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Mason Montgomery Mason Montgomery Up to 14 saves
Thu, Sep 17, 2026, 3:04 PM
Montgomery earned the save Thursday in a 7-4 win over the Brewers, allowing two walks while striking out two over 1.1 scoreless innings.
Analysis: It was another strong performance from Montgomery, who's been nearly untouchable since late July. The southpaw's now delivered 21.2 straight scoreless innings, allowing just eight hits while striking out 32 in that span. Montgomery has converted 14 saves this season while working to a 2.67 ERA with a 1.03 WHIP and 97:25 K:BB across 64 innings. |
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Jake Mangum Jake Mangum Receiving breather Thursday
Thu, Sep 17, 2026, 10:07 AM
Mangum is out of the lineup for Thursday's game against the Brewers.
Analysis: After starting in each of the last six games while going 4-for-22 with a double, a walk and a stolen base, Mangum will get a break as the Pirates wrap up their series with the Brewers. Ronny Simon will replace Mangum in the starting nine, manning right field while batting seventh. |
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Jacob Gonzalez Jacob Gonzalez Idle for series finale
Thu, Sep 17, 2026, 10:05 AM
Gonzalez is out of the lineup for Thursday's game against the Brewers.
Analysis: With left-hander Kyle Harrison on the bump for the Brewers, the left-handed-hitting Gonzalez will retreat to the bench for the third time in four games. Jared Triolo will spell Gonzalez at third base and will bat eighth. |
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Ryan O'Hearn Ryan O'Hearn Taking seat versus lefty
Thu, Sep 17, 2026, 9:47 AM
O'Hearn is not in the lineup for Thursday's contest against the Brewers.
Analysis: O'Hearn has gone 4-for-17 with one home run in five games since coming back from the injured list. He'll get a breather during Thursday's afternoon tilt, with Rafael Flores slotting in at first base and Nick Gonzales serving as the Pirates' designated hitter. |
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Wilber Dotel Wilber Dotel Starting Thursday
Wed, Sep 16, 2026, 9:58 PM
Dotel will start Thursday's game against the Brewers, Danny Demilio of PittsburghBaseballNow.com reports.
Analysis: Dotel will be making his second start of the season as the Pirates lean on their bullpen to get through Thursday's affair. The 23-year-old righty gave up three runs while pitching two innings during his first start Friday against the Cubs, and he will likely handle a similar workload Thursday. |
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Jared Jones Jared Jones Strikes out nine in no-decision
Wed, Sep 16, 2026, 9:14 PM
Jones didn't factor into the decision Wednesday against the Brewers, allowing three runs on seven hits and a walk across five innings. He struck out nine.
Analysis: Jones has now recorded eight or more strikeouts in each of his last three outings. Prior to Wednesday, the right-hander had delivered 13 straight scoreless innings in his previous two starts, allowing just four hits in that span. Through 19 starts (90.2 innings) this season, Jones sports a 4.17 ERA with a 1.19 WHIP and 109:31 K:BB. He's tentatively lined up to face the Cardinals at home his next time out. |
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Nick Gonzales Nick Gonzales Out of Pittsburgh lineup
Wed, Sep 16, 2026, 2:35 PM
Gonzales is not in the lineup for Wednesday's contest against the Brewers.
Analysis: The Pirates will go with Jacob Gonzalez at third base. Gonzales is slashing .303/.411/.368 across his last 90 plate appearances for Pittsburgh. |
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Spencer Horwitz Spencer Horwitz Exiting starting nine
Wed, Sep 16, 2026, 2:31 PM
Horwitz is absent from the lineup for Wednesday's game versus the Brewers.
Analysis: It's the first time since April that a healthy Horwitz did not start a contest against a right-hander. Ryan O'Hearn will play first base as the Pirate take on Brewers righty Logan Henderson. |
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Rafael Flores Jr. Rafael Flores Jr. Four hits in Tuesday's loss
Wed, Sep 16, 2026, 9:35 AM
Flores went 4-for-4 in Tuesday's 5-1 loss to the Brewers.
Analysis: All four knocks were singles, but it was still an impressive way for Flores to extend his hitting streak to nine games. During that span, the 25-year-old catcher is batting .441 (15-for-34) with a double and a homer but just two runs and two RBI as the Pittsburgh offense as a whole has struggled over the final weeks of the season -- Tuesday marked the sixth time in 13 September contests that the Pirates scored two runs or fewer. |
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Brandon Lowe Brandon Lowe Clubs homer No. 30
Wed, Sep 16, 2026, 9:29 AM
Lowe went 1-for-5 with a solo home run in Tuesday's 5-1 loss to the Brewers.
Analysis: The second baseman supplied the only offense for the Pirates when he bashed a DL Hall fastball off the right-field foul pole in the eighth inning. It was Lowe's 30th homer of the season, marking the third time in his career he's reached that plateau, and he's been locked in to close out the campaign. Over his last 14 games, Lowe has delivered a .346/.424/.558 slash line with two doubles, three home runs, six RBI and 10 runs. |
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Jhostynxon Garcia Jhostynxon Garcia Returns from IL
Mon, Sep 14, 2026, 8:45 PM
Garcia (undisclosed) was activated from the 7-day injured list Wednesday.
