Jared Jones decision coming, likely Thursday

PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – The Pirates list their future starting pitchers through Thursday, when Paul Skenes takes the mound against the Cubs. After that we don’t know, but a chance Jared Jones is a part of that group in the weekend home series against Minnesota.

Bucs manager Don Kelly said Jones’ bullpen session of about 25 pitches at PNC Park on Tuesday went well. Jones was getting treatment on Wednesday and typically you know the day after treatment how a pitcher is feeling.

Thursday is likely the day we find out where Jones immediate future begins upon his return from missing 2025 after Tommy John surgery.

If the Pirates stayed with the current rotation, Mitch Keller would be scheduled to start on Friday and then Carmen Mlodzinski on Saturday with Braxton Ashcraft on Sunday.

There are options.

They could move Keller back a day and start Jones on Friday. The right-hander made his last start on Saturday for AAA Indianapolis. They probably want to keep Jones in some sort of rhythm and not have him wait too long before his next appearance.

Pirates, and the decision is more than just Kelly, it will involve the pitching coaches and general manager Ben Cherington, could straight have Jones take Mlodzinski’s spot on Saturday. They could still have him take that rotation spot and have him start Friday and Keller on Saturday.

There is the possibility of a six-man rotation. Although Kelly seemed to downplay this before the game Wednesday.

“We’ve talked about it,” Kelly said. “I’m not sure where we will land. I don’t think so just because that would reduce how many guys you got in the bullpen too.”

In what would be a surprise to most, they could just have Jones in the bullpen to begin. Cherington hasn’t dismissed this, always adding Jones is long-term a starter for the Pirates.

Kelly did not rule out the potential of Bubba Chandler being a part of whatever solution, which could have multiple layers.

“We are taking everything into account,” Kelly said Wednesday. “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.”