Bednar has looked like his old self lately. His fastball got up to 99 mph and he was able to command both his splitter and curveball. He’s allowed just one run and five hits to go with eight strikeouts over his last six innings since being recalled from Triple-A. It seems like the Pirates have fully reasserted him as their closer and he’s running with the job.

The Pirates play the next eight days in a row, but they thought it made sense to give Bednar some work tonight. He gave up a triple, a single and a 374-foot flyout before the Cubs, trying to get the game over with, sent up Nicky Lopez to hit for Nick Hoerner. Lopez grounded into an inning-ending double play, so Bednar escaped throwing only 11 pitches. We wouldn’t read too much into an outing in an eight-run game, but it’s not great that Bednar gave up hard-hit balls to all four batters he faced. Even the punchless Lopez hit his grounder 98.8 mph.

Bednar struck out two while working the ninth with the Pirates down 3-0 to the Guardians. It’s a good start as he attempts to regain the closer’s role in Pittsburgh.