Bullpen games have become a strength for the Pirates this season

CHICAGO — While there’s been much discussed regarding Paul Skenes, Braxton Ashcraft, Jared Jones and Bubba Chandler, TBA doesn’t get nearly enough attention.

To be announced, of course. It’s what the Pirates will sometimes use as a placeholder until the prior game is completed, allowing them to determine who’s available to start a bullpen game.

On those days — with another coming Wednesday against the White Sox at Rate Field, as TBA became Lake Bachar — the Pirates have been very good. Relying on bullpen days has been a Pirates strength in 2026.

They’re 6-4 when employing this strategy, allowing 2.6 runs per game. The Pirates are allowing 4.8 runs per game the rest of the time.

"It's been a selfless attitude of the guys in the ‘pen to pitch whenever they’re needed to pitch,” Pirates manager Don Kelly said. “They’ve done a really good job in those opener games.”

When asked about the Pirates’ success with this strategy, the first name Kelly cited was Bachar, who's become their preferred opener, taking the baton from Mason Montgomery earlier in the year.

Bachar has done it four times, working a combined 9 2/3 innings while allowing just two earned runs (1.86 ERA) and striking out 10. The Pirates have won three of those, while Bachar has set the tone for Khristian Curtis, Hunter Barco and Carmen Mlodzinski twice.

“It’s fun,” Bachar said. “I just like to go out there and throw. So, any time I can be out there and competing for the guys is amazing.”

Bachar inherited a role Montgomery flourished in, before he became a shutdown closer. In five opening situations, Montgomery didn’t allow a run and struck out eight across five innings.

Yohan Ramirez opened once and Justin Lawrence and Evan Sisk had games where they served as what was effectively a second opener.

If you add up those 12 appearances, Pirates pitchers have a 0.96 ERA in 18 2/3 “opening” innings, with 10 walks, 24 strikeouts and one home run allowed.

But it’s not just the opener. The bulk reliever has had to cooperate, and those guys have been really good, too.

Mlodzinski has led the way there, pitching to a 2.59 ERA in 17 1/3 innings when he directly follows an opener. The Pirates are 3-1 in those games.

Wilber Dotel was dominant in his four-inning (no runs or walks, three strikeouts) bulk role April 27 against the Cardinals (a 4-2 win). Bulk deployment gave Chandler a different look that he spun into 5 1/3 innings of two-run ball (with seven strikes) against the Braves, a pivot point in his season.

Overall, in games where the Pirates have employed an opener, their bulk relievers have a 2.95 ERA, walking 19, striking out 38 and giving up just one home run in 42 2/3 innings.

“You need to have a number capable pitchers,” Pirates general manager Ben Cherington said. “Then it’s really about planning and being ahead of it.

"We need to make sure either on our roster or in Triple-A we’ve got a combination of pitchers who can go and not just cover the innings but actually give you a chance to win

“Once you get to the [bullpen game], it’s just about planning things like, ‘OK, which parts of the lineup do we want to set different guys up for?’ It’s a combination of all of those things.”

It’s a way of stacking pitching that makes sense: neutralizing left-handed hitters in some cases and in others limiting how much the opposing team can see a Pirates pitcher.

With a bunch of young starters, many of whom will reach innings thresholds soon, it’s been an important way for the Pirates to find success while also building in an extra day of rest.

And with guys like Curtis, Dotel, Barco, Antwone Kelly or Thomas Harrington, don’t be surprised if you see it more.

“We’re lucky right now to have a bunch of capable, multi-inning Major League pitchers,” Cherington said. “Not just who can [execute the opener-bulk strategy] but do so effectively and get guys out.”

Jason Mackey: Jason.Mackey@pirates.com and @JMackey_PGH on X.