Bubba Chandler is a key component of the Pittsburgh Pirates’ season. The 23-year-old rookie is in his first full season with the MLB club and has made three starts in the 2026 campaign.
The Pirates are pleased with Chandler’s performance thus far. He has pitched 14.0 solid innings despite holding a 0-1 record through three starts. Chandler faces a critical test as he takes the mound for his fourth start against the Tampa Bay Rays.
Chandler Aims to Improve Command
Chandler is tasked with giving the Pirates a strong start to the weekend series. The rookie hopes to continue ironing out his early command issues and limit walks against Tampa Bay’s offense.
Chandler expressed his frustration with the 12 walks he’s allowed in 14.0 innings. He criticised his inability to manage the strike zone after his start against the San Diego Padres.
“Hits are fine, it’s stuff that’s gonna happen, but not competing in the zone is just pathetic,” Chandler said. “It’s eating at me, and I’m gonna fix it, clean it up. I’ve got five more days before I throw again. It won’t happen again.”
Chandler demonstrated improvement in his subsequent start against the Chicago Cubs. While not perfect, he reduced his walks from six and four in his first two starts to just two against the Cubs. He also registered four strikeouts, marking an improvement in his command.
Advantage: The Element of Surprise
The Rays’ lineup will be facing Chandler for the first time. This presents an opportunity for the 23-year-old.
One area where Chandler has struggled is facing the lineup multiple times. Data from MLB.com indicates that his ERA rises significantly after the fourth inning. His ERA is 16.20 from the fifth inning onwards, compared to 0.00 in the first and second innings.
The Rays’ lack of familiarity with Chandler could be advantageous. The Pirates rookie has the chance to dominate with his offspeed pitches and fastball during a crucial early-season start, as the Rays have limited opportunities to identify tendencies.
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