Bednar (1-2) took the loss Friday against the Giants after he allowed three runs on two hits and a walk without recording an out.

EDGE Analysis

Pirates manager Derek Shelton turned to his closer in the bottom of the ninth of a scoreless tie, but Bednar gave up a walk and a single before serving up a walk-off, three-run homer to Patrick Bailey. Bednar entered the contest with three straight scoreless appearances, but he has now allowed at least three runs in three separate outings and has a 12.00 ERA across nine innings overall. The right-hander is 4-for-7 in save opportunities and has seen his job security decline significantly after beginning the campaign as one of the top closers in MLB with 58 saves and a 2.27 ERA in the previous two seasons.

Bednar earned the save in Tuesday's 2-1 victory over the Brewers, striking out one in a perfect ninth inning.

EDGE Analysis

After a shaky start to the year, Bednar's now delivered three straight scoreless appearances, allowing just one hit in that span. Overall, he's 4-for-7 in save chances with a 9.00 ERA, 1.22 WHIP and 12:2 K:BB through 12 innings this season.

Bednar picked up the save Monday against the Brewers. He pitched one shutout inning, allowing one hit and no walks with one strikeout.

EDGE Analysis

Bednar appeared to be back to his All-Star form Monday night, locking down his third save without issue. The one hit he allowed came via an infield single from the speedy Jackson Chourio. Despite sporting an unsightly 10.13 ERA, Bednar is firmly cemented as the Pittsburgh closer.

Bednar tossed one clean inning, striking out one during Sunday's 6-1 loss to the Red Sox.

EDGE Analysis

While the Pirates were down five heading into the ninth, the much-needed nondescript outing was noteworthy for Bednar who had allowed nine runs over his first six innings of the season including seven runs over the last two innings coming into Sunday's action. Bednar's hold on the closer's job in PIttsburgh remains strong as Sunday's outing will hopefully serve to get him back on the right track.

Bednar allowed three earned runs on two hits and a walk while striking out two across 0.2 innings Wednesday against the Mets.

EDGE Analysis

Bednar hadn't pitched since Friday so the Pirates got him work, even with a five-run deficit. He allowed three of the first four batters he faced to reach base and allowed an earned run, but he did manage to end his appearance with a pair of punchouts. His poor line was made worse when Josh Fleming allowed a pair of inherited runners to score. Though it didn't come in a save situation, Bednar's appearance didn't help get his season on track, as he's allowed at least one earned run in four of his seven appearances and has an ERA of 13.50.

Bednar earned a save in Friday's 5-2 win over Philadelphia, striking out one batter in a perfect inning.

EDGE Analysis

Bednar turned in a much-needed performance Friday after giving up four runs and receiving his third blown save of the year during Tuesday's loss to Detroit. He looked much more like his All-Star self against the Phillies, throwing 11 of his 16 pitches for strikes and striking out Nick Castellanos on three pitches to begin the ninth. It's still too early to tell if Bednar has fully gotten past his early-season struggles, but Friday was certainly a step in the right direction.

Pirates manager Derek Shelton said in an interview on 93.7 The Fan Pittsburgh that Bednar will be available in a save situation if one arises in Thursday's game versus the Phillies, Andrew Destin of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.

EDGE Analysis

Bednar already has three blown saves on the young season after suffering a meltdown in Tuesday's loss to the Tigers. The All-Star closer has simply not looked like himself after battling a lat issue during spring training, but it's not a surprise that Shelton isn't ready to make a change in the ninth inning at this juncture. Bednar's track record indicates he should straighten things out sooner rather than later, but if Bednar's struggles continue, Shelton could turn to Aroldis Chapman for a bit.

Bednar (1-1) was charged with the loss and blown save Tuesday after he retired just one of the seven batters he faced during a 5-3 loss to the Tigers. He allowed four runs on three hits and a walk.

EDGE Analysis

The right-hander also plunked a pair of batters as he threw just nine of 23 pitches for strikes. It's an exclamation point on a worrying start to the season for Bednar, who is 1-for-4 in save chances and has already surrendered six earned runs after giving up exactly 15 in each of the previous three seasons. Manager Derek Shelton admitted that Bednar's lack of spring reps due to a lat injury has likely played a role in the struggles, per Andrew Destin of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, but there's been no indication at this point that a change at closer is coming.

Bednar was charged with the blown save Saturday against the Orioles after allowing one run on two hits in the ninth inning. He struck out one batter.

EDGE Analysis

Bednar struck out the first batter he faced but then allowed back-to-back singles and uncorked a wild pitch to put the tying run at third base. Cedric Mullins tied the game on a fielder's choice. While it wasn't a disastrous outing, and the Pirates would go on to win the game in extras, it was Bednar's second blown save already this season and there are some lingering questions about his health after the right-hander battled a lat injury in spring training. Aroldis Chapman has been pitching the eighth and is still throwing in the upper 90s, so he's presumably next in line behind Bednar for closing duties.

Bednar earned a save against the Nationals on Thursday, striking out two batters in a perfect inning.

EDGE Analysis

Bednar got a slightly late start to the season due to a lat injury, and he faltered in his first save opportunity Sunday, though he ended with the win in that outing. The right-hander had no problem with Washington in earning a save Thursday, throwing 14 of 19 pitches for strikes and finishing the contest by fanning Lane Thomas and Joey Meneses. Bednar emerged as one of the league's elite closers last year with 39 saves (tied for second in MLB), and though he's just 1-for-2 in save opportunities to begin this campaign, he's looked good overall, allowing just one run on one hit while posting a 5:0 K:BB over three innings.