It might be time to end this and send Mlodzinski back to the pen, where he’s likely to prove more helpful to the Pirates’ cause. After giving up nine hits tonight, his ERA stands at 7.41 ERA through four starts. The stuff just isn’t quite there to get through a lineup a second or especially a third time.

The right-hander also walked two and struck out four while posting a 30 percent whiff rate and 34 percent CSW. His sweeper and slider combination helped him to miss bats, and he did get 17 called strikes on the day, but he also gave up some hard contact and will now bring a 6.23 ERA into a start next week against Cleveland. You have to wonder when Bubba Chandler gets a chance.

Since Dave Mlicki picked up his 66th and final victory on Aug. 6, 2002, pitchers whose last names start with “Ml” had been 0-5 as starters. The streak is finally over now after Mlodzinski struck out six tonight. The Pirates might yet be better off with Mlodzinski working in the late innings as a reliever right now, but it’s not like trying the 26-year-old as a starter for a couple of months is going to cost them a postseason berth.