Analysis: Garcia made three rehab appearances at High-A Greensboro in early September, and he's since been given the green light to return to action at Triple-A Indianapolis. He's gone 4-for-14 with a home run and three runs in four games since his return from the IL. |
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Lake Bachar Lake Bachar Opening Tuesday's contest
Mon, Sep 14, 2026, 1:59 PM
Bachar will serve as the Pirates' opening pitcher in Tuesday's game versus the Brewers, Colin Beazley of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.
Analysis: Bachar will draw his sixth start since he landed in Pittsburgh at the trade deadline. He's covered at least 1.2 innings and as much as three frames in his first five opener assignments for the Pirates, so a multi-inning effort Tuesday is likely. Antwone Kelly, Brandon Eisert and Khristian Curtis could all be candidates to cover multiple frames once Bachar exits the game. |
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Brandon Lowe Brandon Lowe On bench vs. lefty
Sun, Sep 13, 2026, 1:14 PM
Lowe is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Cubs.
Analysis: The 32-year-old will hit the bench Sunday as Pittsburgh rolls out a righty-heavy lineup versus Chicago southpaw Matthew Boyd. Lowe has a .608 OPS in 190 plate appearances against left-handed pitching this season, and he could see more limited opportunities against them down the stretch given that he's now sat in three of the Pirates' past six games versus lefty starters. |
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Ryan O'Hearn Ryan O'Hearn Slugs homer in loss
Sat, Sep 12, 2026, 6:20 PM
O'Hearn went 1-for-4 with a three-run home run Saturday in a loss to the Cubs.
Analysis: O'Hearn's long ball was huge at the time, as it turned a two-run deficit into a one-run lead. However, the Pirates' bullpen couldn't hold the advantage, and two Chicago runs in the eighth inning led to a Cubs win. O'Hearn just returned from a six-week stay on the injured list Friday and went 0-for-2 in his first game back after entering late in the contest. He's expected to see action at first base and as the DH for Pittsburgh down the stretch. |
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Paul Skenes Paul Skenes Sharp despite yielding two homers
Sat, Sep 12, 2026, 6:08 PM
Skenes completed seven innings Saturday, allowing two runs on four hits and one walk while striking out four batters in a no-decision against the Cubs.
Analysis: Skenes struggled a bit early, giving up a solo homer in both of the first and third innings. However, those were the only hits he allowed during those frames, and the All-Star hurler finished his outing with four straight scoreless innings. Overall, Skenes allowed only six baserunners and was very efficient, needing just 82 pitches (53 strikes) to complete seven innings. He was in line for the win upon his departure, but a late letdown by the Pirates' bullpen spoiled that bid. Though Skenes again didn't do much in the strikeout department, this was a strong performance against a tough offense after he gave up five runs over 5.1 frames the last time he faced the Cubs. Skenes will carry a disappointing 3.78 overall ERA into his next start, which is projected to be at home against Milwaukee. |
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Ronny Simon Ronny Simon Back with Pirates
Sat, Sep 12, 2026, 12:24 PM
The Pirates recalled Simon from Triple-A Indianapolis on Saturday.
Analysis: Simon was sent down to Triple-A on Friday following Ryan O'Hearn's return from the injured list, but the former will turn around and rejoin the big club with Esmerlyn Valdez (hamstring) landing on the IL. Simon logged just one plate appearance during his previous week-long stint with the Bucs and will likely continue to serve as bench depth until Valdez is healthy. |
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Esmerlyn Valdez Esmerlyn Valdez Lands on IL
Sat, Sep 12, 2026, 12:20 PM
The Pirates placed Valdez on the 10-day injured list Saturday with a strained left hamstring.
Analysis: Valdez made an early exit from Friday's contest after injuring himself while running out of the batter's box, and he'll now officially remain out of action until at least Sept. 23. Jake Mangum is set to start in right field Saturday against the Cubs and could see regular playing time until Valdez returns. Meanwhile, Ronny Simon will come up from Triple-A to replenish Pittsburgh's outfield depth. |
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Nick Gonzales Nick Gonzales Getting breather Saturday
Sat, Sep 12, 2026, 11:29 AM
Gonzales isn't in the lineup for Saturday's game against the Cubs.
Analysis: Gonzales will get a break Saturday after going 9-for-33 (.273) with two RBI and a run scored through his first nine games of September. Jacob Gonzalez will start at the hot corner and bat eighth. |
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Rafael Flores Jr. Rafael Flores Jr. Day off Saturday
Sat, Sep 12, 2026, 11:26 AM
Flores isn't in the lineup for Saturday's game against the Cubs.
Analysis: Flores has recorded a base hit in each of his last six games, but the Pirates will keep him on the bench to begin Saturday's affair. Henry Davis will take over behind the dish and bat ninth. |
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Esmerlyn Valdez Esmerlyn Valdez Sitting out Saturday
Sat, Sep 12, 2026, 11:22 AM
Valdez (hamstring) isn't in the lineup for Saturday's game against the Cubs.
Analysis: The Pirates have yet to provide an update on Valdez's status after he exited Friday's game with a left hamstring injury, though he will need at least one day off to recover. Jake Mangum will start in right field Saturday and could continue to do so if Valdez needs to spend time on the IL. |
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