Bednar has thrown two scoreless innings with a 3:0 K:BB across his last two Grapefruit League outings.

EDGE Analysis

The Pirates still haven't named a closer and Bednar had a pair of rocky outings -- one heavily influenced by poor defense -- in mid-March. However, he's managed to get on the right track as the regular season nears by not allowing a baserunner in his last two appearances.

Bednar is presumed to begin the season the Pirates' closer, but manager Derek Shelton elected not to officially name the team's closer Sunday, Noah Hiles of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.

EDGE Analysis

It's the second time during spring training that Shelton has made clear a decision at closer has yet to be made, though the skipper also indicated Sunday that he's happy with how Bednar has look during spring training, despite a 14.40 ERA and 6:3 K:BB over five innings. After two consecutive All-Star seasons in 2022 and 2023, the right-hander struggled to a 5.77 ERA in 62 appearances last year and was removed from the closer role down the stretch.

Bednar allowed five earned runs across 0.1 innings on three hits and two walks in Thursday's Grapefruit League game against the Twins.

EDGE Analysis

This marked Bednar's fifth appearance of the spring, and he had maintained a 5:1 K:BB while allowing only one earned run across his first four innings. However, Thursday's outing was particularly concerning in light of Bednar's struggles in 2024, when he posted a 5.77 ERA and 1.42 WHIP while being removed from the closer role to end the year. The departure of Aroldis Chapman this offseason likely gives Bednar some leeway for save chances to begin the campaign, but he'll need to perform to maintain the role.

When asked Tuesday by Foul Territory TV whether Bednar was his closer, Pirates manager Derek Shelton said, "we're not ready to say that."

EDGE Analysis

Shelton did add, however, that "we feel very good with the fact that we have a guy who was a two-time All-Star closer." Bednar looks to be the heavy favorite to emerge with the Pirates' closer job coming out of spring training, but Shelton isn't ready to hand him the responsibility yet after the reliever held a 5.77 ERA in 2024 and finished the season in a low-leverage role. If Bednar struggles this spring, guys like Dennis Santana, Colin Holderman and others could enter the saves mix for Pittsburgh.

Bednar is expected to begin the 2025 season as the Pirates' closer, Alex Stumpf of MLB.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

Bednar endured a tough 2024 season, highlighted by a 5.77 ERA and 1.42 WHIP across 57.2 innings. As a result, he didn't close the campaign in the closer role, instead ceding most of the opportunities to Aroldis Chapman in the final month. Chapman has since signed in Boston, leaving Pittsburgh hopeful that Bednar will be able to regain his previous form as a reliable closer. Bednar and the team have noted that he was overthrowing his pitches last season -- potentially due to an oblique injury he suffered early in the campaign -- an issue they believe has been resolved during the offseason.

The Pirates and Bednar avoided arbitration by agreeing to a one-year, $5.9 million contract Thursday, Andrew Destin of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.

EDGE Analysis

Bednar had a rough 2024 campaign, losing his closer job while collecting a 5.77 ERA, 1.42 WHIP and 58:28 K:BB across 57.2 innings of work. He could get another shot in the ninth inning in 2025 but won't be handed the job.

Bednar (3-8) was charged with a blown save and took the loss against the Cardinals on Wednesday, allowing three runs (two earned) on one hit and one walk over one-third of an inning.

EDGE Analysis

Bednar entered the contest with the score tied in the bottom of the seventh and proceeded to give up a leadoff homer to Masyn Winn on a hanging curveball. The right-handed reliever would then manage to retire just one of the next three batters he faced before being relieved by Jalen Beeks, who didn't fare any better. It marked the seventh blown save of the season for Bednar, with his previous one coming back on Aug. 28, just before he was removed from the closer role. He's now allowed at least one run in three of his last six appearances and carries a 5.14 ERA in the month of September to go along with a dreadful 6:8 K:BB.

Bednar allowed one unearned run on two hits while striking out two across two-thirds of an inning Wednesday against the Marlins.

EDGE Analysis

Bednar started the ninth inning with a 3-0 lead. He had an inconsistent performance as he allowed a leadoff double and an RBI single, but he struck out two and would have stranded the runner successfully had there not been an error behind him. Bednar hasn't recorded a save since Aug. 23 and has since been removed from the closer role, though it appears the Pirates may be willing to give him more save chances before the close of the season.

Bednar struck out one and didn't allow a baserunner in the ninth inning Tuesday against the Cubs.

EDGE Analysis

Bednar entered the game with a 5-0 lead and turned in his second consecutive scoreless appearance since losing the closer job for the Pirates. It's unclear whether the team will return him to the role if he continues to show improved form in low-leverage situations.

Manager Derek Shelton said Friday that Bednar will be temporarily removed from the closer role and pitch in lower-leverage situations, Alex Stumpf of MLB.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

The decision to relieve Bednar of his duties as closer comes two days after he allowed five earned runs on three hits and two walks in just two-thirds of an inning during Wednesday's loss to the Cubs. The Pirates will now use a closer-by-committee approach, making Aroldis Chapman and Jalen Beeks likely candidates to see increased opportunities in the ninth inning.