Mlodzinski improved to 3-7 and struck out five without allowing a baserunner across two scoreless innings of relief in Saturday's 5-1 win over the Rockies.
Mlodzinski had made a four-inning start in his last appearance Sunday against the Cubs, but he's since shifted back to the bullpen after the Pirates recalled Johan Oviedo from Triple-A Indianapolis and added him to the rotation earlier this week. The right-hander entered Saturday's game in the fifth inning after starter Mike Burrows was pulled in an apparent attempt to limit his workload. Mlodzinski was excellent in his two innings, generating 14 called or swinging strikes on 35 total pitches. He has allowed only three earned runs across six appearances and 14.2 innings since the start of August, while also maintaining an 18:3 K:BB.
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Pirates' Carmen Mlodzinski: Strong start against Cubs
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Mlodzinski allowed one run (none earned) on one hit while striking out three across four innings Sunday against the Cubs. He did not factor into the decision.
Mlodzinski has served in a multi-inning relief role for most of the summer after beginning the year in the rotation. He was tabbed to start a bullpen game Sunday and pitched well in the role, generating 14 called and swinging strikes on 44 pitches while also getting six groundball outs. The Pirates' rotation is in flux after Andrew Heaney was shifted to the bullpen, but Mlodzinski is in the mix to stick in the rotation for the final six weeks of the regular season.
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Pirates' Carmen Mlodzinski: Slated to start bullpen game
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Mlodzinski will serve as the Pirates' opening pitcher in a bullpen game Sunday against the Cubs, Noah Hiles of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.
Mlodzinski will open what's expected to be a bullpen game Sunday after expected starter Andrew Heaney was shifted to the bullpen Friday. Mlodzinski is capable of pitching multiple innings, but he's unlikely to pitch deep enough into Sunday's contest to qualify for a win.
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Pirates' Carmen Mlodzinski: Earns win in relief
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Mlodzinski (2-5) allowed two hits over 3.2 scoreless innings of relief against the Mets on Sunday. He struck out two and earned the win.
Mlodzinski took on a bulk-relief role in the blowout victory after Mike Burrows and Genesis Cabrera combined to allow one run over 5.1 frames. Mlodzinski threw 35 of 54 pitches for strikes and secured his first win since April 7. Since returning from Triple-A Indianapolis to join the big club's bullpen, he's produced a 3.09 ERA across 11.2 innings. For the year, Mlodzinski owns a 5.08 ERA with a 36:16 K:BB in 51.1 frames.
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Pirates' Carmen Mlodzinski: Added to bullpen
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The Pirates recalled Mlodzinski from Triple-A Indianapolis on Wednesday.
Mlodzinski is expected to serve in a bulk-relief role, per Noah Hiles of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. He made nine starts for the Pirates earlier this season, collecting a 5.67 ERA and 28:12 K:BB over 39.2 innings.
Pirates' Carmen Mlodzinski: Gets demoted Wednesday
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The Pirates optioned Mlodzinski to Triple-A Indianapolis on Wednesday.
As expected, Mlodzinski will head back to the minors while the Pirates open up a spot in the rotation for right-hander Mike Burrows, who was called up from Triple-A in advance of his first MLB start Thursday versus the Brewers. After winning a spot in the Opening Day rotation coming out of spring training, Mlodzinski struggled over his nine starts, going 1-4 with a 5.67 ERA, 1.61 WHIP and 28:12 K:BB in 39.2 innings. He might stay stretched out as a member of the Indianapolis rotation, but Mlodzinski could be ticketed for the bullpen the next time he receives a call-up to Pittsburgh.
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Pirates' Carmen Mlodzinski: Ousted from rotation
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The Pirates are expected to option Mlodzinski to Triple-A Indianapolis on Thursday, Alex Stumpf of MLB.com reports.
After working primarily in relief over his first two seasons in the big leagues, Mlodzinski surprisingly emerged from spring training as a member of the Pirates' Opening Day rotation, but he always appeared to be little more than a placeholder until one of Pittsburgh's many starting pitching prospects was deemed big-league ready. Right-hander Mike Burrows is in line to get a call-up from Triple-A and will enter the rotation Thursday against the Brewers in place of Mlodzinski, who covered five innings in just three of his nine starts on the season while submitting a 5.67 ERA, 1.61 WHIP and 8.9 K-BB%. He'll presumably stay stretched out as a member of the rotation at Indianapolis, though Mlodzinski could work out of the bullpen the next time he gets the call back to the big club.
