BubbaChandler continues to show why he's now the top-ranked pitching prospect, according to MLB Pipeline, and his major-league arrival could be coming sooner rather than later.
Since being assigned to minor-league camp during spring training, I've been told that Chandler is on the same track that Paul Skenes was a year ago and there was an expectation the Pirates' top prospect would be called up sometime in May.
Skenes made seven starts with Indianapolis and produced a 0.99 ERA over 27 1/3 innings before debuting on May 11 last year. Chandler has made nine starts this season and produced a 2.17 ERA over 37 1/3 innings. Skenes maxed out at 75 pitches while Chandler threw 86 this afternoon, striking out seven over 4 1/3 innings.
Chandler also topped out at 99.8 mph with his fastball, generated 15 whiffs on 41 swings and allowed two runs on seven hits and two walks while throwing 86 pitches.
Bubba Chandler stays nasty 😤
MLB’s No. 2 prospect hits 99.8 and racks up 7 K’s with 15 whiffs in 4.1 IP for Triple-A Indy.
The Pirates return to PNC Park tomorrow for a seven-game home stand against the Reds (3 games) and Brewers (4). It would be a prime opportunity to have Chandler make his debut. With how the rotation is set, Carmen Mlodzinski would start the series opener against the Brewers on Thursday and Skenes would pitch Friday.
Don Kelly and Ben Cherington could elect to throw Chandler on Saturday and have a weekend slate of Skenes, Chandler and Mitch Keller, who is set to start tomorrow vs. the Reds. The question still remains if they would move forward with a six-man rotation or move one of their starters to the bullpen.
Cherington has said they want to keep their options open in terms of using a six-man rotation. If they elect to go with a five-man rotation, Mlodzinski is the best option to move to the pen. He has a history of success as a reliever with a career 3.08 ERA compared to his 4.94 ERA as a starter. That move would keep the rotation loaded with three righties and two lefties.
Chandler has struggled a bit at times over his last three starts as his ERA jumped from 1.42 to 2.17. He's allowed five runs on 16 hits and nine walks over 12 innings. The seven hits he allowed today were a season high.
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THE ASYLUM
Greg Macafee
7:54 pm - 05.18.2025DowntownChandler's arrival nearing?
Bubba Chandler continues to show why he's now the top-ranked pitching prospect, according to MLB Pipeline, and his major-league arrival could be coming sooner rather than later.
Since being assigned to minor-league camp during spring training, I've been told that Chandler is on the same track that Paul Skenes was a year ago and there was an expectation the Pirates' top prospect would be called up sometime in May.
Skenes made seven starts with Indianapolis and produced a 0.99 ERA over 27 1/3 innings before debuting on May 11 last year. Chandler has made nine starts this season and produced a 2.17 ERA over 37 1/3 innings. Skenes maxed out at 75 pitches while Chandler threw 86 this afternoon, striking out seven over 4 1/3 innings.
Chandler also topped out at 99.8 mph with his fastball, generated 15 whiffs on 41 swings and allowed two runs on seven hits and two walks while throwing 86 pitches.
The Pirates return to PNC Park tomorrow for a seven-game home stand against the Reds (3 games) and Brewers (4). It would be a prime opportunity to have Chandler make his debut. With how the rotation is set, Carmen Mlodzinski would start the series opener against the Brewers on Thursday and Skenes would pitch Friday.
Don Kelly and Ben Cherington could elect to throw Chandler on Saturday and have a weekend slate of Skenes, Chandler and Mitch Keller, who is set to start tomorrow vs. the Reds. The question still remains if they would move forward with a six-man rotation or move one of their starters to the bullpen.
Cherington has said they want to keep their options open in terms of using a six-man rotation. If they elect to go with a five-man rotation, Mlodzinski is the best option to move to the pen. He has a history of success as a reliever with a career 3.08 ERA compared to his 4.94 ERA as a starter. That move would keep the rotation loaded with three righties and two lefties.
Chandler has struggled a bit at times over his last three starts as his ERA jumped from 1.42 to 2.17. He's allowed five runs on 16 hits and nine walks over 12 innings. The seven hits he allowed today were a season high.
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