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Brandon Lowe Brandon Lowe Pops 26th homer
Sat, Aug 15, 2026, 9:25 AM
Lowe went 1-for-4 with a three-run home run Friday against the Red Sox.
Analysis: Lowe broke the game open for the Pirates with his three-run blast in the fifth inning. He has three home runs across his last eight starts, giving him 26 for the season. Lowe is posting a nearly identical line to his 2025 campaign, though he is on track to post his highest plate appearance total since 2021, which has helped boost his counting stats. |
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Bryan Reynolds Bryan Reynolds Crosses plate three times Friday
Sat, Aug 15, 2026, 9:22 AM
Reynolds went 2-for-4 with a double, three runs scored and a stolen base in Friday's 8-4 win over the Red Sox.
Analysis: The veteran outfielder stole a bag for a second straight contest as he tries to find ways to stay productive while mired in a 16-game homer drought. During that stretch, Reynolds has managed just a .230/.319/.279 slash line with three doubles, two steals, two RBI and nine runs. |
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Esmerlyn Valdez Esmerlyn Valdez Getting back on track
Sat, Aug 15, 2026, 9:21 AM
Valdez went 1-for-4 with a double, two RBI and a run scored Friday against the Red Sox.
Analysis: Valdez has been in a significant slump for much of August, but he has started to turn things around in his last few starts. Across the last four games, he's gone 5-for-15 with three RBI, three runs scored and a double. While a limited sample, Valdez has also encouragingly struck out only 18.8 percent of the time in that span. |
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Rafael Flores Jr. Rafael Flores Jr. Goes yard again Friday
Sat, Aug 15, 2026, 9:19 AM
Flores went 3-for-4 wit ha home run and two RBI in Friday's 8-4 win over the Red Sox.
Analysis: The 25-year-old rookie took Jake Bennett deep for a solo shot in the second inning -- per Aiden Stepansky of MLB.com, that made Flores just the fifth Pirate in the last 21 seasons to homer in three straight plate appearances, after he went yard twice Thursday. He's banged out five hits in those two contests, doubling his big-league total on the season, and through 14 games for the Bucs dating back to June 10 he's slashing .294/.400/.676 with four homers and 10 RBI while bouncing between first base and catcher. |
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Mason Montgomery Mason Montgomery Notches fourth save
Sat, Aug 15, 2026, 9:12 AM
Montgomery recorded his fourth save of the season in Friday's 8-4 win over the Red Sox, striking out the only batter he faced.
Analysis: After Luke Weaver had worked a perfect eighth inning, Kirby Yates got the call in the ninth to protect a five-run lead but ran into trouble with two outs, forcing manager Don Kelly to turn to Montgomery with the tying run in the on-deck circle. Despite the Pirates' veteran bullpen additions at the trade deadline, it's Montgomery who's collected the team's last two saves and three of the last four, with Gregory Soto getting the other. Montgomery has more than earned a shot at the full-time closer role -- he's been scored upon just once in his last 17 appearances dating back to June 29, producing a 1.15 ERA, 0.64 WHIP and 32:6 K:BB in just 15.2 innings over that dominant stretch. |
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Bubba Chandler Bubba Chandler Collects third straight win
Sat, Aug 15, 2026, 9:05 AM
Chandler (6-8) picked up the win in Friday's 8-4 victory over the Red Sox, allowing two runs on four hits and two walks over five innings. He struck out five.
Analysis: The right-hander blanked Boston for four frames before running into a bit of trouble in the fifth, but the Pirates had already built a 4-0 lead at that point. Chandler has won three straight starts and given up three earned runs or fewer in six straight, posting a 2.56 ERA, 1.17 WHIP and 29:12 K:BB through 31.2 innings over that latter stretch. He'll look to keep rolling in his next outing, which is set to come at home next week against the Tigers. |
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Nick Gonzales Nick Gonzales Exits after HBP
Fri, Aug 14, 2026, 7:53 PM
Gonzales was removed from Friday's game against the Red Sox after getting hit on the head by a pitch.
Analysis: Gonzales was taken out of the game immediately after taking a 94-mph fastball off his helmet in the fifth inning. He's been diagnosed with a facial contusion and is considered day-to-day by the team. Jared Triolo would likely be next in line to start at third base if Gonzales has to miss extra time. |
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Diagnosed with torn ACL and LCL
Fri, Aug 14, 2026, 5:01 PM
Johnson has been diagnosed with a torn ACL and LCL in his left knee and will undergo season-ending surgery, Colin Beazley of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.
Analysis: Johnson had to be carted off the field during this past Saturday's game with Triple-A Indianapolis after stumbling over the first-base bag while attempting to leg out an infield single. It's a brutal injury for the 22-year-old infielder, who will undergo more examinations before undergoing surgery, with an eye toward being back on the field during the 2027 season. Johnson had a .651 OPS with 24 steals (in 30 attempts), eight home runs and 37 RBI across 401 plate appearances in Triple-A this season before the injury. |
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Wilber Dotel Wilber Dotel Rejoins big-league bullpen
Fri, Aug 14, 2026, 1:39 PM
The Pirates recalled Dotel from Triple-A Indianapolis on Friday.
Analysis: Dotel has made 14 appearances for the Pirates this season, collecting a 5.06 ERA, 1.43 WHIP and 29:11 K:BB through 26.2 innings. He's taking the roster spot vacated by Yohan Ramirez (paternity) and could be sent back down in a few days when Ramirez returns. |
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Billy Cook Billy Cook Recalled from Triple-A
Fri, Aug 14, 2026, 1:37 PM
The Pirates recalled Cook from Triple-A Indianapolis on Friday.
