DAVID BEDNAR NEWS

Pirates' David Bednar gifts Clayton Kershaw beer after being named an All-Star

Pirates closer David Bednar re-gifted some beer he received to Clayton Kershaw after he learned he was taking his spot in the All-Star Game.

JULY 5, 2023

Collects third win Bednar (3-0) allowed a hit and a walk and struck out two over 1.2 scoreless innings to earn the win over the Dodgers on Tuesday.

Impact Bednar entered the contest with the Pirates down a run, but they rallied ahead for a 9-7 lead in the ninth inning. The closer stayed in to protect the lead, ending with 26 pitches (18 strikes). He's exceeded one inning in each of his last three appearances, though they've been spaced out well. Bednar has a 1.36 ERA, 0.91 WHIP and 39:5 K:BB while adding 16 saves through 33 innings this season.

JULY 5, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Picks up 15th save Bednar earned the save in Friday's 3-1 win over the Marlins. He struck out two over a perfect inning.

Impact After being shut out for eight innings, the Pirates struck for three runs in the top of the ninth, creating the save opportunity for Bednar. The right-hander retired the side in order on 20 pitches and has now successfully converted 11 straight save chances dating back to April 18. He holds a sparkling 1.61 ERA and 0.86 WHIP in 28 innings this season and could bring a significant return to the Pirates at the trade deadline should the team elect to go that route.

JUNE 24, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Grabs 14th save Bednar picked up the save Sunday against the Mets, recording a strikeout in a scoreless ninth inning.

Impact After allowing two runs in mop-up work Friday, Bednar returned to form Sunday to close out the Pirates' 2-1 win. The two runs allowed in his last outing were the first Bednar had surrendered since May 22. The 28-year-old right-hander is now 14-for-15 in save chances with a stellar 1.78 ERA, 0.87 WHIP and an impeccable 31:1 K:BB through 25.1 innings. He's gone 20.1 innings since issuing a walk.

JUNE 12, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Ron Cook: After closing out sweep of Cardinals, David Bednar has another case of beer in his future What does IC Light go for these days? Derek Shelton had better start saving up. He’s going to owe a case to David Bednar real soon. The beer...

JUNE 5, 2023 • POST-GAZETTE.COM

Records 13th save Bednar picked up the save in Sunday's 2-1 victory over St. Louis, tossing a scoreless ninth in which he allowed one hit and zero walks while striking out one.

Impact Bednar locked down the ninth inning for a second consecutive night and is now 13-for-14 in save opportunities this season. He's given up runs in just two of his 24 appearances and sports a 1.13 ERA, 0.75 WHIP and 30:1 K:BB across 24 innings. The right-hander is just six saves away from tying his career-best mark, which he set last year during his first full season as a closer.

JUNE 4, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Nails down 12th save Bednar gave up a hit in a scoreless ninth inning Saturday to record his 12th save of the season in a 4-3 win over the Cardinals. He didn't walk or strike out a batter.

Impact The right-hander failed to fan a batter for only the second time in his last 16 appearances, but he still got the job done. Bednar has been one of baseball's top closers to begin 2023, converting 12 of 13 save chances with a 1.17 ERA, 0.74 WHIP and 29:1 K:BB through 23 innings, and with the Pirates currently in contention for a division title in a wide-open NL Central, trade chatter around the 28-year-old has died down considerably even with arbitration approaching this winter.

JUNE 4, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Notches 11th save Bednar gave up a hit and struck out one in a scoreless ninth inning Friday to record his 11th save of the season in a 7-5 win over the Cardinals.

Impact The right-hander continued a dominant run that has seen him convert seven straight save chances dating back to April 15 while posting a 21:0 K:BB and getting scored upon in only one of his 17 appearances during that time. Bednar is now tied for fourth in the National League in saves, three back of league leader Camilo Doval.

JUNE 3, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Picks up 10th save Bednar struck out two in a perfect inning to earn the save in Tuesday's 2-1 win over the Giants.

Impact Bednar's last save came on April 29, as the Pirates' early success has largely dwindled throughout May. He's pitched eight times this month, allowing two runs on six hits with 11 strikeouts and no walks over eight innings, so he's at least provided solid work despite the lack of saves. For the season, the Pittsburgh closer has converted 10 of 11 save chances with a 1.29 ERA, 0.71 WHIP and 28:1 K:BB through 21 innings.

MAY 31, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Shaky in non-save situation Bednar allowed two earned runs on two hits while striking out two in the ninth inning of Monday's win over the Rangers.

Impact Bednar entered the game to begin the ninth inning with a 6-2 lead. He allowed a leadoff single and a subsequent two-run homer, though he managed to hold the lead for the Pirates. Bednar hasn't had a save opportunity since April 29 due to the team's struggles, though he is still the locked-in closer and has a 1.50 ERA with a 0.93 WHIP and 24:1 K:BB across 18 frames this season.

MAY 23, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Records ninth save Bednar earned a save against the Nationals in the first game of a doubleheader Saturday, striking out two batters in a perfect inning.

Impact Bednar inherited a 6-3 lead in the ninth inning and closed out the contest with ease, striking out two of the three batters he faced and retiring the side on 13 pitches. The 28-year-old picked up his ninth save of the campaign, putting him in a four-way tie for first in the league. Bednar has been as impressive as any reliever in MLB this season, complementing the saves total with a 17:1 K:BB while allowing just one earned run over 13 innings.

