The Pittsburgh Pirates aren't committing to a closer, primarily because they have options in the ninth inning.
The Pittsburgh Pirates might have the best overall pitching staff in MLB, and a lot of that has to do with their elite starting rotation, but the reliever core deserves some credit, too.
The Pirates have a lot of quality, versatile arms in the bullpen, but that versatility comes with decisions, such as how Pittsburgh plans to manage save situations early in the season. Manager Don Kelly gave a preview of what this could look like at the beginning of the season.
Right now, Kelly is hesitant to name a closer for the team, but admitted on Monday that Dennis Santana will “get a lot of innings in the ninth.”
Looking at how the Pirates roster is coming together, this makes plenty of sense for where everything stands. Santana posted a 2.18 ERA and 0.87 WHIP, along with 16 saves, a year ago. He has the experience and success to be a closer.
With that in mind, Pittsburgh’s skipper also acknowledged “That leverage spot that we need Santana, maybe in the eighth inning… I don't think that we're just going to pigeonhole it to, you know, say Santana's only going to pitch in the ninth inning.”
Mar 21, 2026; Bradenton, Florida, USA; Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Dennis Santana (60) throws a pitch during the fifth inning against the Toronto Blue Jays at LECOM Park. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn ImagesThe heart of an opponent's order in a tight game might not always come in the ninth inning, so, again, it makes sense for the Pirates to match up Santana with wherever they feel they need his stuff the most.
It’s also easier for the Pirates to go down this route when they have other high-leverage options for the later innings. Kelly noted that Gregory Soto has experience closing out games, along with “guys in the back end that can handle it.”
Soto has racked up 56 saves over his seven-year career, and he has pitched in plenty of high-leverage innings. The Pirates should feel more than comfortable with him pitching in the ninth inning on occasion.
It’s also worth noting that Soto is a lefty while Santana is righty, giving the Pirates even more options depending on matchups, and that’s exactly what the skipper alluded to.
Kelly said what the ninth inning and save situations will come down to is “We've got guys in the back end that can handle it with the stuff they have. I think as we look at the matchups and try to figure out the best position to put all these guys in.”
Pittsburgh has a plan for those high-leverage situations heading into the season, but it’ll still be interesting to follow how the Pirates manage the high-leverage moments, considering the different options they have.
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