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Joey Bart Joey Bart Idle Friday
Fri, Aug 22, 2025, 1:40 PM
Bart is out of the lineup for Friday's game against the Rockies.
Analysis: Bart will yield to Henry Davis behind the dish for the third time in four games. Bart had started three of the previous four contests. He's slashing .248/.353/.321 in 272 plate appearances this season. |
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Dennis Santana Dennis Santana Locks down ninth save
Wed, Aug 20, 2025, 6:43 PM
Santana earned the save in Wednesday's 2-1 win over the Blue Jays, striking out one in a perfect ninth inning.
Analysis: Santana made quick work of the middle of Toronto's lineup, retiring the side in order to close out his ninth save in 11 chances this year. Santana has turned in five straight scoreless appearances (5.1 innings), allowing just two hits while striking out four in that span. His ERA is down to 2.32 through 54.1 innings this season with a 0.88 WHIP and 43:11 K:BB. |
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Johan Oviedo Johan Oviedo Earns win in return
Wed, Aug 20, 2025, 6:39 PM
Oviedo (1-0) earned the win Wednesday over the Blue Jays, allowing a run on two hits and a walk across five innings. He struck out five.
Analysis: George Springer's homer to lead off the game proved to be the lone mark against Oviedo, as the right-hander proceeded to hold Toronto to just one additional hit over his final four innings en route to his first major-league win since 2023. The 27-year-old Oviedo had pitched to a 3.12 ERA with a 1.04 WHIP and 36:7 K:BB across eight starts (26 innings) in the minors this year. He should get a chance to stick in Pittsburgh's rotation, following Wednesday's performance -- Oviedo is currently lined up to face the Cardinals on the road his next time out. |
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Chase Shugart Chase Shugart Sent to Triple-A
Wed, Aug 20, 2025, 5:51 PM
The Pirates optioned Shugart to Triple-A Indianapolis after Wednesday's win against the Blue Jays.
Analysis: The right-hander has been a quality bullpen piece for Pittsburgh this year with a 3.50 ERA, 1.15 WHIP and 29:17 K:BB across 43.2 innings, but he'll lose his place on the big-league roster with top prospect Bubba Chandler set to be promoted. Given Shugart's performance, he should receive another look with Pittsburgh before the end of the season. |
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Enmanuel Valdez Enmanuel Valdez Tracking well in recovery
Wed, Aug 20, 2025, 12:27 PM
Pirates director of sports medicine Todd Tomczyk said Wednesday that Valdez (shoulder) will meet his surgeon, Dr. Jeffrey Dugas, in Alabama later this month and could be cleared to resume hitting thereafter, Colin Beazley of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.
Analysis: Valdez underwent season-ending surgery in May to address a dislocated left shoulder, but the Pirates anticipate that he'll be ready to play during winter ball. More specifically, Tomczyk suggested that Valdez could be fully cleared for game action by October, though that will hinge on how quickly the 26-year-old is able to advance through his hitting program. Valdez is a left-handed hitter but a right-handed thrower, so the surgery to his left shoulder is of greater concern to his long-term outlook at the plate rather than as a defender. |
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Jared Jones Jared Jones Could start throwing in September
Wed, Aug 20, 2025, 12:20 PM
Jones (elbow) will meet with his surgeon, Dr. Keith Meister, in early September and could be cleared to begin a throwing program if all goes well during his checkup, Colin Beazley of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.
Analysis: Nearly four months removed from surgery to repair a UCL tear in his right elbow, Jones thus far hasn't hit any snags in the early stages of his recovery and could soon take his first major step forward by beginning to play catch. At the time Jones' surgery was performed May 21, the Pirates estimated that he would be ready to pitch in games approximately 10-to-12 months later, so the right-hander would appear to have an outside chance of being ready for Opening Day in 2026. Jones' outlook for next season likely won't become clearer until spring training, when the Pirates should have an update regarding where he stands in his throwing program. |
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Oneil Cruz Oneil Cruz Improving in concussion recovery
Wed, Aug 20, 2025, 12:14 PM
Pirates senior director of sports medicine Todd Tomczyk said Wednesday that Cruz (concussion) has ramped up his activity over the last 24-to-48 hours but isn't yet ready to return from the 7-day injured list, Colin Beazley of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports. "He's making progress and he's improving and he's feeling a lot better," Tomczyk said.
