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Esmerlyn Valdez Esmerlyn Valdez Homers again in win
Sun, Jul 19, 2026, 5:12 PM
Valdez went 1-for-3 with a home run, two walks and two RBI in Sunday's 7-1 win over the Guardians.
Analysis: Valdez had a classic three-true-outcomes game, walking twice and striking out twice before launching a two-run shot in the ninth inning. The 22-year-old is now riding a seven-game hitting streak, going deep six times with 15 RBI and eight runs scored during that span. He's slashing a ridiculous .305/.373/.733 with 12 homers, 32 RBI and 23 runs scored across his first 118 major-league plate appearances. |
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Paul Skenes Paul Skenes Goes seven strong in win
Sun, Jul 19, 2026, 4:49 PM
Skenes (9-8) earned the win against the Guardians on Sunday, allowing one run on seven hits and two walks with eight strikeouts over seven innings.
Analysis: Skenes allowed a run in the third inning but was impressive otherwise, generating 18 whiffs on 100 pitches en route to his third straight win. After surrendering seven earned runs in his first July start, the All-Star has yielded just five over his three victories since. He owns a 3.43 ERA, 1.04 WHIP and 138:26 K:BB across 115.1 innings this season and lines up for a home matchup with the Cubs next weekend. |
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Heads back to Triple-A
Sun, Jul 19, 2026, 8:40 AM
The Pirates optioned Curtis to Triple-A Indianapolis on Sunday, Danny Demilio of PittsburghBaseballNow.com reports.
Analysis: The right-hander received his first promotion to the big leagues Saturday and made his MLB debut in the second game of a doubleheader in Cleveland with five scoreless innings of bulk relief. Curtis should have a better chance of returning to the majors later this summer now that he's on the 40-man roster, though his 4.96 ERA in 18 appearances between the Double-A and Triple-A levels could be a limiting factor, even after his strong performance Saturday. |
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Dominic Fletcher Dominic Fletcher Back with Pittsburgh
Sat, Jul 18, 2026, 10:46 PM
The Pirates signed Fletcher to a minor-league contract Friday.
Analysis: Fletcher opted out of his minor-league pact with Pittsburgh earlier this month and tested the market, only to return to the Pirates' organization a little over two weeks later. In 42 games with Triple-A Indianapolis this season, Fletcher has slashed .288/.379/.511 with eight homers, 27 RBI, 27 runs scored, two stolen bases and an 18:22 BB:K across 162 plate appearances. |
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Jacob Gonzalez Jacob Gonzalez Taking seat in Game 2
Sat, Jul 18, 2026, 5:19 PM
Gonzalez isn't in the lineup for the second game of Saturday's doubleheader against the Guardians.
Analysis: Gonzalez will get a chance to rest his legs after going 2-for-4 with a two-run homer during Pittsburgh's victory in the early game. While he sits, Ryan O'Hearn will start at first base, and Jared Triolo will get the nod at shortstop. |
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Henry Davis Henry Davis Sitting out nightcap
Sat, Jul 18, 2026, 5:16 PM
Davis isn't in the lineup for the second game of Saturday's doubleheader against Cleveland.
Analysis: Davis went 1-for-4 with two strikeouts in Saturday's matinee and will now get a chance to rest his legs during the nightcap. Rafael Flores will fill in behind the plate and bat eighth. |
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Mason Montgomery Mason Montgomery Opening nightcap
Sat, Jul 18, 2026, 3:21 PM
Montgomery will serve as the opening pitcher in Game 2 of Saturday's doubleheader against Cleveland, Alex Stumpf of MLB.com reports.
Analysis: Montgomery will receive his fifth opening assignment of the season after giving up just two earned runs over 8.1 innings across his last nine outings. The 26-year-old southpaw has never completed two full innings in an appearance this season, so he'll likely secure just the first three outs of the game before turning things over to the Pirates' bullpen. |
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Jared Triolo Jared Triolo Sitting out Game 1
Sat, Jul 18, 2026, 10:56 AM
Triolo isn't in the lineup for the first game of Saturday's doubleheader against the Guardians.
Analysis: Triolo has made six straight starts at shortstop and closed out the first half with a three-hit performance against Milwaukee, but the Pirates will keep him on the bench to begin Saturday's twin bill. Jacob Gonzalez will get the nod at shortstop and bat eighth. |
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Wilber Dotel Wilber Dotel Activated, named 27th man
Sat, Jul 18, 2026, 10:46 AM
The Pirates reinstated Dotel (lat) from the injured list Saturday and appointed him as their 27th man for the team's doubleheader against the Guardians.
Analysis: Dotel landed on the injured list June 13 with a right lat strain. Since then, he's made three rehab appearances in the minors, giving up one run on three hits and three walks while fanning seven batters in 4.2 innings. Now fully healthy, he'll help the Pirates' bullpen get through Saturday's twin bill before likely heading back to Triple-A Indianapolis. |
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Oneil Cruz Oneil Cruz Shifts to 60-day IL
Sat, Jul 18, 2026, 10:43 AM
The Pirates transferred Cruz (hand) to the 60-day injured list Saturday, Alex Stumpf of MLB.com reports.
Analysis: Cruz hasn't suffered any setbacks in his recovery from a hand fracture he suffered in June, but the Pirates will move him to the 60-day IL to free up a 40-man spot for Khristian Curtis, who was selected to the active roster Saturday. Cruz will now be eligible to return from the injured list Aug. 8 and figures to have a strong chance to return after a minimum-length stay if his rehab continues smoothly. |
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Contract selected
Sat, Jul 18, 2026, 10:36 AM
The Pirates selected Curtis' contract from Triple-A Indianapolis on Saturday, Alex Stumpf of MLB.com reports.
