Pirates' Carmen Mlodzinski: Gets demoted Wednesday
Rotowire
The Pirates optioned Mlodzinski to Triple-A Indianapolis on Wednesday.
As expected, Mlodzinski will head back to the minors while the Pirates open up a spot in the rotation for right-hander Mike Burrows, who was called up from Triple-A in advance of his first MLB start Thursday versus the Brewers. After winning a spot in the Opening Day rotation coming out of spring training, Mlodzinski struggled over his nine starts, going 1-4 with a 5.67 ERA, 1.61 WHIP and 28:12 K:BB in 39.2 innings. He might stay stretched out as a member of the Indianapolis rotation, but Mlodzinski could be ticketed for the bullpen the next time he receives a call-up to Pittsburgh.
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Pirates' Carmen Mlodzinski: Ousted from rotation
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The Pirates are expected to option Mlodzinski to Triple-A Indianapolis on Thursday, Alex Stumpf of MLB.com reports.
After working primarily in relief over his first two seasons in the big leagues, Mlodzinski surprisingly emerged from spring training as a member of the Pirates' Opening Day rotation, but he always appeared to be little more than a placeholder until one of Pittsburgh's many starting pitching prospects was deemed big-league ready. Right-hander Mike Burrows is in line to get a call-up from Triple-A and will enter the rotation Thursday against the Brewers in place of Mlodzinski, who covered five innings in just three of his nine starts on the season while submitting a 5.67 ERA, 1.61 WHIP and 8.9 K-BB%. He'll presumably stay stretched out as a member of the rotation at Indianapolis, though Mlodzinski could work out of the bullpen the next time he gets the call back to the big club.
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Pirates' Carmen Mlodzinski: Struggles early in loss
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Mlodzinski (1-4) took the loss against the Phillies on Saturday, allowing four runs on seven hits and one walk with two strikeouts over 3.1 innings.
The 26-year-old was lifted at 78 pitches with two runners aboard in the fourth inning, both of whom came around to score on a single by Bryson Stott. It marked Mlodzinski's shortest outing of the season and the first time he's allowed more than three earned runs in a start since April 18. He'll take a 5.67 ERA, 1.61 WHIP and 28:12 K:BB across 39.2 innings into a home matchup with the Brewers next weekend.
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Pirates' Carmen Mlodzinski: Fires 5.2 scoreless frames
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Mlodzinski did not factor into the decision in Sunday's 4-3 win over Atlanta, allowing four hits and one walk over 5.2 scoreless innings. He struck out two.
The 26-year-old right-hander produced his first scoreless start of the season with this 83-pitch performance, falling an out shy of securing his first quality start. The Atlanta lineup was unable to square up Mlodzinski, as he scattered three singles and a double. With this effort, Mlodzinski lowered his ERA from 6.16 to 5.20 across 36.1 total innings. He currently lines up to make his next start at the Phillies next weekend.
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Pirates' Carmen Mlodzinski: Logs no-decision Monday
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Mlodzinski allowed two runs on four hits and no walks while striking out two batters over 4.2 innings in a no-decision against St. Louis on Monday.
Mlodzinski allowed just four hits in the outing, but two of those were solo homers. That was the extent of the damage against the righty, who exited after 4.2 frames having thrown 88 pitches (53 of which were strikes). Mlodzinski has looked a little better in his past two starts, but he still holds an ugly 6.16 ERA on the campaign and has managed to complete five innings just twice through seven starts. His next trip to the mound is lined up to come at home against Atlanta.
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Pirates' Carmen Mlodzinski: Yields two runs in no-decision
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Mlodzinski did not factor into Wednesday's decision against the Cubs, allowing two runs on six hits and one walk while striking out four over four-plus innings.
Mlodzinski kept the Cubs off the board over the first four innings, but the two baserunners he allowed at the start of the fifth came around to score on an Ian Happ two-run single. Mlodzinski has failed to make it through five innings in three of his last four starts and is up to a 6.58 ERA, 1.81 WHIP and 22:10 K:BB over 26 innings this season. He's slated to face the Cardinals on the road next week, when he'll look to earn his second win of 2025.
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Pirates' Carmen Mlodzinski: Knocked around in fourth inning
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Mlodzinski didn't factor into the decision Thursday against the Angels after allowing three runs on five hits and one walk in five innings. He struck out four.
It wasn't until the fourth inning where Mlodzinski ran into trouble, as he gave up three consecutive hits to open the frame, the last of which was a three-run jack by Logan O'Hoppe. Three of his five hits allowed went for extra bases Thursday, and Mlodzinski has now failed to exceed five innings in any of his first five starts this season. The right-hander doesn't shape up as a recommended fantasy option in his next scheduled outing versus the hard-hitting Cubs, especially since he carries a 6.95 ERA, 1.82 WHIP and 18:9 K:BB across 22 innings.
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Pirates' Carmen Mlodzinski: Hit hard in Friday's loss
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Mlodzinski (1-3) took the loss Friday as the Pirates fell 10-7 to the Guardians, coughing up five runs on nine hits and two walks over four-plus innings. He failed to strike out a batter.
