![\"Pittsburgh](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/01m1zaj0q0yrbcgke72r.jpg\" "\\"Pittsburgh")
<\/p>\nPITTSBURGH \u2014 The Pittsburgh Pirates are still in the National League Wild Card race and need a great showing from their starting rotation.<\/p>\n
The Pirates face the Chicago White Sox at Rate Field, Sept. 8-10, the first of their two series in the “Windy City”, as they’ll face the Chicago Cubs this weekend.<\/p>\n
Pittsburgh has right-handed pitchers, Bubba Chandler going in the series opener on Sept. 8 and Jared Jones pitching in the series finale on Sept. 10, while putting “TBA” for Sept. 9.<\/p>\n
The White Sox have two right-handed pitchers taking the mound in Sean Burke for the series opener and Davis Martin in the second game, with “TBA” listed for the series finale.<\/p>\n
Bubba Chandler Looks For Stronger Finish vs. White Sox<\/p>\n
Chandler has pitched well in the second half of 2026, but his most recent start against the San Francisco Giants at PNC Park on Sept. 2 didn’t go that well.<\/p>\n
He allowed three earned runs over five innings, but two runs came in the fifth inning, that he should’ve escaped unscathed.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Sep 2, 2026; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher Bubba Chandler (36) delivers a pitch against the San Francisco Giants during the first inning at PNC Park. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect<\/p>\n
Chandler got a fly ball from Giants first baseman Rafael Devers, an easy out, but the Pirates fielders got lost in twilight, per manager Don Kelly<\/a>, and it loaded the bases, leading to a sacrifice fly and an RBI single to make it 3-1.<\/p>\n The Pirates rookie had a decent outing, but gave up a big home run to Devers in the first inning and walked three batters.<\/p>\n Chandler is still pitching much better than he did before the All-Star break, a 3-1 record in eight starts, a 3.24 ERA over 41.2 innings pitched, 36 strikeouts to 16 walks, a .217 batting average allowed and a 1.18 WHIP.<\/p>\n He’ll get his chance to bounce back against the White Sox and give the Pirates an important win to start the series.<\/p>\n Pirates Keep Having Success With Bullpen Game<\/p>\n The Pirates are more than a month into using their bullpen for one game in the rotation, and they’ve had great success recently.<\/p>\n Right-handed pitcher Lake Bachar has started four games for the Pirates and allowed just two earned runs over 9.2 innings pitched for a 1.86 ERA.<\/p>\n Aug 8, 2026; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Pittsburgh Pirates relief pitcher Lake Bachar (71) pitches against the New York Mets during the seventh inning at PNC Park. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect<\/p>\n The Pirates usually let Bachar go two innings or two and a third, and he’s done well against right-handed batters, .163\/.239\/.341 for an OPS of .581, and against left-handed batters, .208\/.315\/.364 for an OPS of .679.<\/p>\n Pittsburgh could bring in Carmen Mlodzinski, who has pitched much better lately coming out of the bullpen, or use rookie Khristian Curtis<\/a>, who threw three innings after Bachar in the 5-2 win over the Giants on Sept. 3.<\/p>\n The Pirates have a few options for how they go after the White Sox, but expect Bachar to lead off the game as he’s done before.<\/p>\n Jones Tries to Maintain Momentum Through September<\/p>\n One Pirates pitcher who needed a great start to September was Jared Jones and he did that and then some his last time out.<\/p>\n Jones pitched six scoreless innings, tied his career-high with nine strikeouts and threw a season-high 91 pitches in the 1-0 win over the Los Angeles Angels<\/a> at PNC Park on Sept. 4.<\/p>\n Sep 4, 2026; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher Jared Jones (17) delivers a pitch against the Los Angeles Angels during the first inning at PNC Park. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect<\/p>\n He only allowed three hits and a walk and dominated the Angels with his slider<\/a>, striking out seven batters with it.<\/p>\n Jones had struggled massively in August<\/a>, with a 7.40 ERA, a .318 BAA and 1.94 WHIP, a disappointing showing after a great performance in July.<\/p>\n He has the stuff to become a great pitcher, but he’ll have to show it against a much better lineup in the White Sox, who can hit for power and score runs quickly.<\/p>\n If Jones can close out the series against the White Sox, then the Pirates should have a good chance to get another important win.<\/p>\n![\"Pittsburgh](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/01m1z9rey1n9krn9dhgk.jpg\" "\\"Pittsburgh")
<\/p>\n![\"Pittsburgh](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/01m1zaq179rrwac5q5zz.jpg\" "\\"Pittsburgh")
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