Analysis: After landing on the IL last Wednesday, Cruz is now eligible to return at any point, but the 26-year-old looks like he'll still need a little more time to clear the concussion protocol. Jack Suwinski has received most of the starts in center field while Cruz has been on the shelf. |
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Joey Bart Joey Bart Yielding to Davis on Wednesday
Wed, Aug 20, 2025, 11:35 AM
Bart is not in the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Blue Jays.
Analysis: Bart will yield to Henry Davis at catcher for the second day in a row after he had started both of the two games prior to that. Neither catcher has made much of a case offensively for more playing time, though Bart has put up an .846 OPS in a nine-game sample in August. |
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Andrew McCutchen Andrew McCutchen Getting rest Wednesday
Wed, Aug 20, 2025, 11:32 AM
McCutchen is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Blue Jays.
Analysis: In what's becoming a regular occurrence since the All-Star break, McCutchen will get a breather for the day game after a night game. With McCutchen on the bench, Bryan Reynolds will serve as the Pirates' designated hitter. |
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Isiah Kiner-Falefa Isiah Kiner-Falefa Getting breather
Wed, Aug 20, 2025, 11:31 AM
Kiner-Falefa is absent from the lineup for Wednesday's game versus the Blue Jays.
Analysis: Kiner-Falefa will receive a day of rest after starting each of the previous eight games. The Pirates will shift Jared Triolo over to third base and install Liover Peguero at shortstop in Wednesday's series finale. |
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Evan Sisk Evan Sisk Sent back to Indianapolis
Wed, Aug 20, 2025, 11:30 AM
The Pirates optioned Sisk to Triple-A Indianapolis on Wednesday.
Analysis: Acquired from the Royals at the trade deadline, Sisk initially reported to Indianapolis before the Pirates recalled him last Friday. The team wasted no time putting Sisk to work, as he made relief appearances four of the past five days and was charged with three earned runs on three hits and one walk while striking out four across 3.1 innings. He'll head back to the minors and give up his spot on the 26-man active roster to Johan Oviedo, who was recalled ahead of his scheduled start Wednesday versus the Blue Jays. |
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Johan Oviedo Johan Oviedo Promoted ahead of Wednesday's start
Wed, Aug 20, 2025, 11:28 AM
The Pirates recalled Oviedo from Triple-A Indianapolis on Wednesday.
Analysis: Oviedo is set to rejoin the Pirates rotation with a start Wednesday against the Blue Jays. The right-hander was tagged for two runs over just one inning in a start earlier this month for Pittsburgh but had permitted four runs (three earned) with a 15:3 K:BB across 8.2 frames in his last two outings with Indianapolis. |
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Justin Lawrence Justin Lawrence Begins rehab assignment
Wed, Aug 20, 2025, 8:40 AM
Lawrence (elbow) walked one and struck out three in a scoreless frame in his first rehab appearance with Single-A Bradenton on Tuesday.
Analysis: Lawrence is finally game-ready again after missing nearly four months with right elbow inflammation. He'll likely require a handful of rehab outings before rejoining the Pirates bullpen. Lawrence had permitted just one run with a 15:6 K:BB over 11.1 frames before getting injured. |
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Tim Mayza Tim Mayza Sent out on rehab assignment
Wed, Aug 20, 2025, 8:35 AM
Mayza (lat) allowed two hits and struck out one in two-thirds of an inning in his first rehab appearance with Single-A Bradenton on Tuesday.
