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Thomas Harrington Thomas Harrington Battles groin injury down stretch
Tue, Sep 30, 2025, 11:12 AM
Harrington missed the final few weeks of the season for Triple-A Indianapolis due to a right groin injury, Dominic Campbell of SI.com reports.
Analysis: It's the same injury that caused Harrington to go on the 7-day injured list Aug. 10, as he threw one inning Aug. 28 and aggravated the injury and had to exit the start early before being shut down for the season. Harrington, who was in the mix for a rotation spot during spring training, had poor overall results in the majors (15 earned runs in 8.2 innings) and minors (5.34 ERA at Triple-A) while tallying 104.2 total frames across the two levels. He shouldn't have any restrictions in spring training but will face an uphill battle in camp to make the big-league roster. |
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Johan Oviedo Johan Oviedo Fine effort in loss
Sun, Sep 28, 2025, 5:51 PM
Oviedo (2-1) allowed two runs on three hits and three walks while striking out three over five innings to take the loss Sunday versus Atlanta.
Analysis: Oviedo gave up a two-run home run to Ronald Acuna in the first inning, and that was ultimately enough to prevent the right-hander from staying undefeated this season. He was rarely bad but also failed to stand out in his nine starts, walking exactly three batters on seven occasions while failing to complete six frames in any outing. Overall, he finished with a 3.57 ERA, 1.21 WHIP and 42:23 K:BB over 40.1 innings, which is a fine performance after returning from a December 2023 Tommy John surgery. |
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Spencer Horwitz Spencer Horwitz On bench Sunday
Sun, Sep 28, 2025, 10:57 AM
Horwitz is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against Atlanta.
Analysis: Horwitz will take a seat for the Pirates' season finale, giving way to Rafael Flores at first base. Assuming Horwitz doesn't enter off the bench, he'll end the campaign with a .273/.354/.435 slash line, 11 home runs, 51 RBI and 55 runs scored across 410 plate appearances. |
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Bryan Reynolds Bryan Reynolds On bench Sunday
Sun, Sep 28, 2025, 10:27 AM
Reynolds is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against Atlanta.
Analysis: Reynolds is absent from the starting lineup for the regular-season finale, snapping a streak of eight consecutive starts. If he doesn't enter Sunday's contest off the bench, Reynolds will finish the campaign with a .244/.317/.399 slash line, 16 home runs and 67 runs scored -- all of which would be his worst since 2020. |
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Oneil Cruz Oneil Cruz Idle for Game 162
Sun, Sep 28, 2025, 10:19 AM
Cruz is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against Atlanta.
Analysis: Cruz has been dealing with ankle discomfort recently, and he'll get a breather for Pittsburgh's regular-season finale. Alexander Canario will patrol center field. Cruz is slashing .200/.298/.379 with 20 home runs and 38 stolen bases across 543 plate appearances. |
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Bubba Chandler Bubba Chandler Finishes debut season with win
Sat, Sep 27, 2025, 10:31 PM
Chandler (4-1) earned the win against Atlanta on Saturday, allowing one run on four hits and no walks with six strikeouts over 5.2 innings.
Analysis: Despite throwing just 50 of 86 pitches for strikes, Chandler didn't issue a walk for the third straight start and generated 13 whiffs en route to his second consecutive win. Over his final three outings, the 23-year-old allowed only two earned runs with a stellar 19:0 K:BB. He'll finish his debut campaign with a 4.02 ERA, 0.93 WHIP and 31:4 K:BB across 31.1 major-league innings. |
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Dennis Santana Dennis Santana Earns 16th save
Sat, Sep 27, 2025, 9:59 PM
Santana earned the save in Saturday's 3-1 win over Atlanta, allowing one hit and no walks with two strikeouts in a scoreless ninth inning.
Analysis: Santana was called upon to protect a two-run lead in the ninth and did so on 19 pitches. The 29-year-old has bounced back from a blown save Wednesday with back-to-back scoreless outings and has now held opponents off the board in 10 of his past 11 appearances. For the season, he's 16-for-19 in save chances with a 2.18 ERA, 0.87 WHIP and 60:17 K:BB across 70.1 innings. |
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Andrew McCutchen Andrew McCutchen Not starting Saturday
Sat, Sep 27, 2025, 5:12 PM
McCutchen isn't in the lineup for Saturday's game against Atlanta.
Analysis: McCutchen will receive a day off Saturday after his 1-for-4 performance during Friday's win. Joey Bart will step in to serve as Pittsburgh's designated hitter while batting sixth. |
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Oneil Cruz Oneil Cruz Back in lineup
Sat, Sep 27, 2025, 5:07 PM
Cruz (ankle) will start in center field and bat leadoff against Atlanta on Saturday.
Analysis: Cruz missed two games after making an early exit Wednesday with ankle discomfort, but he'll return in time to make at least one more start before the end of the season. The 26-year-old hasn't exactly been ending 2025 on a positive note, however, slashing .179/.258/.286 across 62 plate appearances since the start of September. |
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Nick Yorke Nick Yorke Idle Saturday
Sat, Sep 27, 2025, 5:03 PM
Yorke isn't in the lineup for Saturday's game versus Atlanta.
