by Don Laible
Three more home games, starting on Thursday as the Athletics visit PNC Park, then the Pirates hit the road for three dates with the Reds in Cincinnati beginning Thursday. A weekend series with the Atlanta Braves at Truist Park—that’s what’s left for 2025.
When Don Kelly and his field staff review the pluses and minuses for the season, Mattson should get a unanimous vote of confidence when studying how the bullpen crew contributed. Mattson, at age 30, could acutely be labeled a “late bloomer”, as far as his coming of age as a stalwart among relievers.
What’s not to like about how the native of Erie, Pa. has performed in his 40 games since being called up? The level of intensity that Mattson brings when summoned to the mound shouts fearlessness. So much about his game resembles that of a great, dominating, and yes, fearless closer of a generation ago – Hall of Famer George “Goose” Gossage. “Goose” was as intense as they came from the 1970s through the early 1990s.
Like Gossage, a Pirate in 1977, with Mattson, his approach for maximum results is as simple as – “Give him the ball. Then throw the ball.” From one of a dozen or so spring training non-roster invitees this past February, to being relied upon heavily often in the stickiest of situations, relief pitchers must find a way to get out of, Mattson rarely has disappointed.
Going into Thursday’s day off, Kelly has made the call to the Pirates’ bullpen for Mattson in 40 games. His 2.25 ERA is beyond what surely was hoped for by Kelly and pitching coaches Oscar Marin and Brent Strom. Mattson has racked up 45 strikeouts in 44 innings. These are results expected from dominant relievers.
Were the Pirates pleasantly caught off guard this season, when judging where Mattson could fit into their plans, when making final roster plans last March in Bradenton? Regardless of how he threw in exhibition games, they could only truly assess his abilities from the three appearances Mattson made last season.
Twenty-nine days of MLB service time prior to 2025 didn’t seem to be enough for Mattson to find his footing.
Back on July 31, when the Pirates moved their two-time all-star and highly popular closer David Bednar to the New York Yankees, there wasn’t a shortage of Pirates’ fans wondering if the “sky would be falling in”, by losing their bullpen leader. Called up by Pittsburgh, first in May, and then in June when he collected his first MLB win, the emergence of Mattson probably made the decision by general manager Ben Cherington to trade Bednar a bit easier to swallow.
There has been no looking back from the club on doubling down on positioning the Western Pennsylvanian in a prominent bullpen role. Signed with the Pirates through this season, Mattson should see, at the very least, a nominal pay raise for the 2026 season. Players are paid on performance. Mattson has exceeded expectations this season.
One of the Pirates’ strengths is their loaded bullpen. Dennis Santana, Carmen Mlodzinski, Dauri Moreta, along with Mattson, plus Braxton Ashcraft, who can start or serve as an opener, and the Pirates are looking good for their future.
As the cooler weather blows its way into Pirates’ country and exit interviews with the players and the coaching staff have been completed, warmer thoughts of what is ahead for the club in 2026 will prevail. Mattson will surely be on the minds of decision-makers.