August 20, 2025 3:41 PM : Pirates manager Don Kelly confirmed that Chandler will be called up from Triple-A Indianapolis on Friday and will be available in a bulk role in the bullpen behind starter Braxton Ashcraft, Kevin Gorman of TribLive.com reports.
Analysis: Kelly didn't go into specifics regarding what the extent of Chandler's workload might look like if he makes his big-league debut Friday, as his usage may hinge on how deep into the game Ashcraft is able to work after covering an MLB season-high five innings last Friday versus the Cubs. Ashcraft will be making his third straight turn through the rotation after getting his feet wet as a reliever in 16 of his first 17 big-league outings, and Kelly suggested that Chandler could follow a similar path that may eventually culminate in the top prospect getting starts before the end of the season. Chandler had been working exclusively out of the rotation at Triple-A and struck out 121 batters over 100 innings, but a bloated 12 percent walk rate played a large part in his elevated 1.48 WHIP. The Pirates are hopeful that pitching out of the bullpen initially could take some pressure off the 23-year-old and help him harness his command, but wringing fantasy value from him -- even as a streaming option -- could prove to be difficult if he follows an unpredictable pitching schedule.