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Davis Wendzel Davis Wendzel Booted from 40-man roster
Sun, Jul 5, 2026, 12:29 PM
The Pirates designated Wendzel for assignment Sunday, Alex Stumpf of MLB.com reports.
Analysis: He'll give up his spot on the 40-man roster to right-hander Noah Murdock, who exercised an upward-mobility clause in his minor-league contract. Wendzel, 29, appeared in two games for the Pirates back in June but has otherwise spent the entire campaign at Triple-A Indianapolis, with whom he's produced a .230/.349/.461 slash line and 10 home runs across 261 plate appearances. |
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Noah Murdock Noah Murdock Joins 40-man roster
Sun, Jul 5, 2026, 12:26 PM
The Pirates selected Murdock's contract and optioned him to Triple-A Indianapolis on Sunday, Alex Stumpf of MLB.com reports.
Analysis: Murdock will be added to the 40-man roster after he exercised an upward-mobility clause in his minor-league contract that would have allowed him to test free agency had the Pirates not cleared a spot for him. The 27-year-old pitched at Single-A Bradenton and Double-A Altoona to begin the season before settling at Triple-A in early June. Over the past month, Murdock has submitted a 4.26 ERA, 1.26 WHIP and 21:4 K:BB in 12.2 innings out of the Indianapolis bullpen. |
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Brandon Lowe Brandon Lowe Knocks in two
Sun, Jul 5, 2026, 9:19 AM
Lowe went 1-for-5 with two RBI on Saturday against the Nationals.
Analysis: Lowe made his lone hit of the day count, knocking in two in the second frame with a single. He's hit only .220 while striking out at a 29.0 percent clip in the last month, though he's still managed to record 20 RBI, 15 runs scored and five home runs across 27 games in that span. |
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Konnor Griffin Konnor Griffin Swipes home in Saturday's win
Sat, Jul 4, 2026, 6:16 PM
Griffin went 1-for-5 with a run scored and two stolen bases in Saturday's 7-1 win over the Nationals.
Analysis: The rookie shortstop got the Pirates on the board in the top of the first inning by singling, stealing second, advancing to third on a Bryan Reynolds knock and then scampering home as part of a successful double steal. Griffin's been very busy on the basepaths of late, going 5-for-5 on steal attempts over his last five games. On the season, the 20-year-old phenom sports a .271/.326/.403 slash line with five homers, 19 stolen bases, 23 RBI and 34 runs in his first 58 big-league games. |
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Braxton Ashcraft Braxton Ashcraft Dominant in ninth win
Sat, Jul 4, 2026, 6:11 PM
Ashcraft (9-3) picked up the win Saturday, allowing one run on six hits and two walks over 5.2 innings in a 7-1 victory over the Nationals. He struck out seven.
Analysis: James Wood led off the bottom of the first inning with a solo shot on Ashcraft's first pitch, but the right-hander shut the door from there and came one out short of his 11th quality start of the season. It was an impressive bounce-back performance after he'd been tagged for three homers and five runs in his previous outing, but despite that damage to his ratios Ashcraft has won four straight starts. He'll take a 3.24 ERA, 1.10 WHIP and 122:25 K:BB through 108.1 innings into his next trip to the mound, which lines up to come at home next weekend against the Brewers. |
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Hunter Stratton Hunter Stratton Summoned to majors
Sat, Jul 4, 2026, 8:24 AM
Stratton was recalled from Triple-A Indianapolis on Saturday, Colin Beazley of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.
Analysis: Stratton has struck out seven over 5.1 scoreless innings at Triple-A since the Pirates acquired him from Atlanta on June 18. Evan Sisk (elbow inflammation) was placed on the injured list in a corresponding move. |
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Evan Sisk Evan Sisk To IL with elbow issue
Sat, Jul 4, 2026, 8:21 AM
Sisk was placed on the 15-day injured list Saturday with left elbow inflammation, Colin Beazley of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.
