How the Pittsburgh Pirates Plan to Manage Save Situations

The Pittsburgh Pirates might have the best overall pitching staff in MLB, and a lot of that has to do with their elite starting rotation, but the reliever core deserves some credit, too. The Pirates have a lot of quality, versatile arms in the bullpen, but that versatility comes with decisions, such as how Pittsburgh plans to manage save situations early in the season. Manager Don Kelly gave a preview of what this could look like at the beginning of the season.

Right now, Kelly is hesitant to name a closer for the team, but admitted on Monday that Dennis Santana will “get a lot of innings in the ninth. ” Looking at how the Pirates roster is coming together, this makes plenty of sense for where everything stands. Santana posted a 2.

18 ERA and 0. 87 WHIP, along with 16 saves, a year ago. He has the experience and success to be a closer.

With that in mind, Pittsburgh’s skipper also acknowledged “That leverage spot that we need Santana, maybe in the eighth inning… I don't think that we're just going to pigeonhole it to, you know, say Santana's only going to pitch in the ninth inning. ” Mar 21, 2026; Bradenton, Florida, USA; Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Dennis Santana (60) throws a pitch during the fifth inning against the Toronto Blue Jays at LECOM Park. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images The heart of an opponent's order in a tight game might not always come in the ninth inning, so, again, it makes sense for the Pirates to match up Santana with wherever they feel they need his stuff the most.