| News |
|---|
|
Jhostynxon Garcia Jhostynxon Garcia Shelved at Triple-A
Sun, Apr 19, 2026, 7:00 PM
Triple-A Indianapolis placed Garcia on its 7-day injured list Friday due to lower-back tightness, Colin Beazley of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.
Analysis: After failing to win a spot on the Pirates' Opening Day roster coming out of spring training, Garcia slashed just .158/.186/.175 with a 28.8 percent strikeout rate over 59 plate appearances for Indianapolis before being shut down with the back issue. He lacks a clear timeline to return to action for the Triple-A club, but his injury isn't believed to be overly significant. |
|
Bryan Reynolds Bryan Reynolds Heats up with three RBI
Sun, Apr 19, 2026, 4:40 PM
Reynolds went 2-for-4 with three RBI in Sunday's 6-3 win over the Rays.
Analysis: It was Reynolds' fourth multi-RBI effort of the season already. The corner outfielder entered Sunday in a brief 0-for-13 dry spell over his past four appearances, so it was a breakout performance of sorts as well. Reynolds is off to a fine start overall in 2026, slashing a healthy .266/.392/.418 with five extra-base hits, 15 RBI, 15 runs scored and 16 walks through his first 97 plate appearances. |
|
Mitch Keller Mitch Keller Seven strong innings in second win
Sun, Apr 19, 2026, 4:25 PM
Keller (2-1) notched the win Sunday against the Rays, allowing two runs on five hits and no walks in seven innings. He struck out five.
Analysis: It was perhaps a season-best performance by the right-hander, who recorded season-high figures in innings and strikeouts. Keller has done a fine job of providing length for the Pirates so far in 2026, tossing at least six innings in four of his five starts. He'll bring a strong 2.79 ERA, 1.10 WHIP and 19:9 K:BB over his first 29 frames into his next outing, which is currently projected to come against the division-rival Brewers. |
|
Ryan O'Hearn Ryan O'Hearn Resting for series finale
Sun, Apr 19, 2026, 11:30 AM
O'Hearn is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Rays.
Analysis: The left-handed-hitting O'Hearn hasn't been a strict platoon player for the Pirates this season, but after he played eight of 13 innings in Saturday's 8-7 loss, he'll get a breather for Sunday's matinee game while southpaw Shane McClanahan toes the rubber for the Rays. Jake Mangum will pick up a start in the outfield in O'Hearn's stead. |
|
Brandon Lowe Brandon Lowe Taking seat in series finale
Sun, Apr 19, 2026, 11:26 AM
Lowe is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Rays.
Analysis: With the Rays sending a lefty (Shane McClanahan) to the bump and the teams playing a day game after Saturday's 13-inning affair, Lowe will exit the starting nine for just the third time this season. Nick Gonzales will replace Lowe at the keystone and will bat second. |
|
Henry Davis Henry Davis Back on bench Sunday
Sun, Apr 19, 2026, 11:23 AM
Davis is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Rays.
Analysis: Davis had started behind the plate in five of the last eight contests but went just 2-for-16 with five strikeouts against two walks over that stretch. He'll hit the bench Sunday in favor of Joey Bart, and the two backstops look as though they could be stuck in a timeshare until one of them is able to get going at the plate. |
|
Cam Sanders Cam Sanders Quick return to minors
Sun, Apr 19, 2026, 10:51 AM
The Pirates optioned Sanders to Triple-A Indianapolis on Sunday, Colin Beazley of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.
Analysis: The right-hander was called up from Triple-A on Friday and made his season debut Saturday against the Rays, but he'll head back to the minors after surrendering to four runs over two-thirds of an inning. Wilber Dotel will take Sanders' place in Pittsburgh's bullpen. |
|
Wilber Dotel Wilber Dotel Gets first call to big leagues
Sun, Apr 19, 2026, 10:48 AM
The Pirates recalled Dotel from Triple-A Indianapolis on Sunday, Colin Beazley of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.
Analysis: The 23-year-old has surrendered 10 earned runs with a 13:7 K:BB over 14.1 innings to begin the season with Indianapolis, but he'll get his first opportunity in the major leagues anyway. Dotel was working out of the rotation at Triple-A but will shift to the bullpen to provide some depth for the Pirates after Saturday's 13-inning loss to the Rays. |
|
Marcell Ozuna Marcell Ozuna Homers again Saturday
Sat, Apr 18, 2026, 10:09 PM
Ozuna went 2-for-6 with a two-run home run in Saturday's 8-7 extra-innings loss to the Rays.
Analysis: After batting an abysmal .051 through the Pirates' first 14 games, Ozuna now has hit safely in six straight appearances and has two homers over the last three contests after producing just one extra-base hit prior to Thursday. The 35-year-old might be finding his swing and has boosted his slash line to .185/.254/.292 with two homers, seven RBI, six runs scored and a 6:16 BB:K across 71 plate appearances. |
|
Ryan O'Hearn Ryan O'Hearn Smacks two-run homer Saturday
Sat, Apr 18, 2026, 10:05 PM
O'Hearn went 2-for-3 with a two-run home run, walk and two runs scored in Saturday's 8-7 extra-innings loss to the Rays.
Analysis: After Bryan Reynolds walked ahead of him, O'Hearn got the scoring started with a two-run homer off Drew Rasmussen in the bottom of the first inning, snapping an 11-game homer-less drought for O'Hearn. He later walked and scored on Marcell Ozuna's two-run shot in the fourth. O'Hearn is now slashing .329/.417/.543 with four long balls, 15 RBI, 11 runs scored, one stolen base and an 11:14 BB:K across 84 plate appearances. |
|
Paul Skenes Paul Skenes Start shortened by rain Saturday
Sat, Apr 18, 2026, 9:58 PM
Skenes didn't factor into the decision Saturday against the Rays, allowing three hits and no walks with five strikeouts across four shutout innings.
