Pirates manager Clint Hurdle said closer Mark Melancon will not be available to pitch during Wednesday's game against the Cubs, reports the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review.
"He's not available tonight based on the volume of pitches [Tuesday]," Hurdle said, per MLB.com. "He's going to close Thursday if we have a lead late. It's one blown save for me. It would be an absolute overreaction for one blown save to make a switch now. Obviously, the two three-run innings get your attention, but for us, it's pitch execution as much as it is anything, and I still believe the velocity will get back to were we've seen it."
Melancon blew a two-run lead in the ninth inning of Tuesday's loss to the Cubs, but Hurdle said Melancon will remain the team's closer moving forward.
The Pirates are the favorites (-108) over the Cubs on Wednesday.