Analysis: The 29-year-old southpaw has a 2.23 ERA, 1.18 WHIP and 43 strikeouts in 36.1 innings out of the Pirates' bullpen this year. Hunter Stratton was recalled from Triple-A to take Sisk's place in the bullpen. |
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Endy Rodriguez Endy Rodriguez Not in Saturday's lineup
Sat, Jul 4, 2026, 8:10 AM
Rodriguez is out of the lineup Saturday against the Nationals.
Analysis: Rodriguez is hitting .273 with two home runs and a 10:5 K:BB in his last 10 games. Henry Davis will start behind the dish and bat ninth. |
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Jake Mangum Jake Mangum Swipes two bags in loss
Sat, Jul 4, 2026, 6:28 AM
Mangum went 2-for-5 with two stolen bases in Friday's 9-5 loss to the Nationals.
Analysis: The 30-year-old continues to produce as the Pirates' regular center fielder while Oneil Cruz (hand) is on the IL. Mangum has delivered multiple hits in three straight games, and over 21 contests since Cruz went down he's slashing .358/.388/.432 with six doubles, five steals, five RBI and 10 runs. Cruz isn't expected back until the latter part of July after the All-Star break, so Mangum has at least another week-plus to play regularly. |
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Esmerlyn Valdez Esmerlyn Valdez Stays hot in Friday's loss
Sat, Jul 4, 2026, 6:22 AM
Valdez went 3-for-5 with a double, a run scored and an RBI in Friday's 9-5 loss to the Nationals.
Analysis: The rookie outfielder extended his hitting streak to eight games with the performance, a stretch in which Valdez is batting a blistering .552 (16-for-29) with eight extra-base hits (three doubles, a triple and four homers), nine runs and 10 RBI. His current playing time in right field is coming while Oneil Cruz (hand) and Spencer Horwitz (hamstring) are on the shelf, but it's going to be hard for manager Derek Shelton to sit Valdez down if he's still raking when the Pirates' roster gets healthier. |
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Mitch Keller Mitch Keller Hammered by Nats
Sat, Jul 4, 2026, 6:18 AM
Keller (6-6) took the loss Friday, giving up five runs on eight hits -- including three home runs -- over six innings as the Pirates were downed 9-5 by the Nationals. He struck out one without walking a batter.
Analysis: Washington launched five homers in total off Pittsburgh pitching, with Keller taking the brunt of the damage. It's the first time since last August the veteran right-hander has served up three long balls in a game, and that outing came at Coors Field. Over six starts since the beginning of June, Keller has stumbled to a 6.47 ERA, 1.59 WHIP and 23:13 K:BB over 32 innings while getting taken deep eight times, after he allowed just four homers in his first 12 starts of 2026. He'll try to get back on track in his next trip to the mound, which is scheduled to come at home next week against Atlanta. |
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Nick Gonzales Nick Gonzales Three more hits, homer in win
Thu, Jul 2, 2026, 3:08 PM
Gonzales went 3-for-5 with a solo home run and an additional RBI in Thursday's 6-1 win over the Phillies.
Analysis: Gonzales extended Pittsburgh's lead to 3-1 with a two-out, RBI single in the seventh inning before capping the scoring in the ninth with a home run off Kyle Backhus, his fourth homer this season. It's the second straight three-hit game for Gonzales, who's gone 19-for-51 (.372) in his last 14 contests. Overall, he's slashing .305/.360/.387 with 38 RBI, 46 runs scored and four stolen bases across 333 plate appearances this season. |
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Jared Jones Jared Jones Goes four innings vs. Phillies
Thu, Jul 2, 2026, 3:04 PM
Jones did not factor into the decision Thursday against the Phillies, allowing a run on two hits and two walks over four innings. He struck out six.
Analysis: Jones threw 73 pitches as he continues to build up his workload after missing the majority of the 2025 campaign following UCL surgery. It was an encouraging outing overall for Jones, who had given up 12 runs (11 earned) across 15.2 innings in his previous four starts. The 24-year-old right-hander will carry a 5.28 ERA, 1.38 WHIP and 31:11 K:BB into his next start, currently scheduled to come next week at home against Atlanta. |
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Tyler Callihan Tyler Callihan Moving to bench Thursday
Thu, Jul 2, 2026, 10:01 AM
Callihan is out of the lineup for Thursday's game against the Phillies.
