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Konnor Griffin Konnor Griffin Getting breather Wednesday
Wed, Apr 15, 2026, 2:02 PM
Griffin is not in the lineup for Wednesday's contest versus the Nationals.
Analysis: Nick Gonzales will get a start at shortstop while Griffin receives a day off. The 19-year-old is hitting only .189/.279/.243 in his first 43 plate appearances for the Pirates, though he has reached base four times over his last two games. |
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Carmen Mlodzinski Carmen Mlodzinski Working in bulk relief Wednesday
Wed, Apr 15, 2026, 1:04 PM
Mlodzinski is expected to cover the bulk of the innings in relief behind opening pitcher Mason Montgomery in Wednesday's game against the Nationals, Danny Demilio of PittsburghBaseballNow.com reports.
Analysis: Despite pitching to a 2.51 ERA over his first three starts, Mlodzinski is still in search of his first win after working fewer than five innings his first two times out and taking a no-decision in his most recent outing. With Montgomery handling the first frame or two of Wednesday's contest, Mlodzinski should have improved odds of coming away with a win while serving as the Bucs' primary pitcher out of the bullpen. |
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Mike Clevinger Mike Clevinger Injured at Triple-A
Wed, Apr 15, 2026, 8:43 AM
Clevinger is on the 7-day injured list at Triple-A Indianapolis with an undisclosed injury, Jose Negron of DK Pittsburgh Sports reports.
Analysis: Clevinger has been pitching in relief at Indianapolis, having allowed five runs with a 9:5 K:BB across 8.2 innings. It's unclear how long he might be sidelined, but the 35-year-old will not be an option for the Pirates for at least the next week. |
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Brandon Lowe Brandon Lowe Homers again Tuesday
Tue, Apr 14, 2026, 11:25 PM
Lowe went 1-for-2 with a solo home run, a walk and two runs scored in Tuesday's 5-4 loss to the Nationals.
Analysis: Lowe entered play Tuesday batting .105 with zero extra-base hits and a 0:6 BB:K across 19 plate appearances against left-handed pitching. Lefty PJ Poulin served as the opener for the Nationals, and Lowe took him deep on a 78 mph sweeper on the seventh pitch of the at-bat in the bottom of the first inning. It was Lowe's seventh homer of the season and fourth in the last three games. Lowe later walked and scored in his second plate appearance but was pinch-hit for in the bottom of the seventh with the bases loaded and left-hander Mitchell Parker on the mound for Washington. Nick Yorke promptly grounded into an inning-ending double play. Perhaps Lowe's first-inning long ball off the lefty will get him more chances to face southpaws moving forward. Lowe is slashing .268/.397/.679 with seven homers, 15 RBI, 11 runs scored and an 11:14 BB:K across 68 plate appearances. |
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Mitch Keller Mitch Keller Tagged for five runs in loss
Tue, Apr 14, 2026, 11:16 PM
Keller (1-1) took the loss Monday against the Nationals, allowing five runs on six hits and four walks with three strikeouts across four innings.
Analysis: Keller had turned in three straight six-inning quality starts to begin the season, so Tuesday was his first hiccup of the 2026 campaign. The Nationals attacked Keller early and often in this one, as the first five batters of the game reached base to push across three runs. CJ Abrams then swatted a solo home run off Keller in the third frame. Keller generated just seven whiffs on 90 pitches and walked four batters for the second time in four starts. The right-hander now owns a 2.86 ERA and 14:9 K:BB across 22 innings. He's slated to face the Rays at home Sunday in his next start. |
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Mason Montgomery Mason Montgomery Opening Wednesday
Tue, Apr 14, 2026, 9:34 PM
Montgomery will serve as Pittsburgh's opening pitcher in Wednesday's game against the Nationals, Danny Demilio of PittsburghBaseballNow.com reports.
Analysis: Montgomery got off to a rough start this season, giving up four earned runs over his first 3.1 innings, but he has since given up one run in 4.1 frames. The Pirates will now trust him with the first three batters of Wednesday's contest before handing the game over to Carmen Mlodzinski, who will work in bulk relief. |
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Nick Yorke Nick Yorke Sitting down Tuesday
Tue, Apr 14, 2026, 4:15 PM
Yorke isn't in the lineup for Tuesday's game against the Nationals.
Analysis: Yorke will get a day off Tuesday after going 0-for-9 with three strikeouts over his last two games. Nick Gonzales will pick up a start at third base as a result and will bat sixth. |
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Henry Davis Henry Davis Resting Tuesday
Tue, Apr 14, 2026, 4:13 PM
Davis isn't in the lineup for Tuesday's game against Washington.