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Pirates' Carmen Mlodzinski: Struggles early in loss
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Mlodzinski (1-4) took the loss against the Phillies on Saturday, allowing four runs on seven hits and one walk with two strikeouts over 3.1 innings.
The 26-year-old was lifted at 78 pitches with two runners aboard in the fourth inning, both of whom came around to score on a single by Bryson Stott. It marked Mlodzinski's shortest outing of the season and the first time he's allowed more than three earned runs in a start since April 18. He'll take a 5.67 ERA, 1.61 WHIP and 28:12 K:BB across 39.2 innings into a home matchup with the Brewers next weekend.
Pirates' Carmen Mlodzinski: Fires 5.2 scoreless frames
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Mlodzinski did not factor into the decision in Sunday's 4-3 win over Atlanta, allowing four hits and one walk over 5.2 scoreless innings. He struck out two.
The 26-year-old right-hander produced his first scoreless start of the season with this 83-pitch performance, falling an out shy of securing his first quality start. The Atlanta lineup was unable to square up Mlodzinski, as he scattered three singles and a double. With this effort, Mlodzinski lowered his ERA from 6.16 to 5.20 across 36.1 total innings. He currently lines up to make his next start at the Phillies next weekend.
Pirates' Carmen Mlodzinski: Logs no-decision Monday
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Mlodzinski allowed two runs on four hits and no walks while striking out two batters over 4.2 innings in a no-decision against St. Louis on Monday.
Mlodzinski allowed just four hits in the outing, but two of those were solo homers. That was the extent of the damage against the righty, who exited after 4.2 frames having thrown 88 pitches (53 of which were strikes). Mlodzinski has looked a little better in his past two starts, but he still holds an ugly 6.16 ERA on the campaign and has managed to complete five innings just twice through seven starts. His next trip to the mound is lined up to come at home against Atlanta.
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Pirates' Carmen Mlodzinski: Yields two runs in no-decision
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Mlodzinski did not factor into Wednesday's decision against the Cubs, allowing two runs on six hits and one walk while striking out four over four-plus innings.
Mlodzinski kept the Cubs off the board over the first four innings, but the two baserunners he allowed at the start of the fifth came around to score on an Ian Happ two-run single. Mlodzinski has failed to make it through five innings in three of his last four starts and is up to a 6.58 ERA, 1.81 WHIP and 22:10 K:BB over 26 innings this season. He's slated to face the Cardinals on the road next week, when he'll look to earn his second win of 2025.
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Pirates' Carmen Mlodzinski: Knocked around in fourth inning
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Mlodzinski didn't factor into the decision Thursday against the Angels after allowing three runs on five hits and one walk in five innings. He struck out four.
It wasn't until the fourth inning where Mlodzinski ran into trouble, as he gave up three consecutive hits to open the frame, the last of which was a three-run jack by Logan O'Hoppe. Three of his five hits allowed went for extra bases Thursday, and Mlodzinski has now failed to exceed five innings in any of his first five starts this season. The right-hander doesn't shape up as a recommended fantasy option in his next scheduled outing versus the hard-hitting Cubs, especially since he carries a 6.95 ERA, 1.82 WHIP and 18:9 K:BB across 22 innings.
Pirates' Carmen Mlodzinski: Hit hard in Friday's loss
Rotowire
Mlodzinski (1-3) took the loss Friday as the Pirates fell 10-7 to the Guardians, coughing up five runs on nine hits and two walks over four-plus innings. He failed to strike out a batter.
Four of the hits off the 26-year-old righty went for extra bases, including a Bo Naylor solo shot in the third inning -- the first long ball Mlodzinski has served up in four big-league starts this season. While he's been able to keep the ball in the park, not much else has gone right for Mlodzinski, who carries a 7.41 ERA, 2.00 WHIP and 14:8 K:BB through 17 innings. With Bubba Chandler dominating at Triple-A (1.69 ERA, 18:5 K:BB over 10.2 innings), Mlodzinski's time in the rotation could be drawing short. He'll look to rebound in his next outing, which is scheduled to come on the road next week against the Angels.
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