The Pittsburgh Pirates saw both the upside and the growing concern surrounding Bubba Chandler in a 5-0 loss to the San Diego Padres.
Chandler’s elite velocity and swing-and-miss ability were on display early, but control issues once again defined his outing.
Walks continue to limit Pirates’ young arm
The 23-year-old entered the game as one of the hardest-throwing starters in baseball, backed by strong strikeout and whiff metrics. However, his inability to consistently throw strikes has become a clear issue.
Chandler walked four batters in the loss and now leads MLB with 10 walks through his first two starts.
“Pretty bad, it’s pisspoor,” Chandler said, as noted in an article by MLB.com’s Will Aldrich. “Hits are fine, it’s stuff that’s gonna happen, but not competing in the zone is just pathetic and it’s eating at me, and I’m going to fix it and clean it up. (Source)
“Pretty bad, it’s pisspoor,” Chandler said. “Hits are fine, it’s stuff that’s gonna happen, but not competing in the zone is just pathetic and it’s eating at me, and I’m going to fix it and clean it up.
“I’ve got five more days before I throw again. It won’t happen again. Very pissed off. I’m just setting our team up for failure right now with the guys having to come in out of the ‘pen a lot sooner than they should. That stuff has gotta get cleaned up.”
Electric start fades quickly
Chandler opened the game with dominant stuff, touching 100 mph multiple times in the first inning and striking out Ramón Laureano to begin the night.
That first inning proved to be his only clean frame.
He labored through the second inning and ran into trouble later in the outing, allowing runs in both the fourth and fifth innings. A misplay in left field involving Bryan Reynolds contributed to the damage, leading to a ground-rule double that extended the Padres’ lead.
Chandler finished with five hits, four walks, and four strikeouts across his outing, throwing 83 pitches with just 48 landing for strikes.
Pirates see both promise and concern
Despite the struggles, there were flashes of why Chandler remains one of the organization’s most intriguing arms.
He threw 13 pitches at 100 mph or higher and showcased a sharp changeup that generated swings and misses, including a strikeout of Freddy Fermin.
Manager Don Kelly pointed to the positives while acknowledging the need for improvement.
“Again, some really good stuff coming out, and different pitches,” Kelly said. “A little erratic there, something we’ll continue to work on with the walks and getting it in the zone, but he’s got elite stuff, [he’s] a fierce competitor, threw some really good changeups, too. It’s going to be a big weapon for him moving forward.”
Long-term outlook remains high
Chandler has shown the ability to command his arsenal at times, including a strong finish to the 2025 season when he dominated over his final outings.
However, through two starts in 2026, the recurring issue is clear. His stuff plays at an elite level, but his control must improve for him to reach his ceiling.
For the Pirates, the formula is straightforward. If Chandler limits the free passes, his raw ability gives him the tools to become a frontline starter.
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