Pirates director of sports medicine Todd Tomczyk said Wednesday that Bednar (lat) will throw off a mound in the coming days, Jason Mackey of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.

EDGE Analysis

Bednar has progressed to 120 feet with his flat-ground throwing and is almost ready to get back on the mound as he works his way back from right lat tightness. He doesn't have much time to get ready for Opening Day, but working in his favor is the fact that as a one-inning reliever, he requires a shorter ramp-up period than others. If Bednar needs time on the injured list to begin the season, Aroldis Chapman would fill in as the Pirates' closer.

Manager Derek Shelton said Sunday that Bednar (lat) played catch for the second straight day and that everything felt good, Alex Stumpf of MLB.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

Bednar was shut down from throwing activities March 4 after feeling tightness in his lats, but the right-hander appears to be on the right track in his rehab. If Bednar is forced to miss time to start the season, Aroldis Chapman figures to fill the closer role while the former progresses through his recovery.

Bednar (lat) is currently shut down from throwing but hopes to be back soon, Alex Stumpf of MLB.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

Bednar is dealing with some tightness in his right lat but seems optimistic he won't need a long-term absence. Injury optimism from players should be taken with a grain of salt, of course, and those that have already rostered Bednar in fantasy leagues might want to consider late-round insurance of Aroldis Chapman just in case.

Manager Derek Shelton said Sunday that Bednar is dealing with right lat tightness, Alex Stumpf of MLB.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

The right-hander apparently felt the tightness while throwing recently and is now being monitored by the training staff. It remains to be seen if the issue will affect Bednar's availability for the start of the regular season, but for now he should be considered day-to-day.

Bednar remains the Pirates closer after the team signed Aroldis Chapman this offseason, Mark Feinsand of MLB.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

Bednar has posted three consecutive excellent seasons with the Pirates, and he's served as the closer for the latter two. It hardly comes as a surprise that he's locked into the role in 2024 as a result, but manager Derek Shelton went out of his way early in camp to make clear that Bednar is first in line for saves.

The Pirates and Bednar avoided arbitration by agreeing to a one-year, $4.51 million contract Thursday, Jason Mackey of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.

EDGE Analysis

It's a sizable, well-earned raise for Bednar in what was his first year of arbitration eligibility. He's collected 61 saves while posting a 2.25 ERA and 226:56 K:BB over 179.2 innings during his time in Pittsburgh, blossoming into one of the best closers in baseball.

Bednar picked up the save in Sunday's 3-0 victory over the Marlins, striking out two over a perfect inning.

EDGE Analysis

It was a fitting way for Bednar to wrap up the campaign, striking out his final two batters to close out a 3-0 Pirates' victory. Since Aug. 30, the 28-year-old Bednar pitched to a 1.35 ERA over 13.1 innings while converting 16 straight save chances. He'll end the year with 39 saves, tied for second most in the majors, with a 2.00 ERA, 1.10 WHIP and 80 strikeouts over 67.1 innings.

Bednar pitched a scoreless inning with one walk and two strikeouts to close out the save in Thursday's 3-2 win over the Phillies.

EDGE Analysis

Bednar continues to roll as one of the top closers this season, placing second on the saves leaderboard as of the end of Thursday's game. Notably nine of his 38 saves have come in September while pitching to a 1.62 ERA and 1.17 WHIP with 15 strikeouts across 11.1 innings in that span.

Bednar picked up the save in Friday's 7-5 victory over the Reds. He allowed zero hits and two walks while striking out one over a scoreless inning.

EDGE Analysis

Bednar is now up to 37 saves on the year, which is tied for the NL lead and trails only Emmanuel Clase (42) on the overall MLB leaderboard. The 28-year-old right-hander has delivered a terrific 2.08 ERA with 75 strikeouts across 65 total innings of work this season for the Pirates.

Bednar picked up the save in Sunday's 3-2 win over the Yankees. He allowed one hit while striking out three in a scoreless inning.

EDGE Analysis

Bednar's now gone nine consecutive innings without allowing an earned run, striking out 10 in that span, while converting his last 14 save opportunities. The 28-year-old right-hander is now 36-for-39 in save chances this season with a pristine 1.86 ERA, 1.08 WHIP and 72:4 K:BB across 63 innings.