If the Pirates needed one more outing to clarify how Jared Jones’ return to the starting rotation could reshape the staff, Bubba Chandler’s latest start may have provided the answer as the Cubs won, 10-4, tonight at PNC Park.
While Chandler finished with a respectable final line, his continued struggles in the opening innings could force Pittsburgh into a difficult decision about his role.
On the surface, Chandler’s numbers were manageable: five innings, four earned runs, eight hits, two walks and five strikeouts. But the line again masked a familiar issue. For Chandler, the biggest obstacle to turning promising starts into strong ones remains his inability to settle in early.
“Sometimes it’s tough to sync up and you know what’s going on and the stuff that fits," Chandler said. "I think I fixed it after the first and they got some ugly hits in there. It’s a good team. It’s a good team.”
He walked two of the first three batters he faced in the opening inning, and those free passes quickly turned into an early two-run deficit. The second inning brought more trouble, as Chandler allowed three singles and struggled to generate enough swing-and-miss stuff to limit the damage. By the end of the second, he had already thrown 51 pitches, putting himself behind the rest of the outing.
“The rest of the game goes fine, goes great, the big inning is just what kills you," Chandler said. "I think stuff will start to turn around here soon."
That pattern has become difficult to ignore. Chandler has now allowed 18 of his 28 earned runs in the first four innings of his starts, and 25 of his 36 walks have also come during that span. For a Pirates club weighing its rotation options, those early-game command issues could become the deciding factor as Jones moves closer to reclaiming a regular spot.
THE ASYLUM
Early innings continue to beat Chandler
If the Pirates needed one more outing to clarify how Jared Jones’ return to the starting rotation could reshape the staff, Bubba Chandler’s latest start may have provided the answer as the Cubs won, 10-4, tonight at PNC Park.
While Chandler finished with a respectable final line, his continued struggles in the opening innings could force Pittsburgh into a difficult decision about his role.
On the surface, Chandler’s numbers were manageable: five innings, four earned runs, eight hits, two walks and five strikeouts. But the line again masked a familiar issue. For Chandler, the biggest obstacle to turning promising starts into strong ones remains his inability to settle in early.
“Sometimes it’s tough to sync up and you know what’s going on and the stuff that fits," Chandler said. "I think I fixed it after the first and they got some ugly hits in there. It’s a good team. It’s a good team.”
He walked two of the first three batters he faced in the opening inning, and those free passes quickly turned into an early two-run deficit. The second inning brought more trouble, as Chandler allowed three singles and struggled to generate enough swing-and-miss stuff to limit the damage. By the end of the second, he had already thrown 51 pitches, putting himself behind the rest of the outing.
“The rest of the game goes fine, goes great, the big inning is just what kills you," Chandler said. "I think stuff will start to turn around here soon."
That pattern has become difficult to ignore. Chandler has now allowed 18 of his 28 earned runs in the first four innings of his starts, and 25 of his 36 walks have also come during that span. For a Pirates club weighing its rotation options, those early-game command issues could become the deciding factor as Jones moves closer to reclaiming a regular spot.
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