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Spencer Horwitz Spencer Horwitz Stays hot with another homer
Tue, May 26, 2026, 10:03 PM
Horwitz went 2-for-3 with a solo homer, two RBI and one run scored in Tuesday's 12-1 win over the Cubs.
Analysis: Horwitz drove home the Pirates' eighth run of the game with a sac fly in the fifth and later took Daniel Palencia deep for a solo shot in the seventh to make it a 10-1 contest. It was Horwitz's sixth homer of the season and third in his last seven games. The first baseman has hit safely in 17 of 21 games this month and has raised his average 39 points during that span. Horwitz is slashing .289/.391/.467 with the six round-trippers, 25 RBI, 20 runs scored, one stolen base and a 26:24 BB:K across 184 plate appearances this season. While he doesn't hit for much power, Horwitz doesn't strike out and has a high walk rate. |
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Oneil Cruz Oneil Cruz Reaches four times, steals base
Tue, May 26, 2026, 9:55 PM
Cruz went 3-for-3 with three singles, an RBI, a hit-by-pitch, one stolen base and a run scored in Tuesday's 12-1 win over the Cubs.
Analysis: Cruz singled, stole his 17th base of the season and scored in the bottom of the first inning. It was just the third game this month that Cruz didn't record a strikeout after he entered play Tuesday leading the majors with 84 of them, six more than Kyle Schwarber. When Cruz does hit the ball, it typically results in something good happening, as he's in the 100th percentile in average exit velocity (96.1 mph), 95th percentile in barrel rate (16.9 percent), 100th percentile in hard-hit rate (61.4 percent) and 99th percentile in bat speed (78.5 mph). On the season, Cruz is slashing .265/.329/.461 with 11 homers, 35 RBI, 38 runs scored, 17 steals and an 18:84 BB:K across 240 plate appearances. He just needs to cut down on the swings and misses. |
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Bryan Reynolds Bryan Reynolds Pair of doubles, two RBI in win
Tue, May 26, 2026, 9:46 PM
Reynolds went 2-for-4 with two doubles, two RBI and two runs scored in Tuesday's 12-1 win over the Cubs.
Analysis: After Konnor Griffin walked and Brandon Lowe singled to lead off the bottom of the first inning, Reynolds drove home both with a two-run double. He later doubled again in the fifth and scored. Reynolds now has hits in four straight games and has four multi-hit efforts in his last 11 contests, with five doubles in that span. Reynolds is still in a power outage, as he hasn't homered since May 1, spanning 22 games. On the year, he's slashing .256/.379/.390 with four long balls, 34 RBI, 33 runs scored, four stolen bases and a 36:53 BB:K across 235 plate appearances. |
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Braxton Ashcraft Braxton Ashcraft Cruises through 6.1 IP for win
Tue, May 26, 2026, 9:40 PM
Ashcraft (4-2) earned the win Tuesday against the Cubs, allowing one run on seven hits and one walk with five strikeouts across 6.1 innings.
Analysis: The Pittsburgh offense gave Ashcraft plenty of run support, hammering Cubs starter Jordan Wicks for eight runs over 4.1 frames, and Ashcraft held up his end of things to pick up his fourth victory. The right-hander has gone at least six innings in all five starts this month and generated 14 swinging strikes on 95 pitches Tuesday. Ashcraft has plus stuff with an upper 90s fastball and one of the better cutters in the sport. He's in the 89th percentile in chase rate and lowered his ERA to 2.75 with a 70:17 K:BB across 68.2 innings this season. |
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Jhostynxon Garcia Jhostynxon Garcia Shifting to bench Tuesday
Tue, May 26, 2026, 4:29 PM
Garcia is out of the lineup for Tuesday's game against the Cubs.
Analysis: Garcia started in left field in Monday's 2-1 win in the series opener, going 0-for-3 with a strikeout. Since being called up from Triple-A Indianapolis last week, Garcia is slashing .250/.286/.250 over six games and may have to settle for a part-time role until he raises his production and earns steadier playing time. |
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Konnor Griffin Konnor Griffin Batting leadoff versus lefty
Tue, May 26, 2026, 2:46 PM
Griffin will start at shortstop and bat leadoff in Tuesday's game against the Cubs.
