Pirates Spring Training: Bubba Chandler Shines Despite Two Losses

The Pittsburgh Pirates’ latest stretch of spring training brought two games on Friday. They lost 9-2 to the Toronto Blue Jays in Dunedin, and then dropped a wild 14-10 contest to the Philadelphia Phillies in Bradenton.

This day mixed some encouraging pitching from a top prospect with a handful of veterans making their case for roster spots. The offense showed off some depth options for Pittsburgh, too.

Two Spring-Training Losses for the Pirates

Friday’s results couldn’t have looked more different. In Dunedin, the Blue Jays jumped on non-roster relievers, while Bubba Chandler turned in a more polished effort in his third start.

Meanwhile, in Bradenton, Pittsburgh’s offense kept pace for most of the game before a late Phillies surge. The Pirates will take the positives from Chandler’s improved command and Ryan O’Hearn’s hot bat, but there’s still plenty to work on before their next round of opponents.

Dunedin: Chandler’s Command Takes Step Forward

Bubba Chandler, after an up-and-down spring, finally showed real improvement in his third appearance. He worked more than three innings, gave up just one run on one hit, and struck out five.

Chandler even reached triple digits with his fastball. Most importantly, he limited the walks that plagued him earlier, throwing 57 pitches with 35 strikes.

He credited “simpler mechanics” for helping him recapture command. The Pirates are still trying to figure out exactly what his role will be this season.

The Blue Jays did most of their damage against Pittsburgh’s non-roster arms, scoring eight of their nine runs off those pitchers. Nathan Lukes hit a fourth-inning grand slam off Triple-A righty Jarod Bayless, showing just how quickly depth can swing a spring matchup.

Dominic Fletcher gave the Pirates their most consistent offense in this game. He went 2-for-3 with a double and a two-run homer.

Fletcher, a veteran non-roster invitee, has hovered around .263 this spring. He’ll be in the mix for a bench role if he can keep this up into late March.

Bradenton: High-Scoring Setback With Bright Spots

In Bradenton, Braxton Ashcraft handled the early innings with three scoreless frames and five strikeouts. He looked like a rising arm to keep an eye on.

The tide turned in the fourth when back-to-back doubles opened the floodgates for the Phillies. The Pirates bullpen couldn’t stop the bleeding right away.

Brandon Cain, a rookie reliever, struggled and gave up five earned runs in the fourth. It’s a reminder that spring performances can be all over the place, especially for young pitchers still sharpening their tools.

The night ended with Michael Darrell-Hicks taking the loss after allowing a four-run ninth. It’s been a long spring for the bullpen as coaches sort through their options.

On offense, Ryan O’Hearn kept his hot spring rolling. He belted a three-run homer and bumped his spring average to a ridiculous .500 (7-for-14).

The Pirates clawed back to tie things in the eighth. Homers from Yordany De Los Santos, Derek Berg, and Omar Alfonzo helped even it up at 10-10, but the Phillies pulled away late.

Those late innings gave Pittsburgh’s depth players a chance to show they can contribute when called upon. Sometimes, the process matters more than the results in games like these.

• Key performers: Bubba Chandler, Ryan O’Hearn, Dominic Fletcher, Braxton Ashcraft.
• Bullpen notes: Brandon Cain’s rough fourth inning; Michael Darrell-Hicks’s late lapse.
• Offensive depth: Fletcher and De Los Santos among the players showing promise beyond the top prospects.

Next Up: Pirates vs Tigers on Saturday

The Pirates hit the road for Lakeland this Saturday to take on the Detroit Tigers. Hunter Barco gets the nod for Pittsburgh, while Casey Mize starts for Detroit.

You can catch the game on MLB Network, or tune in to 93.7 FM The Fan if you’re more of a radio person. It’s another shot to see if Pittsburgh’s spring plans are really coming together—or maybe not, who knows?

 
Here is the source article for this story: 5 takeaways: Pirates drop two games, but Bubba Chandler was among the bright spots