Analysis: Cook has produced a .200/.200/.267 slash line with 18 strikeouts in 45 plate appearances at the big-league level this season. He is likely slated for a reserve outfielder role. |
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Yohan Ramirez Yohan Ramirez Goes on paternity leave
Fri, Aug 14, 2026, 1:36 PM
The Pirates placed Ramirez on the paternity leave list Friday.
Analysis: He will likely be away for the full weekend series against the Red Sox before rejoining the club early next week. Ramirez has given the Pirates quality work out of the bullpen this season, logging a 2.67 ERA and 79:38 K:BB over 67.1 frames. |
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Jhostynxon Garcia Jhostynxon Garcia Optioned to Triple-A
Fri, Aug 14, 2026, 1:32 PM
The Pirates optioned Garcia to Triple-A Indianapolis on Friday.
Analysis: Garcia had not started a game in more than a week and has gone just 8-for-48 at the plate during his time with the Pirates. He will try to get back on track with more regular playing time at Indianapolis. |
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Oneil Cruz Oneil Cruz Will not be activated this weekend
Fri, Aug 14, 2026, 11:57 AM
Cruz (hand) will remain on his rehab assignment with Double-A Altoona at least through the weekend, Colin Beazley of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.
Analysis: The Pirates hadn't previously ruled out a return from the 60-day injured list for Cruz this weekend against the Red Sox, but they've opted to give him more time. Cruz has gone 2-for-13 with a 3:6 BB:K through his first four rehab games between Altoona and Triple-A Indianapolis. He has not yet started back-to-back games in center field, and the Pirates likely want him to check that box before being reinstated. Cruz has been shelved since mid-June with a fractured hand. |
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Braxton Ashcraft Braxton Ashcraft Strikes out 10 in complete game
Thu, Aug 13, 2026, 6:39 PM
Ashcraft (12-5) earned the win in a complete game Thursday against the Marlins, allowing a run on three hits and a walk. He struck out 10.
Analysis: Ashcraft was dominant Thursday, as he held Miami scoreless for eight innings before Owen Caissie led off the ninth with a home run. It was an especially encouraging performance for the right-hander, who had stumbled to a 7.88 ERA across 24 innings in his previous five outings. Ashcraft's ERA now sits at 3.88 across 24 starts (141.1 innings) this season with a 1.11 WHIP and 155:33 K:BB. He's tentatively in line to face the Tigers at home his next time out. |
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Rafael Flores Jr. Rafael Flores Jr. Homers twice, drives in six
Thu, Aug 13, 2026, 6:32 PM
Flores went 2-for-5 with a pair of home runs and six total RBI in Thursday's 13-1 win over Miami.
Analysis: Flores, making his second start in Pittsburgh's last five games, extended the Pirates' lead to 8-0 in the eighth inning with a three-run blast off John King before capping the scoring in the ninth with another three-run blast after Marlins' third baseman Javier Sanoja took over on the mound. Coming into the day, Flores had just one homer through his first 12 games this season while going 1-for-15 in his last eight contests. He'll primarily serve as Henry Davis' backup behind the plate while Endy Rodriguez (hip) is sidelined. |
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Evan Sisk Evan Sisk Headed to Triple-A
Thu, Aug 13, 2026, 11:09 AM
The Pirates optioned Sisk to Triple-A Indianapolis on Thursday.
Analysis: Sisk was scored upon in three of four appearances since coming off the injured list last week. Isaac Mattson was called up from Triple-A to take over Sisk's spot on the active roster and in the bullpen. |
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Isaac Mattson Isaac Mattson Rejoins big-league bullpen
Thu, Aug 13, 2026, 11:06 AM
The Pirates recalled Mattson from Triple-A Indianapolis on Thursday.
Analysis: Mattson was sent down earlier this month after posting a 4.93 ERA, 1.56 WHIP and 33:16 K:BB over 34.2 innings. He'll aim for more consistency with the Pirates this time around. |
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Jack Brannigan Jack Brannigan Recalled from Triple-A
Thu, Aug 13, 2026, 11:04 AM
The Pirates recalled Brannigan from Triple-A Indianapolis on Thursday.
Analysis: Brannigan struck out in his lone plate appearance with the Pirates this season and has slashed only .205/.305/.352 during his time with Indianapolis. The 25-year-old should serve as a reserve infielder. |
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Endy Rodriguez Endy Rodriguez Placed on IL with hip injury
Thu, Aug 13, 2026, 10:59 AM
The Pirates placed Rodriguez on the 10-day injured list Thursday with left hip inflammation.
Analysis: Rodriguez hasn't played in almost a week, and he was unable to show enough progress over that time to avoid a stint on the IL. He will be eligible to return late next week, but it's unclear whether Rodriguez might be ready for activation at that time. Henry Davis and Rafael Flores will handle the catching duties for the Pirates while Rodriguez is shelved. |
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Ronny Simon Ronny Simon Exiting starting nine
Thu, Aug 13, 2026, 9:42 AM
Simon is not in the lineup for Thursday's contest in Miami.
Analysis: Simon had made six consecutive starts and went 8-for-23 at the plate during that stretch, but he will exit the lineup for Thursday's series finale. Brandon Lowe will get a start at designated hitter for the Pirates, while Nick Gonzales shifts to second base and Jared Triolo grabs a start at third base. |
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