and this sort of blueprint has worked for two of the Pirates’ current starters.

Chandler has already pitched 100 innings this year, with his career high being 119 he tossed last season. His 2025 campaign has definitely had its positives, but it has also had its negatives. Since the start of June, Chandler has a 5.96 ERA, 4.93 FIP, and 1.87 WHIP over his last 51 1/3 innings of work. His 1.05 HR/9 is solid, but his 21.2% strikeout rate and 13.1% walk rate are not. 

But what's more worrisome than his results is his workload. He is averaging just around four innings a start since the beginning of June. Chandler has gone at least five innings just twice over the last month. The last time he reached six innings was on July 10. Even earlier in the season when Chandler was dominating, posting a 2.03 ERA and a 35% strikeout rate through the end of May, he was only averaging around 4 1/3 innings a start.

Not only would it benefit Chandler due to his recent workload, but consider how else this has been employed. Braxton Ashcraft has only made three starts in 19 appearances this year. He worked well as a multi-inning reliever, and his last two outings have been out of the rotation. His previous two starts have been more than promising, and will likely earn him another go out of the rotation. 

Putting Bubba Chandler in the bullpen for now makes total sense for the Pirates

Another top pitching prospect the Pirates took a similar route with is Mike Burrows, who made his MLB debut in 2024 out of the bullpen. This year, he has started all but one of his 16 total appearances. The right-hander has had some reassuring outings as well, as nine of his starts have seen him go at least four innings, allowing two or fewer earned runs. Seven of them saw him pitch 5+ frames.

Burrows and Ashcraft were in different spots than Chandler is now. Both have a lengthy injury history, as Ashcraft missed nearly three full seasons from 2020-2022, and Burrows just returned from Tommy John surgery in the second half of 2024. Meanwhile, Chandler has never had any lasting injuries. But putting Burrows and Ashcraft in the bullpen to start their MLB careers has led to them being solid starting pitchers for the Pirates (or they're at least on a path to become that).

Chandler will have more than enough opportunities to expand his workload, even out of the bullpen. Even though Burrows and Ashcraft are in the rotation now, they’ve been limited to a degree, especially Ashcraft. Carmen Mlodzinski’s last appearance was also as a starter. Johan Oviedo just came off an outstanding start where he went five innings, but is still fresh off Tommy John surgery.

Let this process play out and give Chandler a soft landing for 2026.