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Spencer Horwitz Spencer Horwitz On base three times
Sun, Apr 5, 2026, 7:50 PM
Horwitz went 1-for-2 with a single, two walks and a run scored Sunday against the Orioles.
Analysis: Horwitz started his fourth straight game at first base, and he's reached base in each of those contests. He's been particularly patient, with his two free passes Sunday bringing his walk rate to 14.3 percent. Despite the value he has brought to Pittsburgh's lineup, he has only two runs and two RBI with only a .174 batting average across 28 plate appearances. |
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Oneil Cruz Oneil Cruz Tallies fourth homer
Sun, Apr 5, 2026, 7:44 PM
Cruz went 2-for-4 with a two-run home run, three RBI and two runs scored Sunday against the Orioles.
Analysis: Cruz delivered his third three-RBI performance in his last five games. He kicked off the effort with an infield single in the second inning before popping a two-run home run four frames later. More impressive was that this was Cruz's third long ball and sixth hit against a lefty this season, which comes directly after logging only 11 knocks across 125 plate appearances against southpaws in 2025. |
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Ryan O'Hearn Ryan O'Hearn Smacks third homer
Sun, Apr 5, 2026, 6:59 PM
O'Hearn went 2-for-5 with a double, a two-run home run and four RBI in Sunday's game against the Orioles.
Analysis: O'Hearn kicked off the scoring with a two-run home run in the first inning, his third long ball of the season. He added a two-RBI double one frame later, his third multi-RBI effort of the campaign. O'Hearn has had a strong start to the season by collecting at least one hit in seven of eight games, and he's even started two of three contests against lefties. |
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Braxton Ashcraft Braxton Ashcraft Fans career-high eight in win
Sun, Apr 5, 2026, 4:04 PM
Ashcraft (1-1) earned the win Sunday against the Orioles, allowing one run on four hits and no walks in six innings. He struck out eight.
Analysis: Ashcraft built off an impressive 2026 debut, when he gave up only two runs in six innings versus the Reds. The eight punchouts were a career high for the right-hander, who tossed 54 of his 87 pitches for strikes Sunday. Ashcraft surrendered no walks after walking three his first time out, and he'll be looking to cross the 90-pitch marker for the first time this year in a tough spot versus the Cubs in Chicago for his next scheduled outing. |
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Marcell Ozuna Marcell Ozuna Sitting amid slump
Sun, Apr 5, 2026, 12:12 PM
Ozuna is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Orioles
Analysis: Ozuna went 1-for-4 with two strikeouts in Saturday's contest to break a four-game hitless streak, but he'll take a seat for Sunday's series finale versus Baltimore. Bryan Reynolds will rest his legs as the designated hitter, opening up a spot in the outfield for Jake Mangum. |
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Billy Cook Billy Cook Back in big leagues
Sun, Apr 5, 2026, 11:01 AM
The Pirates recalled Cook from Triple-A Indianapolis on Sunday, Kevin Gorman of TribLive.com reports.
Analysis: The 27-year-old was sent to Indianapolis on Thursday but will quickly return to the majors with Jared Triolo (knee) landing on the injured list. Cook made the Pirates' Opening Day roster but registered just six plate appearances during the first week of the season, and he's unlikely to have a significant role while Pittsburgh's outfield is in good health. |
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Jared Triolo Jared Triolo Out with knee injury
Sun, Apr 5, 2026, 10:29 AM
The Pirates placed Triolo on the 10-day injured list Sunday, retroactive to April 4, due to a patellar tendon injury in his right knee, Kevin Gorman of TribLive.com reports.
Analysis: The 28-year-old apparently suffered the injury during Friday's contest and was held out of the lineup Saturday. Pirates GM Ben Cherington indicated Sunday the injury is "more of a weeks-long thing," per Danny Demilio of PittsburghBaseballNow.com, so it appears Triolo won't be back from the injured list in the near future. Nick Gonzales and Nick Yorke should fill in at third base while Triolo is sidelined. |
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Carmen Mlodzinski Carmen Mlodzinski Labors late in no-decision
Sat, Apr 4, 2026, 10:03 PM
Mlodzinski did not factor into the decision Saturday, allowing two runs on five hits and three walks over 4.2 innings in a 3-2 victory over Baltimore. He struck out five.
Analysis: The right-hander started off strong with just two baserunners allowed through three scoreless frames, but he gave up two runs on four hits and a walk in the fourth inning and was unable to make it through the fifth. Mlodzinski's 4.00 ERA and 13 strikeouts through his first two starts of the season are decent, but his 1.56 WHIP and nine combined innings are less encouraging. A road matchup with the Cubs likely awaits next weekend. |
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Jared Triolo Jared Triolo Getting break Saturday
Sat, Apr 4, 2026, 1:53 PM
Triolo isn't in the lineup for Saturday's game versus Baltimore.
Analysis: Triolo went 2-for-3 with an RBI and a run scored in Friday's series opener, but he'll begin Saturday's contest in the dugout while Nick Gonzales starts at third base and bats eighth. |
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Henry Davis Henry Davis Out of Saturday's lineup
Sat, Apr 4, 2026, 1:51 PM
Davis isn't in the lineup for Saturday's game against the Orioles.
Analysis: After going just 3-for-17 (.176) through his first seven games, Davis will move to the bench Saturday. Joey Bart will catch for starter Carmen Mlodzinski instead and bat ninth. |
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Dennis Santana Dennis Santana Works eighth inning again
Fri, Apr 3, 2026, 10:43 PM
Santana struck out one without allowing a baserunner in a scoreless eighth inning to earn a hold Friday against the Orioles.
