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Tyler Callihan Tyler Callihan Moving to bench Thursday
Thu, Jul 2, 2026, 10:01 AM
Callihan is out of the lineup for Thursday's game against the Phillies.
Analysis: Callihan will head to the bench for the second time in the series while the Pirates make room in the lineup for Marcell Ozuna, who will serve as the club's designated hitter and No. 7 batter. After getting off to an excellent start to his time with Pittsburgh upon being called up from Triple-A Indianapolis in late May, Callihan has cooled down considerably. Over his last 12 games, Callihan is slashing .143/.194/.321 with a 45.2 percent strikeout rate. |
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Konnor Griffin Konnor Griffin Taking seat Thursday
Thu, Jul 2, 2026, 9:29 AM
Griffin is not in the lineup for Thursday's game in Philadelphia.
Analysis: Griffin will get a breather for Thursday's matinee after starting each of the previous four contests. Jared Triolo is grabbing a start at shortstop and will bat ninth in the series finale. |
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Paul Skenes Paul Skenes Rough night vs. Phillies
Wed, Jul 1, 2026, 9:42 PM
Skenes (6-8) took the loss Wednesday against the Phillies, allowing eight runs (seven earned) on six hits and two walks over four innings. He struck out five.
Analysis: Five of the runs charged to Skenes came in the second inning, capped by Trea Turner's three-run homer. The 24-year-old Skenes has now gone nine straight starts without a win, posting a 5.36 ERA across 47 innings in what's been the first extended slump of his MLB career. Overall, Skenes sports a 3.62 ERA with a 1.01 WHIP and 119:22 K:BB across 18 starts (97 innings) this season. He'll look to turn things around his next time out, tentatively scheduled to come against Atlanta at home. |
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Brandan Bidois Brandan Bidois Optioned to Indianapolis
Wed, Jul 1, 2026, 5:01 PM
The Pirates optioned Bidois to Triple-A Indianapolis on Wednesday.
Analysis: After making just three outings for Pittsburgh since being called up on June 13, Bidois will head back to Indianapolis. The 25-year-old most recently appeared on Monday, allowing three earned runs on four hits and a walk, while striking out two in just two-thirds of an inning against Philadelphia. The Pirates will replace Bidois with Cam Sanders on the 26-man roster. |
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Cam Sanders Cam Sanders Recalled from Indy
Wed, Jul 1, 2026, 4:59 PM
The Pirates recalled Sanders from Triple-A Indianapolis on Wednesday.
Analysis: Sanders has given up just two earned runs while striking out 19 batters in 10 innings since being sent down to Triple-A at the end of May. He'll now return to the majors to give the Pirates' bullpen a fresh arm, though he'll likely be limited to low-leverage situations after surrendering six runs in six innings with Pittsburgh. Brandan Bidois was optioned to Indianapolis in a corresponding move. |
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Endy Rodriguez Endy Rodriguez Absent from lineup
Wed, Jul 1, 2026, 3:11 PM
Rodriguez is not in the lineup for Wednesday's contest versus the Phillies.
Analysis: Rodriguez started the first two games of the series (one at catcher, one at first base) but will get a breather in Thursday's tilt. Henry Davis will be behind the dish and bat ninth for the Pirates. |
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Bubba Chandler Bubba Chandler Fans six in Tuesday's loss
Wed, Jul 1, 2026, 6:56 AM
Chandler (3-8) took the loss Tuesday, giving up five runs on seven hits and two walks over 6.1 innings as the Pirates were blanked 8-0 by the Phillies. He struck out six.
Analysis: The right-hander kept things close until running out of gas in the seventh inning after 97 pitches (65 strikes), but Chandler had no margin for error with Cristopher Sanchez locked in for Philly. It's the first time since June 2 that Chandler has been tagged for more than two earned runs, and over six starts on the month he posted a 4.28 ERA, 1.19 WHIP and 27:12 K:BB in 33.2 innings. He'll look to bounce back in his next outing, which is set to come on the road this weekend against the Nationals. |
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Jake Mangum Jake Mangum Heading to bench Tuesday
Tue, Jun 30, 2026, 5:22 PM
Mangum is out of the lineup for Tuesday's game against the Phillies.
Analysis: Mangum will hit the bench after he produced a .297/.316/.378 slash line with one stolen base, four runs and two RBI while starting in the Pirates' last nine games. Billy Cook will replace Mangum in center field and will bat eighth. |
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Brandon Lowe Brandon Lowe Not in Tuesday's lineup
Tue, Jun 30, 2026, 4:11 PM
Lowe is out of the lineup for Tuesday's game against the
Analysis: Lowe posted a .690 OPS and 29.2 percent strikeout rate while starting the previous 19 games, but he'll hit the bench Tuesday with ace lefty Cristopher Sanchez pitching for Philadelphia. Nick Gonzales will shift to second base while Jared Triolo receives a start at the hot corner. |
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Ryan O'Hearn Ryan O'Hearn Sitting versus Sanchez
Tue, Jun 30, 2026, 4:04 PM
O'Hearn is out of the lineup for Tuesday's game against the Phillies.
Analysis: O'Hearn started the previous 16 games -- included two versus left-handed pitchers -- but will take a seat after posting a .300/.310/.500 slash line with five doubles, three homers and 17 RBI during that span. Marcell Ozuna will serve as the designated hitter against Philadelphia ace Cristopher Sanchez. |
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Endy Rodriguez Endy Rodriguez Racks up season-high four RBI
Mon, Jun 29, 2026, 10:29 PM
Rodriguez went 2-for-3 with a three-run home run, two walks and an additional RBI in Monday's 11-7 win over the Phillies.
