Pirates Preview: Carmen Mlodzinski Gets the Start in Rubber Match

Danny Demilio |

Aug 17, 2025

The Pittsburgh Pirates were defeated 3-1 by the Chicago Cubs on Saturday afternoon at Wrigley Field.

Tommy Pham homered and Mike Burrows delivered a solid start, but the Cubs rallied in the eighth inning against Evan Sisk for the win.

After splitting the first two games of the series, the Pirates (52-72) will go for a series win against the Cubs (69-53) in Sunday’s rubber match.

First pitch is set for 2:20 p.m. ET, and the game will be broadcast on SportsNet Pittsburgh and 93.7 The Fan.

Weather

Cloudy skies and temperatures in the upper 70s. Winds NNE at 8-9 mph.

RHP Carmen Mlodzinski (2-7, 4.20 ERA) Will Start for the Pirates

Mlodzinski, who began the season in the starting rotation, will get another chance to start against the Cubs on Sunday.

The right-hander went 1-4 with a 5.67 ERA in nine starts to open the year before he was optioned to Triple-A Indianapolis. Since returning, Mlodzinski has pitched exclusively out of the bullpen.

The shift back to a relief role has served Mlodzinski well. In 15 appearances since he was recalled, Mlodzinski has a 2.55 ERA, though he’s allowed three runs in five innings over his last two appearances.

Mlodzinski allowed two runs in four innings in a start against Chicago in April and tossed two-scoreless innings of relief against them on June 13. In his career vs. the Cubs, he has a 2.70 ERA in seven appearances.

RHP Javier Assad (0-1, 9.00 ERA) Will Start for the Cubs

Assad made his first start of the season on Tuesday in Toronto and allowed four runs on eight hits across four innings.

The right-hander had been on the 60-day injured list since spring training with an oblique strain. He posted a 2.45 ERA across five rehab starts.

Last season with the Cubs, Assad went 7-6 with a 3.73 ERA in a career-high 29 starts.

The 28-year-old has faced the Pirates four times in his career and is 2-0 with a 2.66 ERA.

Cubs Hitters vs. Mlodzinski

Ian Happ: 2 for 5
Pete Crow-Armstrong: 1 for 5
Seiya Suzuki: 1 for 5, one walk, four strikeouts
Nico Hoerner: 3 for 4, one walk
Dansby Swanson: 2 for 4, one walk, 0ne strikeout
Michael Busch: 0 for 4, one walk, one strikeout

Pirates Hitters vs. Assad

Bryan Reynolds: 2 for 11, one RBI, one walk, one strikeout
Jack Suwinski: 3 for 8, one home run, one RBI, one walk, three strikeouts
Tommy Pham: 1 for 5, one home run, one RBI
Liover Peguero: 0 for 5, five strikeouts
Nick Gonzales: 1 for 2, two RBI

Tidbits

Tommy Pham’s home run off Shota Imanaga in the fourth inning snapped a steak of 22-straight scoreless innings thrown by him against the Pirates.
Mike Burrows has not received more than one run of support in any of his six road starts this season.
Sunday’s start will be Carmen Mlodzinski’s 100th appearance in the big leagues.