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Pittsburgh • #51 • RP

David Bednar

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Schedule

Preseason
@
MIN
Thu, Mar 13
L 15-3
vs
DET
Fri, Mar 14
T 8-8
vs
BAL
Sat, Mar 15
W 15-5
@
NYY
Sun, Mar 16
W 4-3
@
DET
Mon, Mar 17
L 9-6
vs
MIN
Mon, Mar 17
W 4-2
vs
PHI
Tue, Mar 18
W 3-2
@
TB
Wed, Mar 19
1:05 pm
@
BOS
Fri, Mar 21
6:05 pm
vs
BAL
Sat, Mar 22
1:05 pm
Full Schedule
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Player Outlook
What a difference one year makes. After recording 39 saves and making his second straight All-Star team in 2023, David Bednar struggled to a 5.77 ERA and 1.42 WHIP last season. The right-hander had a rough start to the campaign, allowing 14 earned runs in his first 13 outings, nearly matching his full-season total the year prior. Perhaps he wasn't fully recovered from the lat injury he suffered during spring training, but Bednar eventually settled in, pitching lights out for about a month before succumbing to a strained left oblique in June. Bednar returned a few weeks later, but so did his struggles. By the end of August, Pittsburgh removed him from closing duties and he never regained the role, pitching in low-leverage scenarios for the rest of the season. Pirates GM Ben Cherington recently indicated Bednar could reclaim the closer role in 2025, especially if he looks more like his former self this spring. If health permits, he's a prime CL2 target with CL1 upside.

Fantasy Stats

Year fpts
Fantasy Points
fpts/g
Fantasy Points per Game
ip
Innings Pitched
w
Wins
l
Losses
sv
Saves
so
Strikeouts
bb
Base on Balls (Walk)
era
Earned Run Average
whip
Walks and Hits Allowed Per Inning
2025 — — — — — — — — 0.00 0.00
2024 2223.6 57.7 3 8 23 58 28 5.78 1.42
2023 4296.5 67.3 3 3 39 80 21 2.01 1.10
3y Avg. 300.55.2 59.0 3 5 27 69 22 3.36 1.22
Full Career Stats
Projections Powered by
Fantasy Performance by Week
63%
Roster
46%
Start
#20
RP Rank

Fantasy News

  • Pirates' David Bednar: Closer still not named

    Rotowire
    Bednar is presumed to begin the season the Pirates' closer, but manager Derek Shelton elected not to officially name the team's closer Sunday, Noah Hiles of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports. It's the second time during spring training that Shelton has made clear a decision at closer has yet to be made, though the skipper also indicated Sunday that he's happy with how Bednar has look during spring training, despite a 14.40 ERA and 6:3 K:BB over five innings. After two consecutive All-Star seasons in 2022 and 2023, the right-hander struggled to a 5.77 ERA in 62 appearances last year and was removed from the closer role down the stretch.
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  • Pirates' David Bednar: Implodes against Twins

    Rotowire
    Bednar allowed five earned runs on three hits and two walks across one-third of an inning during Thursday's Grapefruit League game against the Twins. This marked Bednar's fifth appearance of the spring, and he had maintained a 5:1 K:BB while allowing only one earned run across his first four innings. However, Thursday's outing was particularly concerning in light of Bednar's struggles in 2024, when he posted a 5.77 ERA and 1.42 WHIP while being removed from the closer role to end the year. The departure of Aroldis Chapman this offseason likely gives Bednar some leeway for save chances to begin the campaign, but he'll need to perform to maintain the role.
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  • Pirates' David Bednar: Manager not naming closer yet

    Rotowire
    When asked Tuesday by Foul Territory TV whether Bednar was his closer, Pirates manager Derek Shelton said, "we're not ready to say that." Shelton did add, however, that "we feel very good with the fact that we have a guy who was a two-time All-Star closer." Bednar looks to be the heavy favorite to emerge with the Pirates' closer job coming out of spring training, but Shelton isn't ready to hand him the responsibility yet after the reliever held a 5.77 ERA in 2024 and finished the season in a low-leverage role. If Bednar struggles this spring, guys like Dennis Santana, Colin Holderman and others could enter the saves mix for Pittsburgh.
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  • Pirates' David Bednar: Favorite for saves

    Rotowire
    Bednar is expected to begin the 2025 season as the Pirates' closer, Alex Stumpf of MLB.com reports. Bednar endured a tough 2024 season, highlighted by a 5.77 ERA and 1.42 WHIP across 57.2 innings. As a result, he didn't close the campaign in the closer role, instead ceding most of the opportunities to Aroldis Chapman in the final month. Chapman has since signed in Boston, leaving Pittsburgh hopeful that Bednar will be able to regain his previous form as a reliable closer. Bednar and the team have noted that he was overthrowing his pitches last season -- potentially due to an oblique injury he suffered early in the campaign -- an issue they believe has been resolved during the offseason.
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  • Pirates' David Bednar: Settles with Pittsburgh

