PITTSBURGH – Bubba Chandler has already checked off a few firsts in his brief big-league career, and he’ll get to check off another on Sunday afternoon.
The rookie right-hander will make his first-career start in the series finale against the Milwaukee Brewers at 1:35 p.m. ET, manager Don Kelly announced following the Pirates’ 4-1 loss on Saturday night.
Chandler, who is considered the top pitching prospect in baseball by MLB Pipeline, was called up by the Pirates on Aug. 22 and is 2-0 with a 2.25 ERA and one save through his first three appearances.
Chandler made his MLB debut against the Colorado Rockies at PNC Park and threw four-scoreless innings on two hits with three strikeouts en route to his first-career save.
In his second appearance, the soon-to-be 23-year-old earned his first win by again throwing four-shutout innings of one-hit ball against the Cardinals in St. Louis on Aug. 27.
Chandler last pitched against the Los Angeles Dodgers in the first game of the homestand on Tuesday night. He allowed the first runs of his career – three to be exact – but was awarded his second win after covering four innings in relief of Carmen Mlodzinski, who pitched two innings to start the game.
Chandler will be matched up against fellow rookie right-hander Jacob Misiorowski (4-2, 4.50 ERA) who was named to the National League All-Star team despite making just five starts to begin his career. Chandler will look to help the Pirates avoid the sweep after Pittsburgh dropped the first two games of the series.
Chandler made 24 starts with Triple-A Indianapolis prior to his promotion and went 5-6 with a 4.05 ERA and 121 strikeouts in 100 innings. In parts of four minor-league seasons, the 2021 third-round draft pick has a 26-18 record and a 3.73 ERA.