Analysis: Skenes had a 4-0 lead through four innings and threw just 64 pitches before rain delayed the game two hours and 27 minutes. Pittsburgh's ace obviously didn't come back out to pitch following the lengthy delay. Skenes has yet to throw 90 pitches in any of his five starts to open the 2026 season but now owns a 3-1 record, 3.27 ERA and 23:7 K:BB across 22 innings. Skenes should be well rested ahead of his next start Friday against the Brewers in Milwaukee. |
|
Nick Gonzales Nick Gonzales Riding pine Saturday
Sat, Apr 18, 2026, 1:38 PM
Gonzales isn't in the lineup for Saturday's game against the Rays.
Analysis: Gonzales will take a seat Saturday after going 3-for-16 with three RBI during his stretch of four consecutive starts. His absence will allow Nick Yorke to bat sixth while starting at third base. |
|
Joey Bart Joey Bart Idle Saturday
Sat, Apr 18, 2026, 1:34 PM
Bart isn't in the lineup for Saturday's game against the Rays.
Analysis: Bart will take a seat for the third time in four games after having made five starts in the span of eight contests. He and Henry Davis will likely continue to split starts at catcher throughout the season, but things appear to be trending back in Davis' favor. |
|
Spencer Horwitz Spencer Horwitz Multi-hit showing
Sat, Apr 18, 2026, 8:28 AM
Horwitz went 3-for-3 with a double, an RBI and a walk Friday against the Rays.
Analysis: Horwitz opened up the scoring with an RBI double in the second inning and proceeded to get on base three additional times. He has started every game against right-handed pitchers this season, and he's gone 9-for-26 with one home run, two RBI and five runs scored across his last 10 games. |
|
Konnor Griffin Konnor Griffin Heating up
Sat, Apr 18, 2026, 8:22 AM
Griffin went 1-for-3 with a walk, two runs scored and a stolen base Friday against the Rays.
Analysis: Griffin singled in the second inning for a potential RBI, but Spencer Horwitz was thrown out at home. Griffin continued to make an impact on the game in the sixth and eighth innings, stealing a base in the former while walking and scoring a run in the latter. After a slow start to his rookie season, Griffin now has at least one hit in each of his last four starts, going 6-for-16 with two extra-base hits, two RBI and four runs scored. |
|
Brandon Lowe Brandon Lowe Doubles twice against Tampa Bay
Fri, Apr 17, 2026, 8:50 PM
Lowe went 3-for-5 with two doubles and two RBI during the Pirates' 5-1 win over the Rays on Friday.
Analysis: Lowe gave the Pirates insurance runs in the eighth after his double to center field brought home both Billy Cook and Konnor Griffin. It was the seventh multi-hit game of the season for Lowe, four of which have come over his last six games. In that six-game span, he has gone 11-for-25 (.440) with four home runs and 14 RBI. |
|
Oneil Cruz Oneil Cruz Belts two-run homer
Fri, Apr 17, 2026, 8:45 PM
Cruz went 1-for-4 with a walk and a two-run home run during the Pirates' 5-1 win over the Rays on Friday.
Analysis: Cruz put the Pirates up for good in the sixth inning after taking Griffin Jax deep to right-center field for a two-run long ball. It was Cruz's sixth home run of the season and fourth in 15 games since April 1. He's off to a terrific start to 2026, slashing .313/.382/.588 with nine steals (on 10 attempts), six home runs and 19 RBI across 89 plate appearances. |
|
Bubba Chandler Bubba Chandler First win of 2026
Fri, Apr 17, 2026, 8:40 PM
Chandler (1-1) earned the win against the Rays on Friday, allowing one run on three hits and one walk while striking out three across six innings.
Analysis: Chandler punched out only three batters while generating eight whiffs, but he was incredibly efficient with his pitches, tossing 62 strikes on 90 pitches (68.9 percent). He retired 15 of the first 16 batters he faced, and he limited the damage in the sixth inning to one run after allowing three baserunners on. Not only was it Chandler's first win of the season, it was also his first quality start and the first time he completed six frames. He has yielded three earned runs or less in each of his first four outings of the season and has a 3.15 ERA, 1.30 WHIP and 17:13 K:BB across 20 innings. Chandler is lined up to face the Rangers on the road next week. |
|
Jose Urquidy Jose Urquidy Optioned to Triple-A
Fri, Apr 17, 2026, 1:07 PM
The Pirates optioned Urquidy to Triple-A Indianapolis on Friday.
Analysis: Urquidy has been knocked around in a middle relief role, allowing 10 runs (six earned) on 15 hits with a 6:2 K:BB across 6.1 innings. He could get stretched back out at Indianapolis as rotation depth. Cam Sanders will take Urquidy's spot in the Pirates' bullpen. |
|
Yohan Ramirez Yohan Ramirez Rocky appearance in loss
Fri, Apr 17, 2026, 10:37 AM
Ramirez allowed one run on one hit and one walk while striking out two in the seventh inning of Thursday's 8-7 extra-inning loss to Washington.
Analysis: Ramirez was charged with a blown save, allowing the go-ahead run at the time due to a wild pitch to give the Nationals a 7-6 lead. The 30-year-old has appeared in nine games for Pittsburgh, recording a 2.13 ERA in 12.2 innings. The right-hander has posted at least two strikeouts in seven of his nine relief outings, working more than one inning five times and picking up two wins and a hold. |
Connect With Us:
