How Jared Jones' return impacts the Pirates pitching staff

Key Points:

• Jared Jones is set to rejoin the Pittsburgh Pirates' starting rotation Friday night after recovering from internal brace surgery on his right elbow last May, expressing excitement about his return to the Major League mound.
• To accommodate Jones, the Pirates are moving Carmen Mlodzinski to a unique bullpen role as a "high-leverage bulk guy," intended to pitch multiple innings in close games to help stabilize the bullpen.
• Jones believes his rehab period allowed him to improve his pitching approach, especially his curveball and changeup, and he feels like a "brand new pitcher" with elite velocity maintained during rehab starts.
• Pirates manager Don Kelly highlighted the strategic value of Mlodzinski's new bullpen role, emphasizing his ability to provide length and effectiveness in high-pressure situations, addressing a key weakness in the team's bullpen.
• The Pirates are adopting a creative bullpen deployment strategy with Mlodzinski and Wilber Dotel acting as secondary starters or multi-inning relievers to improve late-game pitching and support the team's playoff aspirations.