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Joshua Palacios Joshua Palacios Nabs minors deal from Pirates
Tue, Jul 7, 2026, 4:42 PM
Palacios signed a minor-league contract with the Pirates on Tuesday, Alex Stumpf of MLB.com reports.
Analysis: Palacios played in Pittsburgh during the 2023 and '24 campaigns, and he'll now get another shot at returning to the big leagues after slashing .339/.434/.621 across 145 plate appearances with the Staten Island FerryHawks of the Atlantic League. He'll report to Triple-A Indianapolis. |
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Jack Brannigan Jack Brannigan Summoned from minors
Tue, Jul 7, 2026, 3:30 PM
The Pirates recalled Brannigan from Triple-A Indianapolis on Tuesday.
Analysis: Brannigan was called up for one day earlier this season but did not appear in a game. The 25-year-old is taking the roster spot of the injured Konnor Griffin (finger) and could see some starts at shortstop while Griffin is out, but the majority of those reps are likely to go to Jared Triolo. |
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Endy Rodriguez Endy Rodriguez Remaining on bench Tuesday
Tue, Jul 7, 2026, 3:29 PM
Rodriguez (hip) is out of the lineup for Tuesday's game versus Atlanta.
Analysis: The 26-year-old departed Sunday's win against the Nationals due to the hip issue and will miss at least one start. Henry Davis is working behind the plate Tuesday while Rodriguez recovers. |
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Spencer Horwitz Spencer Horwitz Begins running progression
Tue, Jul 7, 2026, 3:01 PM
Horwitz (hamstring) has begun a running program at the Pirates' spring training complex in Florida, Alex Stumpf of MLB.com reports.
Analysis: Horwitz strained his left hamstring two weeks ago but has been cleared to kick off his running progression. If the first baseman is able to advance his rehab without any hiccups, he could begin a rehab assignment shortly after the All-Star break and return before the end of July. |
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Oneil Cruz Oneil Cruz Resumes swinging bat
Tue, Jul 7, 2026, 2:53 PM
Cruz (hand) has resumed swinging a bat, Alex Stumpf of MLB.com reports.
Analysis: Cruz continues to ramp up his baseball activities as he works his way back from a fractured left hand. He still has more boxes to check, but Cruz is tracking toward a rehab assignment shortly after the All-Star break and a return before the end of July if he continues at his current trajectory. |
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Konnor Griffin Konnor Griffin Out 8-to-10 weeks with finger issue
Tue, Jul 7, 2026, 2:20 PM
The Pirates placed Griffin (finger) on the 10-day injured list Tuesday with a torn tendon in his left ring finger, Colin Beazley of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.
Analysis: Per director of sports medicine Todd Tomczyk, Griffin will wear a splint for six weeks and is expected to be sidelined for 8-to-10 weeks. That puts the rookie on the shelf until early September, at minimum, which is a massive blow to the Pirates and Griffin's fantasy managers. Jared Triolo will likely handle the bulk of the playing time at shortstop for the Pirates while Griffin is out. |
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Konnor Griffin Konnor Griffin Dealing with torn finger tendon
Tue, Jul 7, 2026, 11:28 AM
Griffin has been diagnosed with a torn tendon in his left ring finger and could be sidelined for at least a month, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports.
Analysis: Griffin injured the finger while making a diving catch during Sunday's game against the Nationals. He remained in the contest to take two more plate appearances, striking out in one and delivering a two-run single in the other. Passan notes Griffin could opt to play through the injury, but the most likely option is to rehab it, which would shelve the shortstop for at least a month. If an absence is required, Griffin could spend about six weeks in a splint and be out until September, per Jonathan Mayo of MLB.com. The Pirates should have more information on Griffin's status prior to Tuesday's contest against Atlanta. |
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Endy Rodriguez Endy Rodriguez Nursing hip injury
Mon, Jul 6, 2026, 3:21 PM
Pirates manager Don Kelly said that Rodriguez was removed from Sunday's 11-5 win over the Nationals due to a left hip injury, Dominic Campbell of SI.com reports.