APRIL 30, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Grabs league-leading eighth save Bednar picked up the save in Sunday's 2-0 win over the Reds, striking out a pair in a scoreless ninth inning.

Impact Bednar worked around a two-out Wil Myers single to earn his eighth save on the season and his fourth in Pittsburgh's last six games. Bednar moves past Jordan Romano to claim sole possession of the MLB lead in saves. Bednar has allowed just one run in 11 innings this season, good for a 0.82 ERA. He's 2-0 with 14:1 K:BB.

APRIL 23, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Nails down seventh save Bednar struck out one in a perfect ninth inning Friday to record his seventh save of the season in a 4-2 win over the Reds.

Impact The right-hander needed only eight pitches (seven strikes) to dismiss Cincy's 6-7-8 hitters. Bednar's had an outstanding start to the season, and through 10 innings he's posted a 0.90 ERA and 12:1 K:BB while tying Toronto's Jordan Romano for the league lead in saves.

APRIL 22, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Grabs sixth save Bednar picked up the save in Thursday's 4-3 victory over the Reds, logging a strikeout in a clean ninth inning.

Impact Bednar made quick work of the Reds on Thursday, recording three outs on 12 pitches to earn his sixth save of the year. The Pittsburgh native is now 6-for-7 in save opportunities as he lowers his ERA to 1.00. Bednar is 2-1 with a 0.89 WHIP and 9:1 K:BB through nine innings to start the season. He's gotten more save chances than expected on a surprising 13-7 Pirates team.

APRIL 21, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Earns fifth save Bednar allowed one hit and struck out one in a scoreless ninth inning to earn the save Tuesday against the Rockies.

Impact Bednar was tasked with protecting a two-run lead and was successful to earn his fifth save of the season. He served up a two-out double but managed to strike out C.J. Cron to end the game. Bednar has allowed only one earned run across eight innings to begin the campaign while also maintaining a 10:1 K:BB.

APRIL 19, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Suwinski homers twice, Pirates beat skidding Rockies 5-3

Jack Suwinski homered twice and drove in three runs, Vince Velasquez recovered from a rough start to pitch six solid innings and the Pittsburgh Pirates beat Colorado 5-3, sending t...

APRIL 19, 2023 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Picks up win with scoreless frame Bednar (2-0) earned the win in Saturday's 6-3 win over the Cardinals by firing a scoreless ninth inning with one strikeout.

Impact Bednar came in to pitch in a 3-3 game and was effective while picking up his second win of the season. The right-hander was making his first appearance since blowing a save Tuesday against the Astros, and this now makes four scoreless appearances for Bednar in five attempts.

APRIL 16, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

McCutchen homers in 10th to help Pirates beat Cardinals 6-3

Andrew McCutchen homered in the 10th inning to lead the Pittsburgh Pirates to a 6-3 win over the St. Louis Cardinals Saturday

APRIL 15, 2023 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Rookie Bae hits 3-run homer in 9th, Pirates beat Astros 7-4

Rookie Ji-Hwan Bae hit a game-ending three-run homer in the ninth inning, and the Pittsburgh Pirates beat the Houston Astros 7-4

APRIL 12, 2023 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Blows save but gets win Bednar (1-0) blew the save, but picked up the win anyway in Tuesday's 7-4 victory over Houston. He allowed two runs on two hits with onewalk while striking out one over one inning.

Impact Bednar was given a two-run lead in the ninth inning, but the right-hander gave up a two-run double to Chas McCormick to blow his first save of the season. Fortunately for Bednar Ji-Hwan Bae blasted a three-run homer in the bottom of the inning, so it does allow him to pick up his first victory of 2023.

APRIL 12, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Earns fourth save Bednar struck out two in a scoreless ninth inning Sunday to record his fourth save of the season in a 1-0 victory over the White Sox.

Impact The Pirates continue surpassing preseason expectations posting a 6-3 record to start the season. As a result, Bednar has benefited, wracking up his fourth save of the year. The 28-year-old is uncontested as the Pirates' closer and posts a 0.00 ERA and 7:0 K:BB through four innings pitched.

APRIL 9, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Cruz's injury dampens Pittsburgh's 1-0 win over White Sox

Johan Oviedo outdueled Michael Kopech to lead the Pittsburgh Pirates past the Chicago White Sox 1-0

APRIL 9, 2023 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Secures third save Bednar struck out one in a scoreless ninth inning Tuesday to record his third save of the season in a 4-1 win over the Red Sox.

Impact Masataka Yoshida reached on an error to lead off the frame, but Bednar shook it off and needed only 10 pitches to retire the next three batters, ending the night by fanning Enrique Hernandez. After notching 19 saves last season with a 32.9 percent strikeout rate, Bednar has delivered more of the same to begin 2023, firing three shutout innings with a 5:0 K:BB.

APRIL 5, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Ji Hwan Bae's 1st career homer helps Pirates top Red Sox 4-1

Ji Hwan Bae hit his first career homer, Bryan Reynolds went deep for the third time in two games and the Pittsburgh Pirates beat the Boston Red Sox 4-1

APRIL 5, 2023 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Nabs save vs. Sox Bednar gave up one hit and struck out two in a scoreless frame to pickup up the save Monday against the Red Sox.

Impact The Pirates' closer now has two saves in two appearances to start the season. Pittsburgh won't win a ton of games, but Bednar seems like the undisputed closer at the moment.

APRIL 4, 2023 • ROTOWIRE