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Konnor Griffin Konnor Griffin Homers in finale
Sun, Sep 27, 2026, 6:06 PM
Griffin went 2-for-4 with a home run and two RBI in Sunday's 4-2 win over the Tigers.
Analysis: Griffin opened the scoring with a leadoff blast before adding an RBI single in the fourth inning. The 20-year-old posted middling numbers in September in his return from injury, hitting .264 with eight extra-base hits, eight RBI, eight runs scored and three stolen bases over 21 games. While his first stint in the majors didn't exactly live up to the hype, Griffin slashed a respectable .272/.324/.404 with six homers, 33 RBI, 43 runs scored and 23 steals across 339 plate appearances and still remains one of the game's top dynasty assets. |
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Jared Jones Jared Jones Throws four scoreless in finale
Sun, Sep 27, 2026, 5:52 PM
Jones did not factor into the decision in Sunday's 4-2 win over the Tigers, allowing one hit and no walks while striking out five over four scoreless innings.
Analysis: Jones was dominant, throwing 36 of 55 pitches for strikes with 10 whiffs while retiring the first six batters he faced. It was an exclamation point on an excellent September in which he went 3-0 with a 0.93 ERA and 40:4 K:BB over five outings. The 25-year-old enjoyed a strong bounceback campaign after undergoing elbow surgery in 2025, posting a 3.72 ERA, 1.08 WHIP and 123:31 K:BB across 101.2 innings after making his season debut May 29. |
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Mason Montgomery Mason Montgomery Rebounds for 18th save
Sun, Sep 27, 2026, 5:46 PM
Montgomery earned the save in Sunday's 4-2 win over the Tigers, striking out two in a perfect ninth inning.
Analysis: Montgomery was called on one night after blowing a save and closed the door on 14 pitches. It was a strong end to a stellar second half in which he went 17-for-18 in save chances with a 1.42 ERA over 32 appearances. Overall, the southpaw enjoyed a breakout campaign, posting a 2.88 ERA, 1.03 WHIP and 105:26 K:BB across 68.2 innings while tallying nine holds and 18 saves. |
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Noah Murdock Noah Murdock Added to bullpen
Sun, Sep 27, 2026, 12:23 PM
The Pirates recalled Murdock from Triple-A Indianapolis on Sunday, Kevin Gorman of TribLive.com reports.
Analysis: He will provide the Pirates with a fresh bullpen arm for Sunday's regular-season finale. Murdock is unscored upon in three outings with the big club this season. |
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Evan Sisk Evan Sisk Optioned back to minors
Sun, Sep 27, 2026, 12:22 PM
The Pirates optioned Sisk to Triple-A Indianapolis on Sunday, Kevin Gorman of TribLive.com reports.
Analysis: Sisk had pitched each of the last two days, so he's being sent out in favor of a fresh bullpen arm. Noah Murdock is grabbing the vacated roster spot. |
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Brandon Lowe Brandon Lowe Getting breather Sunday
Sun, Sep 27, 2026, 12:20 PM
Lowe is not in the lineup for Sunday's game versus the Tigers.
Analysis: After slugging his 35th home run of the season in Saturday's loss to the Tigers, Lowe will get some extra rest during Sunday's regular-season finale. Assuming the impending free agent doesn't appear off the bench Sunday, he'll finish with a .260/.331/.493 batting line and 96 RBI to go along with his 35 long balls. |
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Oneil Cruz Oneil Cruz Sitting out despite clean MRI
Sun, Sep 27, 2026, 12:16 PM
Cruz (knee) is absent from the lineup for Sunday's game versus the Tigers.
Analysis: Cruz was forced to exit Saturday's game with a left knee injury. The good news is an MRI came back negative, per Kevin Gorman of TribLive.com, but there's no reason to push Cruz to play during the regular-season finale. He will finish the 2026 campaign having hit .280/.368/.486 with 20 home runs and 30 stolen bases over just 97 contests. |
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Kirby Yates Kirby Yates Announces retirement
Sun, Sep 27, 2026, 9:10 AM
Yates announced his retirement from Major League Baseball following Saturday's 4-3 loss to the Tigers.
Analysis: Yates wrapped up his 12-year MLB career with 1.2 scoreless innings as the opener Saturday, allowing two hits while striking out one batter. He made 46 appearances this season between the Angels and Pirates, posting a 3.19 ERA, 1.20 WHIP and 49:17 K:BB over 42.1 innings. The right-hander also tallied three saves to bring his career total to 101, with 41 of those saves coming in 2019 when he led the majors in the category. |
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Brandon Lowe Brandon Lowe Belts homer No. 35
Sat, Sep 26, 2026, 5:01 PM
Lowe went 1-for-4 with a solo home run in Saturday's 4-3 loss to the Tigers.
Analysis: The veteran second baseman took Justin Verlander deep in the fourth inning, in the future Hall of Famer's final career start. Lowe has put together an impressive first season with the Pirates, slashing .260/.331/.493 in 150 games with 35 homers and 96 RBI, the second-highest totals of his career after his 39-homer, 99-RBI eruption for the Rays in 2021. |
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Mason Montgomery Mason Montgomery Blows third save Saturday
Sat, Sep 26, 2026, 4:58 PM
Montgomery (6-4) blew the save and took the loss Saturday as the Pirates fell 4-3 to the Tigers, giving up three runs on three hits in two-thirds of an inning. He struck out one.