Analysis: Mayza has been shelved since late April with a left lat strain but is gearing up for a return to the Pittsburgh bullpen. Given the amount of time he's missed, he'll likely require a few more rehab appearances before being activated from the 60-day injured list. The veteran lefty had yielded only three runs with an 8:1 K:BB over 9.1 innings for Pittsburgh before getting hurt. |
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Mitch Keller Mitch Keller Roughed up again Tuesday
Wed, Aug 20, 2025, 8:01 AM
Keller (5-12) took the loss Tuesday against the Blue Jays, allowing five runs on seven hits and three walks while striking out four in 3.1 innings.
Analysis: Keller struggled out of the gates, allowing three runs in the opening frame while needing 33 pitches to complete the inning. George Springer then punished him in the second with a two-run blast to put the Pirates in a quick 5-0 hole. In six starts since the All-Star break, Keller owns an 8.31 ERA and 2.08 WHIP and has completed six frames only once. He lines up for a road start against the Cardinals to begin next week. |
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Johan Oviedo Johan Oviedo Set to start Wednesday
Tue, Aug 19, 2025, 2:50 PM
Pirates interim manager Don Kelly said Tuesday that Oviedo will be recalled from Triple-A Indianapolis to start Wednesday against the Blue Jays at PNC Park, Colin Beazley of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.
Analysis: Oviedo should be given a chance to stake claim to a rotation spot for the remainder of the season. The right-hander lasted only one inning in a start earlier this month against the Giants, which was his first big-league outing since September 2023. Oviedo has pitched well in two starts at Indianapolis since then, however, yielding four runs (three earned) with a 15:3 K:BB across 8.2 frames. |
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Tommy Pham Tommy Pham Not in Tuesday's lineup
Tue, Aug 19, 2025, 2:01 PM
Pham is out of the lineup for Tuesday's game against the Blue Jays.
Analysis: Pham was at the center of a benches-clearing incident in Monday's series opener as he flipped his bat after drawing a walk, though the situation didn't result in any ejections. The veteran outfielder has struggled to a .609 OPS through 15 games in August and finds himself on the bench for Tuesday's contest |
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Jared Triolo Jared Triolo Swipes base in win
Mon, Aug 18, 2025, 8:50 PM
Triolo went 0-for-1 with three walks, a steal and one run scored in Monday's 5-2 victory over the Blue Jays.
Analysis: Triolo pilfered his eighth base of the season when he stole second off Blue Jays reliever Yariel Rodriguez in the sixth. The Pittsburgh infielder has become a staple of the starting lineup since Ke'Bryan Hayes was shipped out at the trade deadline, as he garnered his eighth consecutive start at shortstop. Triolo has made the most of his opportunity, hitting .274 (14-for-51) with three steals, nine runs scored, three RBI and 9:12 BB:K across 16 games this month. |
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Dennis Santana Dennis Santana Notches eighth save
Mon, Aug 18, 2025, 8:40 PM
Santana collected the save in Monday's 5-2 win versus Toronto, striking out one in a clean inning.
Analysis: The Pirates closer required only eight pitches, six of which were strikes, to pick up his second save of the month. Santana appears to have settled in since his last blown save Aug. 6 against San Francisco, as he's now logged four consecutive scoreless appearances. Across 53.1 total frames, the 29-year-old has pitched to a 2.36 ERA, 0.90 WHIP and 42:11 K:BB while going 8-for-10 in save opportunities. |
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Paul Skenes Paul Skenes Tallies eight Ks in no-decision
Mon, Aug 18, 2025, 8:34 PM
Skenes did not factor into the decision in Monday's 5-2 victory over Toronto. He conceded two runs on five hits and one walk over six innings with eight strikeouts.
Analysis: The Pittsburgh ace generated 16 whiffs out of 96 total pitches en route to notching his 10th outing with eight or more punchouts this season. Skenes also picked up his 16th quality start, surpassing the total from his rookie campaign in 2024. The 23-year-old remains one of the best pitchers in the game, as he now sports a 2.16 ERA, 0.96 WHIP and 174:37 K:BB in 154 total frames. Skenes is currently scheduled to make his next appearance at home versus the lowly Rockies this weekend. |
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