Bubba Chandler and the Pirates' bullpen struggled in a loss to the Cubs. Can Jared Jones help?

Colin Beazley, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette on May 27, 2026

Published in Baseball

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PITTSBURGH — Eventually, the Chicago Cubs’ losing streak was going to end. The Pittsburgh Pirates’ bullpen woes helped them snap it at 10.

The Cubs beat the Pirates, 10-4, on Wednesday night at PNC Park, tagging Bubba Chandler for four runs in five innings before jumping on the bullpen for six runs in the seventh. Yohan Ramirez and Justin Lawrence combined to allow those six runs.

Mt. Lebanon grad and Pirates killer Ian Happ broke a 4-4 tie with a three-run homer off of Ramirez. Ramirez, who had hit the leadoff hitter and allowed an Alex Bregman double, could have been pulled against the switch-hitting Happ with Mason Montgomery warming, but instead he allowed the first-pitch homer.

He then allowed a single to Seiya Suzuki before Pirates manager Don Kelly turned to Lawrence. Michael Conforto hit a pinch-hit, two-run homer off the first pitch Lawrence threw, and later in the inning a Konnor Griffin error helped the Cubs add a final run.

The Pirates needed to cover four innings with their bullpen after a short start from Chandler. Chandler, who started the game with a 10-pitch walk against Pete Crow-Armstrong, threw 32 pitches in the first inning and allowed eight hits and two walks across five innings. He struck out five.

Happ had a two-run single in the first, finishing the game 2 for 4 with five RBIs. Nico Hoerner added an RBI single in the second, then Dansby Swanson and Crow-Armstrong brought in a fourth run with back-to-back two-out doubles in the fourth.

The Pirates have not yet announced a Jared Jones decision, with Kelly saying pregame an update would come Thursday. Asked if Chandler’s start would play into it, Kelly was noncommittal.

“We are taking everything into account,” Kelly said pregame. “Honestly, we’ve got a really tough decision to make. Ultimately our goal is to win and to prioritize winning this year, however we do that. Just trying to take everything into account to make the best decision possible.”

The Pirates were tied when Chandler left the game, so it’s unfair to pin the blame solely on him. However, the team has lost his last seven starts and nine of 11 overall.

It was over when …

Conforto’s homer hit the bleachers. The Pirates overcame a three-run deficit earlier in the game, but a five-run deficit in the seventh felt decisive.

On the mound

Chandler walked two of the first three batters he faced and looked in danger of a disastrous first inning when the Cubs loaded the bases with no outs. He did well to get Suzuki to ground into a double play after Happ’s two-run hit.

But Chandler never really settled in. He was better after the second, but still gave up too much hard contact.

Ramirez was charged with four runs on three hits and a hit batter in one-third of an inning. Lawrence struck out three in 1 2/3 innings, but also allowed two hits, a walk and two runs (one earned).

At the plate

The Pirates tagged Cubs starter Jameson Taillon with four runs on two homers. Down 3-0, Brandon Lowe tied the game with a three-run homer in the third, his third homer off Taillon this season. Griffin added a solo homer, his fourth of the year, over the Clemente Wall in right-center field.

Bryan Reynolds went 3 for 4 with a double. Endy Rodriguez walked in all four plate appearances and now has a .536 on-base percentage (and a .904 OPS) in eight games.

Bucs bites

— Kelly said the Pirates have discussed a six-man rotation. While he kept all options open with the Jones decision, he didn’t seem to have much interest in moving to a seven-man bullpen.

— Ryan O’Hearn, dealing with a right quad strain, took grounders at first base pregame.

— PNC Park had its first “Tarps Off” of the season late in Wednesday’s game, as a group of fans gathered in section 303, took their shirts off and cheered. The trend, which started at Busch Stadium in St. Louis, has swept the league and could continue later in the homestand.

Up next

The Pirates will go for a series win on Thursday night at 6:40 p.m. ET. Paul Skenes (6-4, 3.00 ERA) will pitch against right-hander Colin Rea (4-3, 4.83).

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