Bednar notched his first career save in Saturday's 5-4 win over the Cardinals, striking out one and working around a base hit in a scoreless ninth inning.

EDGE Analysis

Save opportunities haven't been plentiful this season for the 44-79 Pirates, and the team's closer situation became even murkier when Richard Rodriguez was dealt to Atlanta ahead of the July 30 deadline. After converting his first save in relatively stress-free fashion Saturday, Bednar now looks like the clear top pitcher to roster out of the Pittsburgh bullpen. Even before Rodriguez was dealt, Bednar had been one of the team's top setup arms, logging a 2.49 ERA, 1.03 WHIP and 62:16 K:BB in 50.2 innings while collecting 10 holds. Bednar still likely can't be counted on to receive more than a handful of save chances the rest of the season, but that might be enough to make the 26-year-old worthy of rostering for fantasy managers desperate to make up ground in the category.

Bednar gave up a hit in 1.1 scoreless innings of Friday's 4-0 win over the Cardinals. He struck out one batter.

EDGE Analysis

He appeared with two outs in the seventh inning to preserve the team's three-run lead in a high-leverage situation. After Bednar retired St. Louis with a 14-pitch eighth inning, Chris Stratton closed out the ninth. Given Pittsburgh's desperate need for only its third win in August, it's hard to read into Stratton closing the game out when Bednar did the heavy lifting the two prior innings.

Bednar struck out one in a scoreless ninth inning of Sunday's 2-1 loss to the Brewers.

EDGE Analysis

He's appeared in only four games since the trade deadline's passed, allowing one earned run in 6.1 innings with two hits, one walk and eight strikeouts. Fellow high-leverage reliever Chris Stratton has struggled in August, allowing seven runs in four innings. For his part, Bednar's future remains bright and he projects as the team's closer heading into 2022.

Bednar (3-1) threw two hitless innings of relief in an 8-5, 10-inning win over Milwaukee on Tuesday. He struck out two batters without issuing a walk.

EDGE Analysis

The hard-throwing righty entered the game in the ninth inning of a 5-5 tie. Bednar followed Chris Stratton, who failed to protect a seventh-inning lead. Tuesday's slotting of relief pitchers gave some insight into how the Bucs might handle late-inning situations, with Stratton setting up for Bednar. Bednar and Stratton both threw more than 20 pitches Tuesday, however, so they'll likely be on a tight pitch-count Wednesday.

Bednar allowed one run on three hits and no walks in one inning during Saturday's win over the Phillies.

EDGE Analysis

Bednar hadn't allowed any runs in July prior to Saturday's appearance, but he gave up Pittsburgh's one-run lead in the eighth inning against the Phillies. Per Jason Mackey of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, the right-hander profiles as the Pirates' closer after Richard Rodriguez was traded to Atlanta on Friday. However, Chris Stratton earned the win Saturday by tossing a scoreless ninth inning, and manager Derek Shelton said before Saturday's game that the Pirates will use a closer-by-committee approach, Jake Crouse of MLB.com reports.

Bednar collected his seventh hold in Friday's 4-1 win over the Mets, walking one batter in a scoreless eighth inning. He struck out one batter.

EDGE Analysis

Bednar, who threw 14 of 21 pitches for strikes, appeared in a spot typically reserved for Kyle Crick (who did not pitch). The right-hander figures to get an opportunity to close games out if and when the team trades Richard Rodriguez by the deadline.

Bednar (2-1) allowed two hits in a scoreless inning and earned the win over the Mets on Sunday.

EDGE Analysis

The 26-year-old benefited from Pittsburgh pulling ahead in the top of the ninth, which put him in line for the win. Bednar hasn't seen a ton of high-leverage work for a struggling team, but he's pitched reasonably well with a 3.09 ERA, 1.11 WHIP and 42:12 K:BB across 35 innings. The right-hander has added six holds and a blown save in 39 appearances.

Bednar has registered a 2.35 ERA, 1.04 WHIP and 8:3 KK:B in 7.2 innings.

EDGE Analysis

He's kept opponents scoreless in nine of 10 outings, picking up a pair of holds. The righty's throwing hard (96.7 mph) and often (60.3 percent). Pittsburgh has developed a pecking order that typically features Kyle Crick in the eighth inning and Richard Rodriguez in the ninth, but Bednar is showing that his spring training effectiveness was no fluke. Should the team trade Crick or Rodriguez, the 26-year-old figures to get a late-inning look. He did pitch the ninth inning of Sunday's win in Minnesota in a four-run game.

Bednar allowed two earned runs on two hits (both solo homers) and no walks in one inning of Wednesday's 11-4 loss to Cincinnati. He struck out two batters.

EDGE Analysis

In an effort to get him some work, Bednar entered Wednesday's game with his team already down, 9-0, in the eighth inning. He's only allowed 10 home runs in 219.2 minor-league innings, but has given up six in just 20.1 major-league frames -- something to keep an eye on.

Bednar pitched a scoreless inning in a 5-3 win over the Cubs on Thursday. He struck out two without allowing a hit or walk en route to his first hold.

EDGE Analysis

The righty appeared in the seventh inning to protect a 5-2 lead, ahead of Chris Stratton (eighth inning) and Rich Rodriguez (ninth inning) with Kyle Crick (personal) away from the team. Bednar's fine outing represents a carryover from his impressive spring and while he didn't close out Thursday's game, he's definitely got closer-worthy stuff.