Mlodzinski, 26, takes the mound for Pittsburgh in this pivotal clash after a 3-7 record with a 3.89 ERA. He’s 11th start and has previously beaten STL this season, going 1-0 with three runs and eight strikeouts across 9 2/3 innings in two outings against the Cardinals.

Mlodzinski and Chandler represent Pirates’ upside bets if they can push innings, with attention to news for rotation depth. In this slate, their value hinges on workload more than pure stuff, making them fliers in tournaments.

Mlodzinski joined the Pirates’ solid bullpen effort, contributing to eight scoreless innings alongside Nicolas and Holderman as Colorado barely dented the shutout.

Mlodzinski was listed as Pittsburgh’s starter for the night, with the Pirates’ early momentum stalling until the Cubs’ late rally. His role and performance shape the Pirates’ pitching plans and fantasy outlook for the weekend.

Mlodzinski was tapped as an opener for Pittsburgh, providing a bullpen-friendly path to cover early innings. His role signals how Pittsburgh plans to structure its relief-heavy approach to Sunday’s finale, potentially limiting early bats but offering a path to longer outings if the opener settles in.