Analysis: Callihan will head to the bench for the second time in the series while the Pirates make room in the lineup for Marcell Ozuna, who will serve as the club's designated hitter and No. 7 batter. After getting his time with Pittsburgh off to an excellent start upon being called up from Triple-A Indianapolis in late May, Callihan has cooled down considerably. Over his last 12 games, Callihan is slashing .143/.194/.321 with a 45.2 percent strikeout rate. |
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Konnor Griffin Konnor Griffin Taking seat Thursday
Thu, Jul 2, 2026, 9:29 AM
Griffin is not in the lineup for Thursday's game in Philadelphia.
Analysis: Griffin will get a breather for Thursday's matinee after starting each of the previous four contests. Jared Triolo is grabbing a start at shortstop and will bat ninth in the series finale. |
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Paul Skenes Paul Skenes Rough night vs. Phillies
Wed, Jul 1, 2026, 9:42 PM
Skenes (6-8) took the loss Wednesday against the Phillies, allowing eight runs (seven earned) on six hits and two walks over four innings. He struck out five.
Analysis: Five of the runs charged to Skenes came in the second inning, capped by Trea Turner's three-run homer. The 24-year-old Skenes has now gone nine straight starts without a win, posting a 5.36 ERA across 47 innings in what's been the first extended slump of his MLB career. Overall, Skenes sports a 3.62 ERA with a 1.01 WHIP and 119:22 K:BB across 18 starts (97 innings) this season. He'll look to turn things around his next time out, tentatively scheduled to come against Atlanta at home. |
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Brandan Bidois Brandan Bidois Optioned to Indianapolis
Wed, Jul 1, 2026, 5:01 PM
The Pirates optioned Bidois to Triple-A Indianapolis on Wednesday.
Analysis: After making just three outings for Pittsburgh since being called up on June 13, Bidois will head back to Indianapolis. The 25-year-old most recently appeared on Monday, allowing three earned runs on four hits and a walk, while striking out two in just two-thirds of an inning against Philadelphia. The Pirates will replace Bidois with Cam Sanders on the 26-man roster. |
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Cam Sanders Cam Sanders Recalled from Indy
Wed, Jul 1, 2026, 4:59 PM
The Pirates recalled Sanders from Triple-A Indianapolis on Wednesday.
Analysis: Sanders has given up just two earned runs while striking out 19 batters in 10 innings since being sent down to Triple-A at the end of May. He'll now return to the majors to give the Pirates' bullpen a fresh arm, though he'll likely be limited to low-leverage situations after surrendering six runs in six innings with Pittsburgh. Brandan Bidois was optioned to Indianapolis in a corresponding move. |
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Endy Rodriguez Endy Rodriguez Absent from lineup
Wed, Jul 1, 2026, 3:11 PM
Rodriguez is not in the lineup for Wednesday's contest versus the Phillies.
Analysis: Rodriguez started the first two games of the series (one at catcher, one at first base) but will get a breather in Thursday's tilt. Henry Davis will be behind the dish and bat ninth for the Pirates. |
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Bubba Chandler Bubba Chandler Fans six in Tuesday's loss
Wed, Jul 1, 2026, 6:56 AM
Chandler (3-8) took the loss Tuesday, giving up five runs on seven hits and two walks over 6.1 innings as the Pirates were blanked 8-0 by the Phillies. He struck out six.
Analysis: The right-hander kept things close until running out of gas in the seventh inning after 97 pitches (65 strikes), but Chandler had no margin for error with Cristopher Sanchez locked in for Philly. It's the first time since June 2 that Chandler has been tagged for more than two earned runs, and over six starts on the month he posted a 4.28 ERA, 1.19 WHIP and 27:12 K:BB in 33.2 innings. He'll look to bounce back in his next outing, which is set to come on the road this weekend against the Nationals. |
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