"After months of anticipation, top pitching prospect Bubba Chandler's debut didn't disappoint - though it probably looked quite different than most fans had anticipated. Chandler tossed four shutout frames in relief of fellow well-regarded pitching prospect Braxton Ashcraft, earning a save in his first MLB appearance. Despite debuting in the 'pen, Chandler will be considered for rotation looks down the stretch, general manager Ben Cherington told reporters this weekend ( video link via Colin Beazley of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)."
"Cherington went on to note that starts won't be guaranteed and that manager Don Kelly "will guide" the decision on Chandler's role from appearance to appearance. There's no scheduled start on the immediate horizon for Chandler, who'll turn 23 in a few weeks. Pittsburgh has Johan Oviedo, Mitch Keller, Ashcraft, Mike Burrows and Paul Skenes lined up, respectively, for its next five games."
"However he's deployed, Chandler should reach a new career-high in innings pitched. He tossed 119 2/3 frames last year and is up to 104 innings this season with a bit more than a month remaining on the regular-season calendar. He'll very clearly be in the mix for a rotation spot in 2026, so even narrowly edging his season-long workload past that 2024 mark would be beneficial as he eyes a first full year of rotation work in the majors."
Bubba Chandler delivered four shutout innings in relief and recorded a save in his major-league debut. The debut occurred from the bullpen, but Chandler remains a candidate for rotation work later this season and for 2026. Starts are not guaranteed, and the manager will guide decisions on Chandler's role from appearance to appearance. Chandler has no immediate scheduled start and could follow Braxton Ashcraft again in a piggyback role. Chandler has 104 innings this season compared with 119 2/3 last year and should surpass last year’s total before season's end to bolster his rotation case.
Read at MLB Trade Rumors
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