Analysis: The right-handed-hitting Griffin has hit second a few times versus lefties, but this will be his first-ever start in the leadoff spot. Griffin enters play Tuesday in a mini slump, having picked up only one hit across his last four contests. |
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Henry Davis Henry Davis Tallies fourth homer
Mon, May 25, 2026, 9:20 PM
Davis went 1-for-3 with a solo home run Monday against the Cubs.
Analysis: Davis hasn't had much success at the plate all season and has slipped into an even timeshare with Endy Rodriguez in the last week. Davis did deliver Monday, smacking his fourth home run of the season in the eighth inning, which turned out to be the game-winning run. He has now gone yard twice in his last three starts. |
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Ryan O'Hearn Ryan O'Hearn Begins working out
Mon, May 25, 2026, 9:10 PM
O'Hearn (quadriceps) worked out in the outfield ahead of Monday's game against the Cubs, MLB.com reports.
Analysis: O'Hearn did agility and cone drills in the outfield, marking his first activity since being placed on the injured list May 17. He remains on track for a mid-June return. |
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Gregory Soto Gregory Soto Locks down sixth save
Mon, May 25, 2026, 3:44 PM
Soto secured the save Monday against the Cubs, striking out one in a clean ninth inning.
Analysis: Soto submitted his third consecutive scoreless appearance Monday, continuing to rebound after giving up three runs in his prior two outings to that stretch. Dennis Santana has coughed up 12 earned runs over his last 8.1 innings, opening the door for Soto to seize a larger share of Pittsburgh's save opportunities going forward. Through 25.1 innings, Soto has a 2.13 ERA, 0.79 WHIP and 31:10 K:BB while converting six of his eight save chances. |
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Carmen Mlodzinski Carmen Mlodzinski Holds Cubs in check Monday
Mon, May 25, 2026, 3:27 PM
Mlodzinski took a no-decision Monday against the Cubs, allowing one run on five hits and three walks in five innings. He struck out two.
Analysis: Mlodzinski is on a strong run on the hill of late, tossing at least five innings while yielding two runs or fewer in four consecutive starts. The 27-year-old right-hander fanned a career-high 10 during his May 2 outing against the Reds, but he's tallied just six punchouts altogether across his past four appearances. Mlodzinski should still carry some streaming appeal this weekend against the Twins, posting a 3.76 ERA, 1.42 WHIP and 46:20 K:BB across 55 innings. |
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Esmerlyn Valdez Esmerlyn Valdez Exiting starting nine
Mon, May 25, 2026, 10:45 AM
Valdez is not in the lineup for Monday's contest against the Cubs.
Analysis: Valdez started the first three games for the Pirates upon his promotion and launched his first career hit and home run in Sunday's win over the Blue Jays. However, he will begin Monday's festivities on the bench. Jhostynxon Garcia, Oneil Cruz and Bryan Reynolds will patrol the outfield for Pittsburgh. |
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Gregory Soto Gregory Soto Earns fifth save
Sun, May 24, 2026, 2:53 PM
Soto earned the save in Sunday's 4-1 win over the Blue Jays, allowing one walk with one strikeout in a scoreless ninth inning.
Analysis: Soto was able to preserve a three-run lead in the ninth inning despite walking one and hitting another batter while throwing just 10 of 22 pitches for strikes. So far in May, the southpaw has converted four of five save chances and held opponents scoreless in seven of nine appearances. For the year, he's recorded five saves and six holds to go along with a 2.22 ERA, 0.82 WHIP and 30:10 K:BB across 24.1 innings. |
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Esmerlyn Valdez Esmerlyn Valdez Hits first career homer
Sun, May 24, 2026, 2:42 PM
Valdez went 1-for-3 with a two-run home run in Sunday's 4-1 win over the Blue Jays.
Analysis: Valdez launched his first career major-league home run off Chase Lee in the top of the sixth inning. It also marked the 22-year-old's first career hit, as he's gone just 1-for-8 through his first three games with the Pirates. While he's been substituted for twice, Valdez has started each game for the big club since making his debut Friday. |
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Mitch Keller Mitch Keller Posts quality start in win
Sun, May 24, 2026, 2:34 PM
Keller (5-2) earned the win against the Blue Jays on Sunday, allowing one run on four hits and three walks with five strikeouts over six innings.
