Bubba Chandler didn't pick up the win today in the Pirates' 3-2 victory over the Marlins at PNC Park, but he added another positive outing to his résumé, tossing 5 2/3 innings while allowing two earned runs on three hits, one walk, one hit batter and six strikeouts.
"Yeah, it was a good day," Chandler said. "Pounded the zone, letting them kind of make mistakes. Making good pitches and executing some pitches."
While Chandler hit triple digits with his four-seam fastball, it generated just one whiff on 12 swings. What did work was his slider, which produced eight whiffs on 13 swings. Taking a little off the pitch proved effective against the Marlins.
"I think I've done well the last couple times out, just being more comfortable throwing it for strikes," Chandler said. "You don't want to throw them down the middle every pitch, but sometimes you got to. Like I said, make guys get themselves out. Move the ball when you got to. Getting more comfortable just throwing it and trusting."
That maturation from a flamethrower into a pitcher with elite stuff comes with time, a lesson Chandler, still in his rookie season, appears to be learning.
"I think over the course of the last month and a half, everything's just getting better," Chandler said. "Just a couple outs away, a couple pitches away from going five (innings) with two (runs) or five (innings) with three (runs), now getting a quality start. I think just learning and growing."
THE ASYLUM
Chandler's maturation shows in adjustments
Bubba Chandler didn't pick up the win today in the Pirates' 3-2 victory over the Marlins at PNC Park, but he added another positive outing to his résumé, tossing 5 2/3 innings while allowing two earned runs on three hits, one walk, one hit batter and six strikeouts.
"Yeah, it was a good day," Chandler said. "Pounded the zone, letting them kind of make mistakes. Making good pitches and executing some pitches."
While Chandler hit triple digits with his four-seam fastball, it generated just one whiff on 12 swings. What did work was his slider, which produced eight whiffs on 13 swings. Taking a little off the pitch proved effective against the Marlins.
"I think I've done well the last couple times out, just being more comfortable throwing it for strikes," Chandler said. "You don't want to throw them down the middle every pitch, but sometimes you got to. Like I said, make guys get themselves out. Move the ball when you got to. Getting more comfortable just throwing it and trusting."
That maturation from a flamethrower into a pitcher with elite stuff comes with time, a lesson Chandler, still in his rookie season, appears to be learning.
"I think over the course of the last month and a half, everything's just getting better," Chandler said. "Just a couple outs away, a couple pitches away from going five (innings) with two (runs) or five (innings) with three (runs), now getting a quality start. I think just learning and growing."
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