    Rotowire
    The Pirates and Bednar avoided arbitration by agreeing to a one-year, $5.9 million contract Thursday, Andrew Destin of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports. Bednar had a rough 2024 campaign, losing his closer job while collecting a 5.77 ERA, 1.42 WHIP and 58:28 K:BB across 57.2 innings of work. He could get another shot in the ninth inning in 2025 but won't be handed the job.
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  • Pirates' David Bednar: Takes eighth loss

    Rotowire
    Bednar (3-8) was charged with a blown save and took the loss against the Cardinals on Wednesday, allowing three runs (two earned) on one hit and one walk over one-third of an inning. Bednar entered the contest with the score tied in the bottom of the seventh and proceeded to give up a leadoff homer to Masyn Winn on a hanging curveball. The right-handed reliever would then manage to retire just one of the next three batters he faced before being relieved by Jalen Beeks, who didn't fare any better. It marked the seventh blown save of the season for Bednar, with his previous one coming back on Aug. 28, just before he was removed from the closer role. He's now allowed at least one run in three of his last six appearances and carries a 5.14 ERA in the month of September to go along with a dreadful 6:8 K:BB.
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  • Pirates' David Bednar: Earns 23rd save

    Rotowire
    Bednar earned the save against the Reds on Friday, allowing one hit and one walk while striking out one over a scoreless ninth inning. Bednar was summoned to protect a 6-5 lead in the ninth frame and put runners on the corners with two outs before getting Elly De La Cruz to line out. It was just his third scoreless outing in nine August appearances, but the closer has converted three consecutive save chances. On the year, Bednar has converted 23 of 28 save attempts with a 5.56 ERA, 1.37 WHIP and 49:16 K:BB across 45.1 innings.
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  • Pirates' David Bednar: Takes loss vs. Rangers

    Rotowire
    Bednar (3-6) took the loss Wednesday against the Rangers, allowing a run on three hits over two-thirds of an inning. He struck out one. With the game scoreless in the bottom of the ninth, Bednar allowed a pair of singles to lead off the frame. He managed to retire Nathaniel Lowe and Josh Jung before giving up a two-out, walk-off single to Wyatt Langford. It's the third loss in six outings for Bednar, who's allowed nine earned runs in his last nine innings. His ERA is up to 5.68 on the season with a 1.35 WHIP and 48:15 K:BB across 44.1 innings. Bednar has 22 saves in 27 chances this year, though he could lose work in the ninth to Aroldis Chapman if his struggles continue.
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  • Pirates' David Bednar: Another clean outing

    Rotowire
    Bednar struck out one without allowing a baserunner in a scoreless ninth inning Tuesday against the Rangers. Bednar allowed at least one earned run in six consecutive outings from July 29 to Aug. 16, and he also blew two saves and took two losses in that span. Nevertheless, he has maintained the closer role and has now turned in consecutive scoreless appearances. If Bednar can remain on track, he should be a decent source of saves the rest of the season.
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  • Pirates' David Bednar: Collects 21st save

    Rotowire
    Bednar gave up a run on two hits in ninth inning Friday, recording his 21st save of the season in a 5-3 win over the Mariners. He struck out three. The right-hander served up a solo shot to Jorge Polanco, marring what was otherwise an impressive performance. Bednar has been tagged for at least one run in a stunning six straight appearances, posting an 8:7 K:BB in 6.1 innings over that stretch and blowing two of five save chances. That August swoon has sent his ERA on the season soaring to 5.83, and while the Pirates don't seem inclined to remove him from the closer role, Aroldis Chapman has a 0.82 ERA, 0.55 WHIP and 17:2 K:BB in 11 innings since the All-Star break.
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  • Pirates' David Bednar: Struggles continue in loss

    Rotowire
    Bednar (3-5) took the loss Sunday against the Dodgers, allowing two runs (one earned) on three hits and a walk while striking out a batter over 1.2 innings. Bednar was able to successfully send the game into extras with a scoreless ninth inning. He was staked a one-run lead after the Pirates scored in the 10th but immediately gave it back after Enrique Hernandez led off the bottom half with a double. He was able to get a strikeout on Jason Heyward and a foul out by Shohei Ohtani before Teoscar Hernandez walked things off with a base hit to right. Sunday was the fifth straight outing for Bednar allowing at least a run. He's only given up one home run over that span but has a 5:7 K:BB as well. Aroldis Chapman has allowed just one run in 10 appearances since July 20, however, there's been no indication of a possible change at closer for right now. Bednar, who came into this year making each of the last two All-Star games, now owns a 5.75 ERA, 1.35 WHIP and 41:15 K:BB in 40.2 innings.
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  • Pirates' David Bednar: Blows another save, takes loss