Analysis: Davis will retreat to the bench Tuesday after going 2-for-4 with a walk, three runs scored and a steal in Monday's series opener. Joey Bart will handle catching duties instead and bat ninth. |
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Mason Montgomery Mason Montgomery Missing bats, rounding into form
Tue, Apr 14, 2026, 9:38 AM
Montgomery has earned one win and three holds while posting a 7.11 ERA, 2.05 WHIP and 14:5 K:BB over 6.1 innings in seven appearances for the Pirates this season.
Analysis: The ratios look ugly, but Montgomery has been better lately, allowing just one run with an 8:1 K:BB over his last four appearances. Acquired from Tampa Bay in the Brandon Lowe trade, Montgomery brings the heat from the left side (98.5 mph average fastball) and his breaking pitches all have whiff rates of 42 percent or higher. With manager Don Kelly keeping roles fluid at the back end of the bullpen, the door is open for Montgomery to eventually pick up some saves for Pittsburgh. |
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Bryan Reynolds Bryan Reynolds Drives in four in three hit game
Mon, Apr 13, 2026, 11:12 PM
Reynolds went 3-for-4 with a triple, a hit-by-pitch, a run scored and four RBI in Monday's 16-5 win over the Nationals.
Analysis: In his second three-hit performance of the season, Reynolds helped spark Pittsburgh's massive sixth inning, ripping a bases-clearing triple off Jackson Rutledge -- his first of the season -- to jumpstart the club's 10-run frame. The 31-year-old has now hit safely in 11 of his first 16 games, including five multi-hit efforts. Through 72 plate appearances, Reynolds is slashing .290/.375/.484 with three home runs, 12 RBI, 12 runs and one stolen base. |
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Brandon Lowe Brandon Lowe Continues power surge vs. Nats
Mon, Apr 13, 2026, 10:55 PM
Lowe went 3-for-5 with a home run, a walk, five RBI and two runs scored in Monday's 16-5 win over the Nationals.
Analysis: Lowe powered Pittsburgh's offense again Monday, driving in five runs and capping the club's 10-run sixth inning with his sixth homer of the season, a three-run shot off Brad Lord. It was the veteran second baseman's second hit of the frame and moved him into a tie for second in MLB in home runs. Lowe has been on an absolute tear with three homers and 10 RBI over his last two games, becoming the first player in Pirates history to record five RBI in back-to-back games. Through 65 plate appearances in 2026, the 31-year-old is slashing .278/.400/.678 with 14 RBI and a 186 wRC+, looking every bit like one of the league's most productive bats. |
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Paul Skenes Paul Skenes Dominates against Washington
Mon, Apr 13, 2026, 10:09 PM
Skenes (3-1) earned the win Monday against the Nationals, allowing one run on one hit and one walk while striking out six over six innings.
Analysis: After beginning the outing with back-to-back punchouts, the 23-year-old surrendered a solo homer to CJ Abrams in the first inning, but was nearly untouchable from that point forward. Skenes retired 16 of the next 17 batters and leaned heavily on his changeup, throwing a career-high 32 of them among his 88 pitches Monday. After a disastrous Opening Day outing in which he failed to escape the first, Skenes has responded emphatically, stringing together three consecutive starts with just one run allowed in each while winning all three. The right-hander looks to have rebounded back to the Cy Young-caliber form fantasy managers have come to expect, lowering his ERA to 4.00 while posting a 0.94 WHIP and 18:7 K:BB across 18 innings. |
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Jared Jones Jared Jones Uses full arsenal in live BP
Mon, Apr 13, 2026, 3:52 PM
Pirates general manager Ben Cherington said that Jones (elbow) made use of all of his pitches during his most recent live batting practice session April 6, MLB.com reports.
Analysis: Jones has been conducting his rehab from UCL surgery at the Pirates' facility in Florida, but he has returned to Pittsburgh this week and is scheduled to throw a side session in front of the coaching and medical staffs Tuesday, per Chris Halicke of DKPittsburghSports.com. The Pirates haven't revealed a timeline for when Jones might be cleared for a minor-league rehab assignment, but he could be ready to take that step soon since he's been able to face hitters in live BP for nearly two months. Jones won't be eligible for activation from the 60-day injured list until late May and will likely need close to the entire 30-day window to build up his pitch count during his rehab assignment. |
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Marcell Ozuna Marcell Ozuna Sliding back to bench Monday
Mon, Apr 13, 2026, 2:25 PM
Ozuna is out of the lineup for Monday's game against the Nationals.