Analysis: Rodriguez singled in the top of the eighth inning before being lifted for a pinch runner. He missed a bit of time in mid-June with left hip discomfort, so Rodriguez could be dealing with an aggravation of that injury. The Pirates are idle Monday but could offer more clarity on Rodriguez's status before Tuesday's series opener against Atlanta. If Rodriguez needs to miss additional time, Henry Davis would be due for an uptick in playing time behind the plate. |
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Wilber Dotel Wilber Dotel Another rehab outing awaits
Mon, Jul 6, 2026, 8:28 AM
Pirates general manager Ben Cherington said Sunday that Dotel (lat) will make another rehab appearance with a minor-league affiliate Tuesday, Colin Beazley of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.
Analysis: Dotel tossed a scoreless frame for Double-A Altoona during the first appearance of his rehab assignment June 27, but he hasn't pitched since. The right-hander doesn't appear to have suffered a setback in his recovery from a lat strain, as the Pirates opted to have him throw a 20-pitch live batting practice session Friday, per MLB.com. Dotel will now head back to the minors Tuesday for what could be a final tune-up outing before he returns from the 15-day injured list. |
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Spencer Horwitz Spencer Horwitz On track to return by end of July
Mon, Jul 6, 2026, 8:24 AM
Pirates general manager Ben Cherington said Sunday that Horwitz (hamstring) is progressing well and will hopefully return from the 10-day injured list at some point shortly after the All-Star break, Colin Beazley of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.
Analysis: Horwitz landed on the IL on June 25 after suffering a left hamstring strain but already seems to be making positive strides in his recovery process, as he recently reported to the Pirates' facility in Florida to begin his rehab program. Cherington suggested that Horwitz is unlikely to be activated when the Pirates open their second-half schedule July 17 in Cleveland, but the 28-year-old first baseman may be ready to begin a minor-league rehab assignment around that time. If that's the case, Horwitz could be on track to return from the IL before the end of July. |
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Oneil Cruz Oneil Cruz Still trending toward July return
Mon, Jul 6, 2026, 8:19 AM
Pirates general manager Ben Cherington said Sunday that Cruz (hand) is progressing well and will hopefully return from the 10-day injured list at some point shortly after the All-Star break, Colin Beazley of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.
Analysis: After shedding the cast on his fractured left hand, Cruz reported to the Pirates' facility in Florida last week to resume baseball activities. He looks poised to remain in Florida through at least the upcoming week to continue the ramp-up process, and if all goes well, Cruz could be ready for a rehab assignment once minor-league games resume following the All-Star break. The Pirates remain optimistic that Cruz will be ready to come off the IL before the end of July. |
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Bryan Reynolds Bryan Reynolds Homers in win
Sun, Jul 5, 2026, 3:59 PM
Reynolds went 1-for-5 with a solo home run in Sunday's 11-5 win over the Nationals.
Analysis: Reynolds extended Pittsburgh's lead to 4-0 in the third inning with a 399-foot shot off Cade Cavalli, his 13th homer this season and his seventh in his last 25 games -- he's gone 33-for-101 (.327) in that span. It's been a strong season at the plate overall for Reynolds, who's now slashing .282/.393/.474 with 56 RBI, 62 runs scored and six stolen bases across 397 plate appearances. |
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Bubba Chandler Bubba Chandler Goes four innings vs. Nats
Sun, Jul 5, 2026, 3:42 PM
Chandler did not factor into the decision in an 11-5 win over the Nationals on Sunday, allowing four runs on six hits and four walks without recording a strikeout over four innings.
Analysis: Chandler needed 86 pitches, just 47 of which were strikes, to get through four innings. The 23-year-old right-hander has now given up nine runs over 10.1 innings in his last two starts after posting a 2.82 ERA across 22.1 frames in his prior four outings. Overall, Chandler is 3-8 with a 4.82 ERA, 1.44 WHIP and 79:52 K:BB across 89.2 innings this season. He'll look to get back on track his next time out, currently scheduled to come at home next weekend against the Brewers. |
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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 moving up to 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 over 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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