Pirates Bullpen Tested in Wild Finish | Chicago Cubs News

The Pirates’ wild ride continues: after dropping the first two games against the Cubs, they clawed back with a gritty win to avoid a sweep, but their 75-75 record with just 12 games left puts them firmly out of playoff contention. A shaky bullpen — highlighted by three rookies surrendering 12 runs in one game and manager Don Kelly’s controversial decision to leave Gregory Soto in too long — has become their Achilles’ heel. With Mitch Keller sidelined for the season, they’re forced to rely on young arms for extended stints, testing their readiness for bigger roles. Yet, they showed resilience in Game 3, where timely bullpen moves by Kelly — calling on Mlodzinski, Weaver, and Montgomery — turned the tide. It’s a tale of potential and pressure, proving that while talent exists, smart management could be the difference-maker next year. Listen in comfort:Get a discount on a Soli Pillow: http://solipillow.com/discount/dnn. Advertise on DNN:[email protected] This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting.Sources:https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/pirates-vs-cubs-takeaways-pittsburgh-130005471.html More coverage & latest updates:https://sources.thednn.ai/6d8b67d4c03e8666 Report issues to [email protected].