Analysis: The southpaw was the seventh pitcher of the afternoon for Pittsburgh in a bullpen day, but Montgomery couldn't protect a 3-1 lead in the bottom of the ninth inning, instead watching Eduardo Valencia walk it off with a two-run homer. It was Montgomery's third blown save of the season and his first since becoming the Bucs' primary closer after the All-Star break, ending a stretch of 17 straight conversions. Montgomery boasts a 2.93 ERA, 1.05 WHIP and 103:26 K:BB in 67.2 innings during a breakout campaign. |
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Oneil Cruz Oneil Cruz Exits early Saturday
Sat, Sep 26, 2026, 1:15 PM
Cruz was removed from Saturday's game against the Tigers due to an apparent injury, Dominic Campbell of SI.com reports.
Analysis: Cruz's knee seemed to be bothering him after his foot got stuck in the grass while he made a sliding catch in the first inning, and he was eventually taken out of the game in the third. The Pirates should provide more information on his status in the near future, but with just one game left on the schedule after Saturday, Pittsburgh may opt to keep him on the sidelines no matter what. |
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Wilber Dotel Wilber Dotel Relegated to Triple-A
Sat, Sep 26, 2026, 11:04 AM
The Pirates optioned Dotel to Triple-A Indianapolis on Saturday, Colin Beazley of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.
Analysis: After giving up two runs (one earned) in three innings Friday, Dotel will be cast out of the Pirates' bullpen in favor of a fresh arm in the form of Hunter Barco. Dotel will finish the MLB season with a 4.46 ERA and 1.37 WHIP alongside a 41:16 K:BB over 42.1 innings. |
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Hunter Barco Hunter Barco Up from Triple-A
Sat, Sep 26, 2026, 11:02 AM
The Pirates recalled Barco from Triple-A Indianapolis on Saturday, Colin Beazley of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.
Analysis: Barco has given up 15 earned runs in just 17.2 major-league innings this season, but he'll return to the Pirates' bullpen nonetheless to help the team get through its final two regular-season contests. Wilber Dotel was optioned to Indianapolis in a corresponding move. |
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Jake Mangum Jake Mangum Getting rest Saturday
Sat, Sep 26, 2026, 10:10 AM
Mangum isn't in the lineup for Saturday's game against the Tigers.
Analysis: Mangum will take a seat Saturday after going 1-for-4 with a pair of strikeouts in the series opener Friday. His absence will allow Ronny Simon to pick up a start in right field, batting seventh. |
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Nick Gonzales Nick Gonzales Riding pine Saturday
Sat, Sep 26, 2026, 10:08 AM
Gonzales isn't in the lineup for Saturday's game against the Tigers.
Analysis: Gonzales has notched a base hit in each of Pittsburgh's last three games, but he'll begin Saturday's affair in the dugout with Jacob Gonzalez starting at third base and batting eighth. |
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Rafael Flores Jr. Rafael Flores Jr. Taking seat Saturday
Sat, Sep 26, 2026, 10:06 AM
Flores isn't in the lineup for Saturday's game against Detroit.
Analysis: Flores will move to the bench after going 1-for-4 with a three-run homer in Friday's series opener. Henry Davis will handle catching duties and bat ninth. |
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Bubba Chandler Bubba Chandler Early exit in final start of year
Sat, Sep 26, 2026, 9:50 AM
Chandler (8-10) took the loss Friday as the Pirates fell 8-7 to the Tigers, coughing up six runs on four hits and four walks over 2.2 innings. He struck out two.
Analysis: The 24-year-old right-hander managed to avoid serving up a homer for the first time in five September starts, but there wasn't much else encouraging about Chandler's performance. He needed 77 pitches (42 strikes) to record just eight outs, and he heads into the offseason having stumbled to a 6.65 ERA, 1.65 WHIP and 23:12 K:BB in 23 innings over the final month. A late fade isn't all that surprising, however, considering he's thrown a career-high 154 innings in 2026. Chandler will head into next season with a spot in the rotation seemingly sewn up, barring some significant additions to the Pirates' staff. |
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Mason Montgomery Mason Montgomery Dominant in 17th save
Thu, Sep 24, 2026, 4:57 PM
Montgomery picked up the save Thursday versus St. Louis, striking out all three batters he faced in the ninth inning.
Analysis: The left-hander entered for the ninth inning with Pittsburgh holding a 2-1 advantage, and he closed things out in strong form by punching out the side in order to record his 17th save of 2026. Montgomery has turned into a late-inning weapon for the Pirates and hasn't given up a run since July 26. During that 25-game stretch, he's picked up three wins and converted all 15 of his save chances with a 0.65 WHIP and 37:7 K:BB. |
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Paul Skenes Paul Skenes Reaches 200 Ks for 2026
Thu, Sep 24, 2026, 4:51 PM
Skenes did not factor into the decision Thursday, allowing one run on three hits and two walks over 6.1 innings against the Cardinals. He struck out eight.
Analysis: After surrendering five runs during his previous start against Kansas City, Skenes bounced back Thursday in his final outing of the campaign. The right-hander surrendered a first-inning homer to Alec Burleson but locked in from there, allowing just four more baserunners to reach. His strikeout of Leo Bernal to begin the seventh inning was his 200th of the season and signaled an end to his afternoon at 96 pitches. Skenes closes out an up-and-down campaign with a 10-11 record and a 3.82 ERA and 1.12 WHIP across 174.1 innings covering 32 starts. |
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Evan Sisk Evan Sisk Rejoins Pirates' bullpen
Thu, Sep 24, 2026, 10:40 AM
The Pirates recalled Sisk from Triple-A Indianapolis on Thursday.
Analysis: The Pirates needed a rested arm after they had a bullpen game Wednesday against the Cardinals. Sisk has pitched well in 39 relief outings with the big club, logging a 3.16 ERA and 48:23 K:BB over 42.2 innings. |
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