Pirates fall to Cardinals 7-2 on July 2 as Mitch Keller struggles. While Bryan Reynolds homered, the real story is prospect Bubba Chandler's rise. Is he the answer?
StatPro MLB Beat Reporter
It was another one of those nights at PNC Park. A 7-2 loss to the St. Louis Cardinals, a three-game losing streak, and another rough outing for ace Mitch Keller. The familiar frustrations of the 2025 season were on full display Wednesday. But beneath the surface of the loss, a different story is brewing—one of hope, powered by a right arm in Indianapolis that might just be the most exciting thing in the organization right now.
Bubba Chandler, the Pirates' No. 1 prospect, is 2-1 with a 2.17 ERA, 56 strikeouts, and a 1.13 WHIP over his last 37.1 innings in Triple-A.
The series opener against the Cardinals felt like a script we've seen too many times. Mitch Keller, now saddled with a 2-10 record, just didn't have it. The Cards tagged him for six runs in only 4.1 innings, with a three-run blast from Nolan Gorman serving as the back-breaking blow. On the other side, Sonny Gray was his usual self, carving up the Pirates' lineup for seven innings. The lone bright spot for the home team was a solo home run from Bryan Reynolds, but with only five total hits, the offense couldn't muster a real threat. The bullpen was solid in relief, but the damage was already done.
Let's talk about the real headline: Bubba Chandler. While the big league club was struggling, the Pirates' top prospect—and MLB Pipeline's No. 2 overall—was continuing his reign of terror in Triple-A. His numbers are simply electric: a 2.17 ERA with 56 strikeouts in just over 37 innings. More importantly, the team is stretching him out, having him throw 86 pitches in his last two starts. This isn't just a prospect having a good run; this is a star getting his final polish before the big show. The question is no longer *if* we'll see Chandler in Pittsburgh this season, but *when*. With the All-Star break approaching, his debut feels imminent, and it can't come soon enough for a rotation in desperate need of a spark.
Beyond the Chandler hype, the organization made a couple of other moves. In a positive development, reliever Colin Holderman has advanced his rehab assignment to Triple-A Indianapolis. After being sidelined with a forearm strain since early June, this is a huge step towards his return to a bullpen that could use his veteran presence. The team also made a minor trade, acquiring outfielder Titus Dumitru from the Braves for reliever Hunter Stratton. Dumitru, who will report to Double-A Altoona, adds some outfield depth to the farm system while the team parts with a reliever who was on the roster bubble.
Losing to a division rival is never fun, and a 37-51 record is a tough pill to swallow. But Wednesday's news was a perfect microcosm of the Pirates' current state: present-day pain mixed with tantalizing future hope. As the team looks to salvage the series against St. Louis, the real excitement lies just down the road in Indianapolis. The arrival of Bubba Chandler and the return of Colin Holderman could dramatically change the complexion of this team for the second half. The wait might soon be over.
