The Pittsburgh Pirates are facing a difficult situation with Bubba Chandler. Coming into 2026, expectations were high for the 23-year-old, who was ranked as a top right-handed pitching prospect.
Early Season Struggles for Chandler
Chandler was expected to become a top-of-the-rotation candidate. However, his performances this season have not met those expectations. He has started nine games but has only pitched 42 innings.
He has only reached the five-inning mark in two starts, pitching exactly six innings just once. Efficiency has been a problem, stemming from a larger issue.
In his recent start against the Philadelphia Phillies, Chandler pitched just three innings. He allowed five runs (four earned) and walked four batters. Bryce Harper also hit a 457-foot home run off him.
“It was a tough start there in the first couple of innings, throwing 60-some pitches in two innings,” said Don Kelly, commenting on Chandler’s inefficiency. “To get him out after the third, it was just pitch count and volume, and he slipped on the mound there. Just didn’t want to push it there any further. We had enough to get through the game in the bullpen.”
Command and Control Problems
Command is a major issue for Chandler. Despite having impressive pitches, he struggles to consistently keep hitters off balance. Chandler’s whiff rate is in the 42nd percentile, and his chase rate is in the 29th percentile.
He isn’t fooling hitters enough, despite his ‘electric stuff’. Chandler throws too many pitches outside the strike zone. His waste-zone percentage is 10%, ranking him 67th out of 97 starters who have thrown at least 40 innings this year.
- 42nd percentile whiff rate
- 29th percentile chase rate
- 10% waste-zone percentage
This lack of command leads to a high walk rate of 16.4%. When he misses within the zone, it often results in long hits, such as the home run by Harper. Chandler acknowledged this issue after the Phillies game.
“They’re good players,” Chandler said of Trea Turner, Kyle Schwarber, and Harper. “I’ve watched them play for the last decade, and they’re all three really good. Just soft, pitching away, just not being who I am.”
He is aware that the problem lies in his execution on the mound. Despite some suggesting the catcher is at fault, the real issue is Chandler’s pitching.
The Pirates now face a difficult decision regarding Chandler’s future development. His early season struggles highlight the challenges in turning potential into consistent performance.