Pirates send Quinn Priester to Triple-A, recall relief pitcher Carmen Mlodzinski

A day after losing his fourth decision among five starts, Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher Quinn Priester was optioned back to Triple-A Indianapolis on Wednesday, meaning the end to the short-lived six-man rotation.

In Priester’s place on the 26-man roster, right-handed relief pitcher Carmen Mlodzinski was reinstated from the injured list. Mlodzinski has not pitched for the Pirates this season while recovering from right forearm tightness.

We have recalled RHP Carmen Mlodzinski from Triple-A Indianapolis, and optioned RHP Quinn Priester to Triple-A Indianapolis to make room on the 26-man active roster.

— Pittsburgh Pirates (@Pirates) May 15, 2024

“We’re in a way better spot than we were because our bullpen has been taxed,” manager Derek Shelton said on the KDKA-AM pregame show before the third game of the series in Milwaukee.

Shelton said he is excited to have Mlodzinski back in the bullpen after he made 34 relief appearances last year.

“(Mlodzinski) has been good over the last couple outings,” he said, “back to where we thought he was going to be at the beginning of spring training. Excited to have him back.

“He’s a guy who pitched in leverage (situations) for us last year, and I think we saw he has a really good heartbeat.”

Mlodzinski, who was one of the Pirates’ two first-round draft selections in 2020, was 0-1 with a 6.43 ERA in 14 innings and 12 appearances (all in relief) for Indianapolis. He recorded 13 strikeouts and seven walks and surrendered 18 hits and three home runs for a WHIP of 1.79.

For the Pirates last season, Mlodzinski was 3-3 with a 2.25 ERA and 34 strikeouts in 34 relief outings and one start (36 innings). He recorded a WHIP of 1.28.

Part of the Pirates’ six-man starting rotation, Priester had an ERA of 4.33 after allowing four runs on six hits in the second inning of a 4-3 loss to the Milwaukee Brewers on Tuesday night. In five starts, Priester worked 27 innings, allowing 31 hits, seven home runs and 10 walks while striking out 17. He recorded a 1.52 WHIP.

In 2023, Priester appeared in 10 games (eight starts) with a 3-3 record, 7.74 ERA and 1.70 WHIP.

Shelton said Priester’s issue with the Pirates this season was “lack of execution.”

“He puts the ball in the middle of the plate too much,” he said. “It’s one of those things that you can get away with in Triple-A. You cannot get away with that in the big leagues. You’re going to give up contact.

“The thing that was positive (Tuesday) night was watching him make the adjustment. One of the things we talked about with him (Tuesday) was how that adjustment transcends into his work in Triple-A.”