Pirates’ Carmen Mlodzinski, now off the restricted list, ready to embrace new role

HOUSTON — The fuss over Carmen Mlodzinski’s role will soon be a thing of the past.

His stay on the restricted list lasted just one day, and the Pirates reliever — who’s with the team in Houston — said he’ll be ready to pitch in his new relief role Tuesday against the Astros at Daikin Park should manager Don Kelly call on him.

To formally make that possible, the Pirates removed Mlodzinski from the restricted list Monday.

“I wanna do what’s best to help us win baseball games,” Mlodzinski said. “Being around these guys, this team, it’s a pretty cool group to be a part of. Of course I want to start and will always want that, but winning games takes precedence.”

He did not request a trade, echoing what general manager Ben Cherington said Sunday, and added Monday that he never considered asking for one.

As for the placement on the restricted list, Mlodzinski said the decision was made to help the bullpen for Sunday’s game — Cam Sanders joined the team and pitched a scoreless inning — while also allowing Mlodzinski an extra day to fully prepare for the new gig.

“I think on Sunday the team needed short-term coverage in the bullpen just because of this 14-game stretch that we’re on and the taxing that the bullpen had the previous games,” Mlodzinski said. “We needed to do this to give us the best chance to win on Sunday. Fully in agreement to do what’s necessary for the team, to do what’s best for my teammates to give us the best chance to win.”

The Pirates announced Mlodzinski would move to a bullpen role last Thursday, the day before Jared Jones returned from the injured list.

Kelly described Mlodzinski’s role as a “high-leverage bulk reliever” who would pitch multiple innings behind that day’s starting pitcher.

The idea would be for Mlodzinski to not throw one or two innings at a time but rather to occasionally close games while addressing a weak spot in the bullpen.

Mlodzinski has stated a desire to be a traditional starting pitcher and went 4-3 with a 3.76 ERA in 11 games (nine starts) this season. Mlodzinski also walked 20 and struck out 46 in 55.0 innings, with a FIP of 3.31.

In other words, the move wasn’t made due to anything Mlodzinski did wrong. It was strategic to help the team win more games.

Mlodzinski spoke on Friday night and said he was communicating with those close to him to figure out what was next. After taking a few days to process everything, Mlodzinski is ready to embrace the new role and said he simply wants to win.

The way Mlodzinski has grown as a pitcher — adding a splitter, using his curveball more and doing a better job executing his four-seam fastball — works to his benefit in either role.

According to Baseball Savant, Mlodzinski’s offspeed stuff has a run value in the 91st percentile, due in large part to the splitter. He’s also been terrific at keeping the ball in the ballpark, allowing just three homers in those 55 innings.

Over his past three starts, Mlodzinski has delivered some of his best work this season, going 2-1 with a 2.14 ERA, including a 10-strikeout game on May 2 against the Reds.

The new role required some conversations, but Mlodzinski is ready to press forward and embrace whatever the team needs out of him.

“If they called on me Tuesday, if they need me to do that, I would be willing to do whatever they’re asking,” Mlodzinski said. “That kind of sums it up for me, honestly.”

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