Analysis: Yorke will catch a breather Saturday after going 2-for-4 and scoring a run during Friday's victory. Spencer Horwitz will shift to second base while Yorke is on the bench, opening up first base for Rafael Flores. |
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Mitch Keller Mitch Keller Labors in no-decision
Fri, Sep 26, 2025, 11:21 PM
Keller didn't factor into the decision Friday against Atlanta, allowing one run on three hits and five walks in 3.2 innings. He struck out six.
Analysis: Keller lacked control in his last start of the campaign, issuing his most walks of the year in his shortest outing since Aug. 19 against Toronto. In fact, the right-hander lent more free passes Friday than he did in his prior five appearances combined. Keller will be entering the third season of his five-year contract with the Pirates in 2026, and he remained a solid if unspectacular fantasy starter in 2025. Through 176.1 innings, he posted a 4.19 ERA, 1.26 WHIP and 150:51 K:BB. |
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Spencer Horwitz Spencer Horwitz Reaches five times with two homers
Fri, Sep 26, 2025, 10:15 PM
Horwitz went 3-for-3 with two home runs, four RBI, two walks and an additional run scored in Friday's 9-3 win over Atlanta.
Analysis: It was the second multi-homer game of the year for Horwitz, who piled up at least three RBI for the fifth time this season. The first baseman is heading out on a high note in 2025, slashing a robust .338/.451/.632 with four big flies, eight doubles and 13 RBI across his last 82 trips to the plate (24 games). Horwitz also has career highs in RBI (51), runs scored (54), doubles (26) and walks (43) this year. |
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Jack Suwinski Jack Suwinski Idle against southpaw
Fri, Sep 26, 2025, 2:46 PM
Suwinski is out of the lineup for Friday's game against Atlanta.
Analysis: The lefty-hitting Suwinski will dodge a same-hand matchup with Joey Wentz. Tommy Pham, Alexander Canario and Bryan Reynolds will fill the outfield from left to right. |
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Oneil Cruz Oneil Cruz On bench Friday
Fri, Sep 26, 2025, 2:45 PM
Cruz (ankle) is out of the lineup for Friday's game against Atlanta.
Analysis: Cruz left Wednesday's game with left ankle discomfort and is out of the lineup Friday for a second straight contest. Alexander Canario will patrol center field and bat seventh in Cruz's place. It's unclear whether Cruz's back-to-back absences are due to the injury or the Pirates facing left-handed pitchers. |
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Braxton Ashcraft Braxton Ashcraft Falters late vs. Reds
Thu, Sep 25, 2025, 3:38 PM
Ashcraft (4-4) took the loss Thursday against Cincinnati, allowing two runs on eight hits and a walk over 4.1 innings. He struck out five.
Analysis: Ashcraft was sharp early, holding the Reds scoreless through his first four innings, but he'd stumble in the fifth, allowing a pair of runs after giving up four straight hits to open the frame. While it didn't end on a high note, Ashcraft had a strong rookie campaign as a swingman in Pittsburgh, posting a 2.71 ERA with a 1.25 WHIP and 71:24 K:BB across 69.2 innings. He'll likely be in the mix to claim a rotation spot in 2026. |
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Chase Shugart Chase Shugart Rejoins big-league bullpen
Thu, Sep 25, 2025, 11:25 AM
The Pirates recalled Shugart from Triple-A Indianapolis on Thursday.
Analysis: Shugart will be able to offer some length out of the Pirates' bullpen. He's posted a 3.50 ERA and 29:17 K:BB over 43.2 frames this season and has gone multiple innings in 14 of 34 appearances. |
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Dauri Moreta Dauri Moreta Optioned to Triple-A
Thu, Sep 25, 2025, 11:23 AM
The Pirates optioned Moreta to Triple-A Indianapolis on Thursday.
Analysis: Moreta has pitched well in 18 appearances out of the Pirates' bullpen this season, collecting a 3.24 ERA and 19:7 K:BB over 16.2 frames. He'll be replaced on the roster and in the bullpen by Chase Shugart. |
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Joey Bart Joey Bart Back in action Thursday
Thu, Sep 25, 2025, 10:16 AM
Bart (wrist) will start at catcher and bat sixth in Thursday's game against the Reds.
Analysis: Bart had to be scratched from the lineup Tuesday and didn't play Wednesday because of a wrist issue, but he's feeling well enough to give it a go in Thursday's series finale. The 28-year-old Bart will enter action Thursday having homered in two straight contests. |
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Oneil Cruz Oneil Cruz Not in Thursday's lineup
Thu, Sep 25, 2025, 10:13 AM
Cruz (ankle) is not in the lineup for Thursday's game in Cincinnati.
Analysis: Cruz departed Wednesday's game with left ankle discomfort, though he probably wasn't going to start Thursday, regardless, with southpaw Nick Lodolo on the bump for the Reds. He's considered day-to-day for the time being. Alexander Canario is in center field and batting seventh for the Pirates in Thursday's series finale. |
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Spencer Horwitz Spencer Horwitz Plays hero in three-hit game
Thu, Sep 25, 2025, 8:56 AM
Horwitz went 3-for-5 with two doubles and three RBI in Wednesday's 4-3 extra-innings win over the Reds.
Analysis: The 27-year-old first baseman dealt a potentially fatal blow to Cincinnati's playoff hopes when he launched his second two-bagger of the night into the right-field corner to lead off the 11th inning, bringing Bryan Reynolds home as the phantom runner. Horwitz is finishing up his 2025 campaign in style, slashing .300/.397/.540 over his last 16 games with six doubles, two homers, seven runs and eight RBI. |
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