Analysis: Rodriguez piled up a season-high RBI in his eighth multi-hit game of the season. The 25-year-old backstop has soundly outproduced Henry Davis as Pittsburgh's top catcher, and his stay atop the depth chart was solidified when the Pirates traded away Joey Bart earlier in June. Since being recalled from Triple-A Indianapolis, Rodriguez is slashing .271/.404/.482 with four big flies, six doubles, 15 RBI and two stolen bases over 105 plate appearances. |
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Braxton Ashcraft Braxton Ashcraft Nabs eighth win
Mon, Jun 29, 2026, 10:10 PM
Ashcraft (8-3) earned the win Monday against the Phillies, allowing five runs on five hits and one walk in six innings. He struck out eight.
Analysis: Ashcraft was hit pretty hard, serving up a season-high three home runs, but he lasted long enough to turn in his third consecutive start with at least six innings. The 26-year-old right-hander has been mostly dependable in 2026 in spite of Monday's hiccup, giving up two runs or fewer in 13 of his 17 outings while working at least five frames in all but one. Ashcraft will take a 3.33 ERA, 1.08 WHIP and 115:23 K:BB over 102.2 innings into his next scheduled appearance against an upstart Nationals lineup. |
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Mike Clevinger Mike Clevinger Returns from IL
Mon, Jun 29, 2026, 8:08 PM
Clevinger (knee) was activated from the 7-day injured list Sunday.
Analysis: Clevinger landed on the injured list April 13 due to a right MCL sprain. He's since completed a rehab stint in the Florida Complex League, and it didn't take long to find his way into a game at Triple-A Indianapolis, where he allowed one hit and struck out two across a scoreless frame Sunday against Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. |
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Nick Gonzales Nick Gonzales Not in Monday's lineup
Mon, Jun 29, 2026, 4:32 PM
Gonzales is not in the Pirates' starting lineup against the Phillies on Monday.
Analysis: The Pirates will role with the lefty-hitting Tyler Callihan at third base, who will bat seventh and face Phillies' right-hander Aaron Nola in Monday's series opener. Gonzales has reached base safely in six of his last seven games, going 9-for-24 (.375) with one home run, two RBI and six runs scored in that span. |
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Ryan O'Hearn Ryan O'Hearn Homers twice in win
Sun, Jun 28, 2026, 6:17 PM
O'Hearn went 3-for-5 with two homers, an additional run scored and four total RBI in Sunday's 9-4 win over the Reds.
Analysis: O'Hearn put the Pirates ahead 5-4 with a 421-foot blast off Brady Singer in the fifth inning before extending the lead to 8-4 with his second home run, a three-run shot off Pierce Johnson in the eighth. Prior to Sunday, O'Hearn had homered just once in his previous 16 games. Overall, he's slashing .286/.342/.479 with 13 homers, 50 RBI and 38 runs scored across 284 plate appearances this season. |
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Mitch Keller Mitch Keller Earns sixth win
Sun, Jun 28, 2026, 6:08 PM
Keller (6-5) earned the win Sunday over the Reds, allowing four runs (three earned) on five hits and a walk over six innings. He struck out four.
Analysis: The win is the first since May 24 for Keller, who had struggled to an 8.25 ERA across 24 innings in his previous five starts. Overall, the right-hander sports a 4.87 ERA with a 1.30 WHIP and 73:33 K:BB through 17 starts (94.1 innings) this season. Keller is currently in line to face the Nationals on the road in his next outing. |
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Spencer Horwitz Spencer Horwitz Eyeing return after All-Star break
Sun, Jun 28, 2026, 12:28 PM
Pirates general manager Ben Cherington said Sunday that Horwitz (hamstring) will remain sidelined for "weeks, not days," and the first baseman isn't expected to return from the 10-day injured list until after the All-Star break, Colin Beazley of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.
Analysis: Pittsburgh placed Horwitz on the shelf Thursday, and Cherington's comments imply that the 28-year-old is dealing with more than a mild strain of his left hamstring. Ryan O'Hearn will make a fourth consecutive start at first base Sunday and should serve as the primary option at the position until at least mid-July. Before getting hurt, Horwitz had settled in as the Pirates' leadoff hitter and had slashed .280/.386/.455 with a 40:40 BB:K, 10 home runs, 33 RBI and 36 runs on the season. |
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Oneil Cruz Oneil Cruz Out through All-Star break
Sun, Jun 28, 2026, 12:21 PM
Pirates general manager Ben Cherington said Sunday that he expects Cruz (hand) to return from the 10-day injured list at some point in July, most likely after the All-Star break, Colin Beazley of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.
Analysis: The timeline laid out by Cherington isn't an unexpected one, after the GM had previously said June 14 that Cruz was likely to need 4-to-6 weeks to recover from non-displaced fourth and fifth metacarpal fractures in his left hand. Cruz has made positive strides in his recovery over the past two weeks and is scheduled to report to the Pirates' facility in Florida this week to accelerate his baseball activities. |
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Jared Triolo Jared Triolo Utility role likely awaits
Sun, Jun 28, 2026, 11:46 AM
Triolo is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Reds.
Analysis: Triolo's streak of 10 consecutive starts will come to an end Sunday while he retreats to the bench for the series finale. After Konnor Griffin returned from the injured list Friday, Triolo appears likely to move into a utility role in the infield and is expected to notice a dramatic decline in playing time. |
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Henry Davis Henry Davis Getting third start in four games
Sun, Jun 28, 2026, 11:44 AM
Davis will start at catcher and bat ninth in Sunday's game against the Reds.
Analysis: Davis will claim his third start in four games after going 2-for-5 with a home run, a double, two RBI and two additional runs in his previous three contests. He looks to have worked his way into a timeshare at catcher with Endy Rodriguez, who has been the far better performer of the two backstops through the halfway point of the season. |
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