David Bednar's Stats, Metrics, Game Logs, Projections & Rankings

Pittsburgh Pirates left-hander David Bednar (lat) struck out one over a scoreless inning in Saturday's 9-3 win over the Miami Marlins. Bednar was unavailable for Opening Day due to a lat injury but made his season debut on Saturday. The southpaw looked sharp, needing just 14 pitches to make quick work of the Marlins. The 29-year-old remains Pittsburgh's primary closer after racking up 39 saves in 2023. In the team's only save opportunity this season, the Pirates turned to Jose Hernandez, but Bednar was unavailable in the Opening Day win over Miami. With Bednar back on the mound, fantasy managers can safely start him in all leagues.

Pittsburgh Pirates manager Derek Shelton said closer David Bednar (lat) was unavailable in Thursday's 6-5 extra-inning win over the Miami Marlins as part of his rehab from the lat issue he dealt with during spring training. Fantasy managers may have thought Bednar was over the injury after the 29-year-old right-hander was able to make two Grapefruit League appearances to close out the spring, but Bednar is still nursing the problem. It puts his availability into question for Friday's game against Miami as well, but it sounds like the All-Star stopper is just day-to-day. While Jose Hernandez ended up nabbing an Opening Day save on Thursday, it needs to be noted that Aroldis Chapman was summoned for the ninth inning and retired the top of the Marlins' batting order. Chapman is worth a speculative add on waiver wires until Bednar is out of the woods health-wise.

Pittsburgh Pirates closer David Bednar (lat) is making his Grapefruit League debut on Thursday against the Toronto Blue Jays. The 29-year-old reliever came down with lat tightness earlier this month, which is why he hasn't pitched in a Grapefruit League game until Thursday. Now that he's getting into spring training action, he's optimistic that he'll be ready for Opening Day on March 28 next Thursday, but there's a chance that the Pirates ease him in early in the year to avoid overworking him on back-to-back days. Regardless, Bednar has proven to be one of the best relievers in the game the last two years and led the league in saves in 2023 with 39. Despite pitching for the Pirates, Bednar should be considered a top-10 fantasy closer.

Pittsburgh Pirates closer David Bednar (lat) threw live batting practice on Monday and said that his next step is likely to appear in games. "I'm staying day-by-day as much as I possibly can," Bednar said. "But each day has been feeling good. I'm optimistic." Bednar has yet to appear in a Grapefruit League game this spring due to right-lat soreness, but he's optimistic that he'll be ready by Opening Day next Thursday on March 28. When healthy, he's a top-10 fantasy closer, as he's been one of the best relievers in the game the last two years. He was 3-3 with a career-best 2.00 ERA with a league-high 39 saves and 80 strikeouts in 67 1/3 innings in 2023. The Pirates could be conservative with Bednar early on, perhaps not using him on back-to-back days, instead using lefty veteran Aroldis Chapman in those spots.

Pittsburgh Pirates closer David Bednar (lat) is scheduled to throw a bullpen session in camp on Friday. Bednar felt some right-lat tightness at spring training earlier this month, and his mound session on Friday will be his first time throwing since the injury cropped up. The 29-year-old right-hander has yet to debut in a spring training game this year because of the injury, but because he's a reliever and not a starter, he still has ample time to prepare to be ready for Opening Day at the end of March. Despite pitching for the lowly Pirates, Bednar is considered a top-10 fantasy closer, and that shouldn't change unless it's announced that he's going to start the year on the injured list. If Bednar misses any time in 2024 due to injury, veteran left-hander Aroldis Chapman would likely take over closing duties for the Bucs.