    Rotowire
    Bednar (3-4) took the loss Thursday, allowing three runs on two hits and two walks over two-thirds of an inning against the Padres. He struck out one. Bednar couldn't finish the ninth, blowing his second save in as many days. It was the fifth blown save for the Pirates' closer, who allowed at least one earned run for the fourth consecutive outing, though it's the first time he's given up more than one earned run since April 26. Bednar once again struggled with his command, walking two to give him seven walks and a hit batsman over his last five appearances after having walked only seven batters over his first 37 outings. Bednar's ERA now stands at 5.77 with a 1.31 WHIP, though he had posted a 2.86 ERA and 1.09 WHIP over 29 games prior to these last two performances against San Diego.
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  • Pirates' David Bednar: Blows save Wednesday

    Rotowire
    Bednar blew a save opportunity against the Padres on Wednesday, giving up one run on one hit and one walk while striking out one batter over one inning. Bednar entered in the top of the ninth frame with the Pirates clinging to a one-run lead. He retired one batter before Jackson Merrill knotted the score with a solo shot to center field. Bednar then got into more trouble with a hit-by-pitch and a walk, but he was able to bounce back with consecutive outs to send the game into an extra inning. The blown save was his first since April 9 and just his third in 23 chances this season. That's a perfectly acceptable save percentage, but Bednar hasn't been as sharp this year as in seasons past, as evidenced by his 5.17 ERA and 1.23 WHIP through 38.1 innings.
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  • Pirates' David Bednar: Escapes with save No. 20

    Rotowire
    Bednar recorded his 20th save of the season in Saturday's 4-2 win over the Diamondbacks, giving up one run on two hits and one walk over one inning. He struck out two. Entrusted with a 4-1 lead in the ninth inning, Bednar fanned the first two batters he faced before a Geraldo Perdomo double kicked off an Arizona rally that saw Alek Thomas come to the plate as the potential winning run, only to fly out. Bednar has been charged with a run in five of his last 10 appearances, but he's still converted all seven of his save chances during that stretch -- in fact, the right-hander hasn't blown a save since April 9.
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  • Pirates' David Bednar: Secures save in return from IL

    Rotowire
    Bednar struck out one in a perfect ninth inning Friday to record his 17th save of the season in a 4-1 win over the White Sox. Activated from the IL earlier in the day after recovering from an oblique strain that cost him nearly a month of action, Bednar fired nine of 12 pitches for strikes while topping out at 97.1 mph with his fastball. Aroldis Chapman had a 4.70 ERA over 7.2 innings in Bednar's absence while converting three of four save chances, and he should return to setup duties now that Bednar is healthy.
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  • Pirates' David Bednar: Back from injured list

    Rotowire
    The Pirates reinstated Bednar (oblique) from the 15-day injured list Friday. The right-hander delivered a scoreless frame in his lone rehab appearance with Double-A Altoona on Tuesday, and that's apparently all the Pirates needed to see before bringing him back from the injured list. Bednar missed about three weeks due to an oblique strain, and he should reclaim closing duties from Aroldis Chapman now that he's healthy.
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  • Pirates' David Bednar: Cleared for rehab assignment

    Rotowire
    Bednar (oblique) has been sent to Double-A Altoona to begin a rehab assignment. Bednar has missed the last two-plus weeks with a left oblique strain but was cleared for rehab games after getting through a bullpen session over the weekend with no issues. It's possible he requires just the one rehab appearance before being activated, although with the All-Star break looming, the Pirates also have the option of taking things a little slower with their closer.
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  • Pirates' David Bednar: Progressing, but timeline unknown

    Rotowire
    Pirates general manager Ben Cherington said Sunday that Bednar is making progress in his recovery from a left oblique strain, Andrew Destin of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports. Though Cherington struck an optimistic tone about Bednar's health, the two-time All-Star doesn't appear to have a concrete timeline to return from the 15-day injured list. Bednar is first eligible for activation next weekend, but because he has yet to resume throwing since landing on the shelf, he doesn't appear to be on track for a return in the minimum amount of time.
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  • Pirates' David Bednar: Placed on IL

    Rotowire
    The Pirates placed Bednar on the 15-day injured list Sunday with a strained left oblique, Alex Stumpf of MLB.com reports. Bednar reported feeling tightness in his side during his throwing session before Saturday's contest against the Rays and wasn't available to pitch in the game. His injury was initially believed to be relatively minor, so it's possible the 29-year-old reliever will be able to return after a minimum-length stay on the IL. Until then, Aroldis Chapman will likely see the majority of save opportunities, and Justin Bruihl will come up from Triple-A to replenish the Pirates' bullpen depth.
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  • Pirates' David Bednar: Records 15th save

    Rotowire
    Bednar pitched a perfect ninth inning to pick up the save against the Reds in Monday's 4-1 win. After serving up homers in each of his last two appearances, Bednar got back on track with a clean frame Monday. Bednar had a disastrous start to the season with 14 earned runs allowed in his first 13 outings, but he's turned it around with a 1.88 ERA over his last 19.1 innings. Despite the 5.34 ERA for the season, Bednar remains one of the better late-inning options, as his 15 saves are tied for eighth most in the majors.
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