Analysis: Curtis will join the major-league roster to give Pittsburgh some extra pitching depth for Saturday's twin bill against the Guardians. The 24-year-old righty has turned in a 5.57 ERA and 1.67 WHIP across 21 innings since being promoted to Triple-A in June and will presumably fill a multi-inning role out of the bullpen to begin his MLB career. Oneil Cruz (hand) was transferred to the 60-day IL in a corresponding move. |
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Jared Jones Jared Jones Pirates-Guardians game postponed
Fri, Jul 17, 2026, 3:49 PM
Jones will no longer make a start for the Pirates on Friday after their game versus the Guardians was postponed due to air quality conditions.
Analysis: The contest will be made up as part of a split doubleheader Saturday. Jones will presumably take the ball in one of those games, though it's unclear at this point which one. |
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Jared Triolo Jared Triolo Not in Friday's lineup
Fri, Jul 17, 2026, 2:28 PM
Triolo is absent from the lineup for Friday's game in Cleveland.
Analysis: Triolo had drawn six straight starts at shortstop since Konnor Griffin (finger) was injured, but Triolo will begin the first contest of the second half on the bench. Jacob Gonzalez will handle shortstop Friday in what will be his first start since being acquired via trade last week. |
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Robert Hassell III Robert Hassell III Dealt to Pirates
Thu, Jul 16, 2026, 1:46 PM
The Pirates acquired Hassell from the Nationals on Thursday in exchange for cash considerations or a player to be named later.
Analysis: Hassell was just outrighted off the Nationals' 40-man roster earlier this week, and now he's on the move to a new organization. The 24-year-old outfielder has slashed just .215/.304/.289 over 63 games this season at Triple-A Rochester after sporting a .223/.257/.315 slash line in 70 major-league games in 2025. |
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Noah Murdock Noah Murdock Back at Triple-A
Mon, Jul 13, 2026, 2:08 PM
The Pirates optioned Murdock to Triple-A Indianapolis prior to Sunday's 14-5 win over the Brewers.
Analysis: Murdock was up with the Pirates as their 27th man for Saturday's doubleheader, but he went unused in both ends of the twin bill. The 27-year-old righty is still waiting to make his Pittsburgh debut after he signed a minor-league deal with the organization in the offseason before being added to the 40-man roster July 5. |
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Paul Skenes Paul Skenes Strikes out seven in eighth win
Sun, Jul 12, 2026, 6:04 PM
Skenes (8-8) notched the win Sunday against the Brewers, allowing two runs on three hits and one walk in 5.1 innings. He struck out seven.
Analysis: The Milwaukee bats were sluggish initially, as Skenes rattled off three perfect innings to begin the afternoon, but the Brewers did get to the hurler for a pair of runs in the fourth inning. The All-Star right-hander had delivered a 1.98 ERA and 0.64 WHIP over his first nine starts of 2026 but hasn't been nearly as dominant across his last 11 outings, during which he's posted a 4.94 ERA and 1.35 WHIP. Despite that rough stretch, Skenes still sports a strong 3.57 ERA, 1.02 WHIP and 130:24 K:BB through 108.1 frames this year. |
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Antwone Kelly Antwone Kelly Returns to Triple-A
Sun, Jul 12, 2026, 4:40 PM
The Pirates optioned Kelly to Triple-A Indianapolis after Sunday's 14-5 win against the Brewers, Alex Stumpf of MLB.com reports.
Analysis: The right-hander was called up from Indianapolis on Friday and allowed three runs over two innings during Sunday's blowout victory. Kelly surrendered two runs over 2.1 frames in his MLB debut earlier this season, so his big-league career is off to a bit of a bumpy start with multiple runs allowed in both of his appearances. |
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Tyler Callihan Tyler Callihan Heading to bench Sunday
Sun, Jul 12, 2026, 9:19 AM
Callihan is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Brewers.
Analysis: The left-handed hitter will hit the bench for the second time in the series while the Brewers face off against another lefty starter in Robert Gasser. Since blasting two home runs in a June 10 game against the Dodgers, Callihan has left the yard just once in his subsequent 24 contests, and he's slashing an underwhelming .231/.282/.354 during that stretch. He could soon find himself as the odd man out of the lineup against right-handed pitching after the Pirates completed a trade earlier in the weekend for another left-handed bat in Jacob Gonzalez, who may be in store for playing time at first base while Spencer Horwitz (hamstring) remains on the injured list. |
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Bryan Reynolds Bryan Reynolds Productive across doubleheader
Sun, Jul 12, 2026, 8:43 AM
Reynolds went 2-for-6 with a walk, a double, an RBI and two runs scored across both games of Saturday's doubleheader against the Brewers.
Analysis: Reynolds was overshadowed by Esmerlyn Valdez's three-homer day, but he delivered the game-winning RBI in the sixth inning in the second game of the doubleheader. Reynolds will head into the All-Star break having gone 11-for-39 with three homers, six RBI and nine runs scored across 10 games in July. |
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Mason Montgomery Mason Montgomery Collects first save
Sun, Jul 12, 2026, 8:38 AM
Montgomery walked one and struck out two across one inning to earn the save in the second game of Saturday's doubleheader against the Brewers.
Analysis: Gregory Soto earned the save in the first game of Saturday's doubleheader, so he was unavailable for the latter contest. Montgomery filled the void, allowing only a leadoff walk before retiring the next three batters he faced. Montgomery has had an inconsistent season, though he has turned in six straight appearances without being charged with a run, compiling an 11:2 K:BB across 5.1 innings in that span. |
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