Four of the hits off the 26-year-old righty went for extra bases, including a Bo Naylor solo shot in the third inning -- the first long ball Mlodzinski has served up in four big-league starts this season. While he's been able to keep the ball in the park, not much else has gone right for Mlodzinski, who carries a 7.41 ERA, 2.00 WHIP and 14:8 K:BB through 17 innings. With Bubba Chandler dominating at Triple-A (1.69 ERA, 18:5 K:BB over 10.2 innings), Mlodzinski's time in the rotation could be drawing short. He'll look to rebound in his next outing, which is scheduled to come on the road next week against the Angels.
Pirates' Carmen Mlodzinski: Yields four runs in loss
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Mlodzinski (1-2) took the loss against the Reds on Sunday. He allowed four runs on five hits and two walks while striking out four over 4.1 innings.
Mlodzinski got through the first two innings without issue, but he gave up a two-run single to Santiago Espinal in the third frame. Mlodzinski found himself in trouble again in the fifth frame and was tagged for two more runs, and he wasn't able to get enough run support to avoid his second loss of the season. The 26-year-old right-hander generated only eight whiffs and has started the season with a 6.23 ERA, 1.77 WHIP and 14:6 K:BB across 13 innings. Mlodzinski will look to get back in the win column in his next start, which is slated for next weekend at home against the Guardians.
Mlodzinski (1-1) allowed a run on five hits and two walks over five innings Monday, striking out six and earning a win over the Cardinals.
Mlodzinski worked four shutout frames before the Cardinals put a run on the board in the fifth inning. It was a much more effective outing after he coughed up four runs in 3.2 frames during his season debut against the Rays. Still, Mlodzinski needed 92 pitches (54 strikes) to get through five innings. He'll carry a 5.19 ERA into his next matchup, which is lined up to be in Cincinnati this weekend.
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Pirates' Carmen Mlodzinski: Runs into trouble in fourth inning
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Mlodzinski (0-1) took the loss after giving up three runs on seven hits and two walks in 3.2 innings Monday against the Rays. He struck out four.
Mlodzinski got through three innings without allowing a run, but the Rays tagged him for four runs in the fourth inning. Before he got a chance to record the final out of the frame, the right-hander was lifted after throwing 66 pitches. Mlodzinski is filling in for the injured Jared Jones (lat) in Pittsburgh's rotation, so he could have some streaming appeal in deep leagues in favorable matchups as long as he hangs onto a starting role.
Pirates' Carmen Mlodzinski: Opening season as fifth starter
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Pirates manager Derek Shelton said Monday that Mlodzinski will begin the season as the team's fifth starter, Alex Stumpf of MLB.com reports.
All 75 of Mlodzinski's appearances in the majors to this point have either been in relief or opener assignments, but he was being stretched out during spring training and was used mostly as a starting pitcher in the minors prior to 2023. The 26-year-old's workload figures to be relatively limited, at least initially, and the Pirates also have top prospects Bubba Chandler and Thomas Harrington looming at Triple-A Indianapolis if Mlodzinski falters.
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Pirates' Carmen Mlodzinski: Ramps up to three innings
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Mlodzinski allowed one earned run on two hits and two walks while striking out three across three innings in a Grapefruit League game March 15 against the Orioles.
Mlodzinski is being stretched out as a potential starter this spring, throwing 64 pitches in Saturday's outing. His chances of actually being a member of the rotation seemed slim given the strength and depth of the Pirates' rotation, though Johan Oviedo (lat) is already on the 60-day injured list and Jared Jones' (elbow) status is uncertain. If Jones opens the season on the injured list, the Pirates will need a fifth starter. Thomas Harrington is still in camp and seems a likely candidate, though Mlodzinski has maintained a decent 8:3 K:BB across 9.2 frames this spring and could be called upon.
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Pirates' Carmen Mlodzinski: Working toward starting role
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Mlodzinski said Saturday that he is building volume this spring to become a starter, Noah Hiles of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.
Mlodzinski reportedly had conversations with the Pirates at the end of last season about transitioning into a starting role -- something he views as a long-term goal. However, he added that he remains open to working in any role the Pirates need him to fill. The 26-year-old righty was given an opportunity to start Saturday's Grapefruit League game against the Orioles, during which he surrendered two earned runs on four hits over two innings.
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Pirates' Carmen Mlodzinski: Will open Tuesday
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Mlodzinski will serve as the Pirates' opening pitcher for Tuesday's game against the Marlins, Andrew Destin of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.
Mlodzinksi's longest outing since returning from the injured list Aug. 27 has been two innings, so he'll likely work the opening frame or two before handing the ball to a bulk reliever. Joey Wentz could be a candidate to eat up innings after Mlodzinski's work is done.
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Pirates' Carmen Mlodzinski: Back from injured list
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The Pirates activated Mlodzinski (shoulder) from the 15-day injured list Tuesday, Noah Hiles of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.
Mlodzinski was sidelined for almost a month with a right shoulder strain but is ready to go after making three rehab appearances. The reliever holds a 3.14 ERA and 29:13 K:BB over 34 innings for the Bucs this season.
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