Analysis: After a recent two-game benching, Ozuna returned to the starting nine for all three contests of the Pirates' series versus the Cubs over the weekend but went just 1-for-12 with a walk and four strikeouts. Now sitting on a lowly .070/.167/.070 slash line over 48 plate appearances on the season, Ozuna could be in line for a part-time role at designated hitter until he turns a corner at the dish. |
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Evan Sisk Evan Sisk Receives call from Triple-A
Mon, Apr 13, 2026, 1:20 PM
The Pirates recalled Sisk from Triple-A Indianapolis on Monday, Kevin Gorman of TribLive.com reports.
Analysis: Sisk will be joining the big-league bullpen as a replacement for fellow lefty Hunter Barco, who had struggled with his control through his first four appearances and was unlikely to be available for Monday's game against the Nationals after tossing 1.2 innings the day before. The 28-year-old Sisk reached the majors for the first time in 2025, compiling a 3.57 ERA, 1.47 WHIP and 25:10 K:BB In 17.2 innings over 19 appearances between stints with Kansas City and Pittsburgh. |
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Hunter Barco Hunter Barco Optioned to Indianapolis
Mon, Apr 13, 2026, 1:19 PM
The Pirates optioned Barco to Triple-A Indianapolis on Monday, Colin Beazley of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.
Analysis: Barco cracked the Opening Day roster as a long reliever, but he was used sparingly and didn't pitch well on those occasions, allowing seven runs (five earned) with a 5:7 K:BB over seven innings of work. The southpaw will likely join the rotation at Indianapolis, where he can get stretched back out and wait for another opportunity in the majors. |
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Oneil Cruz Oneil Cruz Homer, stolen base in loss
Sun, Apr 12, 2026, 7:58 PM
Cruz went 1-for-4 with a solo home run, one walk and a stolen base in Sunday's 7-6 loss to the Cubs.
Analysis: With the wind whipping out to center at Wrigley Field on Sunday, Cruz led off the game with a solo blast. He struck out in each of his next three trips to the plate before walking and stealing his sixth base of the season in the ninth inning. It's been an all-or-nothing start to the 2026 campaign for Cruz, who is slashing .339/.400/.644 with five homers, 13 RBI, 11 runs scored, six steals and a 5:20 BB:K across 65 plate appearances. |
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Brandon Lowe Brandon Lowe Two homers, five RBI in loss Sunday
Sun, Apr 12, 2026, 7:53 PM
Lowe went 2-for-4 with two home runs, five RBI, a walk and two runs scored in Sunday's 7-6 loss to the Cubs.
Analysis: With the wind blowing out at Wrigley Field on Sunday, the Pirates and Cubs combined for five home runs. Lowe walked in the first inning before taking Jameson Taillon deep for a grand slam in the second. He later tagged Taillon again for a solo shot in the fifth. Lowe entered Sunday with just one extra-base hit and zero RBI in April, so this was a much-needed slump-busting performance for the second baseman. Lowe is slashing .245/.373/.592 with five home runs, nine RBI, seven runs scored and a 10:13 BB:K across 59 plate appearances. |
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Bubba Chandler Bubba Chandler Strikes out four over 5.1 innings
Sun, Apr 12, 2026, 7:44 PM
Chandler didn't factor into the decision Sunday against the Cubs, allowing three runs on five hits and two walks with four strikeouts across 5.1 innings.
Analysis: Chandler struck out Seiya Suzuki to lead off the bottom of the sixth inning, and his afternoon was done at 91 pitches. Hunter Barco closed out the sixth, and Chandler was in line for the win before the bullpen imploded late. Chandler's stuff was electric Sunday, but he was hurt by the long ball on a day the wind was gusting out to center field. Chandler served up a pair of solo shots to Dansby Swanson and Moises Ballesteros in the third inning. Chandler is still looking for his first win of the season and now owns a 3.86 ERA and 14:12 K:BB across 14 innings. Command has obviously been a problem. Chandler is in line to face the Rays at home Friday. |
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Joey Bart Joey Bart Drawing another start
Sun, Apr 12, 2026, 1:26 PM
Bart will start at catcher and bat ninth in Sunday's game against the Cubs.
Analysis: Bart will pick up his third start behind the plate in four games, but he'll likely need to raise his production at the plate before overtaking Henry Davis as the Bucs' No. 1 catcher. While Davis has disappointed early on with a .194/.286/.290 slash line over 35 plate appearances, Bart (.368 OPS across 17 plate appearances) has yet to capitalize on his more limited opportunities. |
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