Analysis: Santana entered the game in the eighth inning for his second consecutive appearance, with Gregory Soto following him in the final frame on each occasion. While Santana is still in a high-leverage role and has performed well to begin 2026 -- he hasn't allowed a run across five innings while allowing only three baseunners -- it appears that Soto may be the preferred option for saves for the time being. |
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Jared Triolo Jared Triolo First multi-hit effort of 2026
Fri, Apr 3, 2026, 10:37 PM
Triolo went 2-for-3 with an RBI and a run scored Friday against the Orioles.
Analysis: Triolo remained in the lineup despite Konnor Griffin's arrival, though he shifted to third base while hitting eighth in the order. Triolo has struggled with the bat in the early going, with Friday marking his first multi-hit effort of the season. He delivered an RBI single in the second inning and came around to score in the same frame. While Triolo was in the lineup over Nick Gonzales on Friday, the duo will likely split time in some fashion for the foreseeable future. |
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Konnor Griffin Konnor Griffin RBI double in major-league debut
Fri, Apr 3, 2026, 9:23 PM
Griffin went 1-for-3 with an RBI double and a walk in Friday's 5-4 win over the Orioles.
Analysis: Making his much-anticipated major-league debut Friday, Griffin hit seventh in the Pittsburgh lineup and doubled home Ryan O'Hearn in his first big-league plate appearance. In his second trip to the plate, Griffin drew a five-pitch walk. Griffin later struck out and grounded out to close out his day. The shortstop doesn't turn 20 years old until later this month. |
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Gregory Soto Gregory Soto Picks up first save of season
Fri, Apr 3, 2026, 9:18 PM
Soto picked up the save in Friday's 5-4 win over the Orioles, allowing one run on one hit with three strikeouts in one inning.
Analysis: It was Soto's fifth appearance of the young season, but it was the left-hander's first save of 2026 after he pitched clean ninth innings Tuesday and Wednesday against the Reds in 8-3 victories earlier in the week. Soto struck out the side against the Orioles on Friday but did allow a solo home run to Gunnar Henderson with two outs. Soto looks to be manager Don Kelly's preferred closer option. Soto has a sterling 11:2 K:BB across 5.1 innings of work. |
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Mitch Keller Mitch Keller Picks up win over Baltimore
Fri, Apr 3, 2026, 9:12 PM
Keller (1-0) earned the win over the Orioles on Friday, allowing two runs on six hits and two walks with four strikeouts across six innings.
Analysis: Keller has logged back-to-back quality starts to open the season and will carry a 1.50 ERA into his next start Wednesday against the Padres. The right-hander has thrown at least 175 innings with at least 150 strikeouts in three straight seasons coming into the 2026 campaign. He's not an exciting fantasy proposition, but Keller is durable and reliable. |
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Enmanuel Valdez Enmanuel Valdez Booted from 40-man roster
Fri, Apr 3, 2026, 10:33 AM
The Pirates designated Valdez for assignment Friday.
Analysis: The club needed to free up a spot on its 40-man roster for the addition of Konnor Griffin. Valdez has managed just a .230/.288/.392 batting line over parts of three major-league seasons. |
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Billy Cook Billy Cook Dispatched to Indianapolis
Thu, Apr 2, 2026, 4:39 PM
The Pirates optioned Cook to Triple-A Indianapolis on Thursday.
Analysis: Cook will move to the minors in order to clear a spot on the active roster for top prospect Konnor Griffin, who is slated to make his MLB debut against the Orioles on Friday. The 27-year-old Cook slashed .245/.321/.379 across 380 plate appearances at Indianapolis last year, and he'd be a candidate to return to Pittsburgh if one of the big club's outfielders go down with an injury. |
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Oneil Cruz Oneil Cruz Homers again Wednesday
Wed, Apr 1, 2026, 3:44 PM
Cruz went 2-for-5 with a three-run home run and a second run scored in Wednesday's 8-3 win over the Reds.
Analysis: The center fielder got things rolling for the Pirates when he hooked an Andrew Abbott curveball 407 feet down the right-field line in the first inning. Cruz has three homers in six games to begin the season, and all three have come in the last two days. He's batting .304 (7-for-23) with six RBI and seven runs, though he's still looking for his first steal of 2026. |
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Gregory Soto Gregory Soto Misses out on save again
Wed, Apr 1, 2026, 3:41 PM
Soto struck out two in a perfect ninth inning Wednesday during the Pirates' 8-3 win over the Reds.
Analysis: For the second straight day, Soto was warming up to handle a save situation in the bottom of the ninth, only for Pittsburgh's offense to churn out insurance runs in the top of the frame and erase the save chance. The veteran southpaw has a 0.00 ERA through 4.1 innings to begin the season with an 8:2 K:BB, and he currently appears to be the favorite for save chances ahead of Dennis Santana. |
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Paul Skenes Paul Skenes Bounces back with first win
Wed, Apr 1, 2026, 3:37 PM
Skenes (1-1) picked up the win in Wednesday's 8-3 victory over the Reds, allowing one run on three hits and two walks over five innings. He struck out five.
Analysis: After a stunningly short Opening Day start, Skenes rebounded nicely Wednesday, tossing 51 of 77 pitches for strikes and only allowing a runner to get past first base in the fourth inning. It was an early hook for the right-hander despite the efficient performance, but the Pirates are likely just being cautious with his early season workload. The 23-year-old still has a 9.53 ERA and 6:4 K:BB through 5.2 innings, but those numbers should continue to improve quickly. Skenes is set to take the mound next at home early next week against the Padres. |
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