Analysis: Keller allowed three baserunners and a run in the fourth inning but was otherwise solid, generating 11 whiffs on 101 pitches while limiting the Blue Jays to one extra-base hit. It was a nice rebound for the 30-year-old after allowing 10 earned runs over his previous two outings, and he's now logged seven quality starts while working into the sixth frame in nine of 11 appearances this season. He'll carry a 3.64 ERA, 1.07 WHIP and 46:19 K:BB across 64.1 innings into a home matchup against the Twins next weekend. |
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Jared Jones Jared Jones Closing in on season debut
Sun, May 24, 2026, 10:34 AM
General manager Ben Cherington said Sunday that Jones (elbow) will return to Pittsburgh and throw a bullpen session Tuesday before the Pirates determine whether he'll return from the 60-day injured list during the upcoming week, Colin Beazley of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.
Analysis: After making his previous two rehab starts at Double-A Altoona, Jones shifted his minor-league assignment to Triple-A Indianapolis on Saturday, when he tossed 76 pitches (47 strikes) while allowing three runs on two hits and three walks with six strikeouts across 4.1 innings. Jones missed all of last season due to a UCL injury in his right elbow that required surgery in May, but he's looked strong across his five rehab starts, logging a 2.89 ERA, 1.02 WHIP and 24:6 K:BB across 18.2 innings. If Jones checks out fine following Tuesday's side session, he could be activated from the IL as soon as Thursday. |
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Jhostynxon Garcia Jhostynxon Garcia Resting up Sunday
Sun, May 24, 2026, 9:29 AM
Garcia is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Blue Jays.
Analysis: Garcia will head to the bench for the series finale while the Pirates go with Oneil Cruz at designated hitter and Bryan Reynolds, Jake Mangum and Esmerlyn Valdez in the outfield from left to right. Before being called up from Triple-A Indianapolis on May 18, Garcia had missed time earlier this month due to a back issue, prompting manager Don Kelly to note that the Pirates don't want to overextend the young outfielder too much until the back injury is further behind him, per Colin Beazley of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Nonetheless, Garcia is off to a solid start since his promotion, going 5-for-16 with a walk while starting four of the last six games. |
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Jake Mangum Jake Mangum Seeing steady starts since return
Sun, May 24, 2026, 9:24 AM
Mangum will start in center field and bat eighth in Sunday's game against the Blue Jays.
Analysis: Since returning from the injured list last Sunday, Mangum has drawn starts in five of the last seven games. The Pirates recently called up Jhostynxon Garcia and Esmerlyn Valdez from Triple-A Indianapolis to fortify their outfield while Ryan O'Hearn (quadriceps) is on the shelf, but Mangum could still have a path to at least a semi-regular role if Oneil Cruz continues to make more of his starts at designated hitter in place of the struggling Marcell Ozuna rather than in center field. |
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Henry Davis Henry Davis Part of timeshare with Rodriguez
Sun, May 24, 2026, 9:18 AM
Davis is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Blue Jays.
Analysis: Though he's seen his playing time pick back up since Joey Bart (foot) landed on the injured list May 12, Davis looks to be part of a timeshare at catcher with Endy Rodriguez. Davis and Rodriguez have now alternated turns behind the dish over the Bucs' last six games. |
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Marcell Ozuna Marcell Ozuna On bench for series finale
Sun, May 24, 2026, 9:14 AM
Ozuna is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Blue Jays.
Analysis: Though he drove in both of the Pirates' runs in Saturday's 5-2 loss to Toronto, Ozuna will find himself on the bench for the third time in six contests for the series finale. The Pirates will deploy Oneil Cruz as their designated hitter in place of Ozuna, who may be fading into a part-time role while he's struggled to a .189/.279/.314 slash line across 179 plate appearances on the season. |
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Konnor Griffin Konnor Griffin Idle for series finale
Sun, May 24, 2026, 8:46 AM
Griffin is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Blue Jays.
Analysis: Griffin carried an eight-game hitting streak into the weekend, but after going 0-for-7 with a walk and three strikeouts through the first two games in Toronto, he'll be rested for the series finale. Jared Triolo will replace the star rookie at shortstop and bat ninth. |
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