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Promoted to Triple-A
Sun, Jun 7, 2026, 5:56 PM
Curtis was promoted to Triple-A Indianapolis on Sunday, Anthony Murphy of DKPittsburghSports.com reports.
Analysis: Curtis will make the leap to the Triple-A level after posting a 4.73 ERA and 1.28 WHIP with 67 strikeouts over 53.1 innings in 12 starts with Double-A Altoona this season. The right-hander is considered to be one of the Pirates' top overall prospects, and he is now just one step away from making his major-league debut. |
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Bubba Chandler Bubba Chandler Falls to Atlanta
Sun, Jun 7, 2026, 3:57 PM
Chandler (2-7) took the loss Sunday against Atlanta, allowing three runs (two earned) on one hit and two walks over 5.1 innings. He struck out seven.
Analysis: Working behind an opener for the first time this season, Chandler looked dominant early, blanking Atlanta through his first five frames. However, he'd ultimately take the loss after issuing back-to-back one-out walks in the seventh, both of whom would come around to score after the Pirates turned to the bullpen. Despite the disappointing finish, it's an encouraging effort from Chandler, who'd given up eight runs over 10 innings in his previous two starts. Overall, the right-hander sports a 4.91 ERA with a 1.44 WHIP and 62:40 K:BB across 62.1 innings this season. |
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Konnor Griffin Konnor Griffin Looking at extended absence
Sun, Jun 7, 2026, 2:55 PM
Pirates general manager Ben Cherington relayed Sunday that Griffin is looking at a "more relaxed timeline" in his recovery from a flexor strain in his right elbow, Jason Mackey of MLB.com reports.
Analysis: Cherington didn't offer an exact timeline for Griffin, but the former noted that the 20-year-old shortstop is looking at a longer stint on the 10-day injured list after more exams by team doctors. Griffin has yet to start throwing but has been taking ground balls, and the Pirates should have a better sense of Griffin's recovery timeline once he's cleared to play catch. |
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Chris Devenski Chris Devenski Moved to 60-day IL
Sun, Jun 7, 2026, 11:50 AM
Devenski (illness) was transferred from the 15-day IL to the 60-day IL on Sunday.
Analysis: Devenski landed on the injured list May 7 due to an unspecified illness. He resumed baseball activities in late May and was subsequently said to be nearing mound work, but it appears he needs substantially more time before returning to game action. Devenski is not eligible to be activated until early July, and his 40-man roster spot was taken Sunday by infielder Davis Wendzel. |
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Oneil Cruz Oneil Cruz Not starting Sunday
Sun, Jun 7, 2026, 11:40 AM
Cruz isn't in Pittsburgh's starting lineup for Sunday's matchup against Atlanta.
Analysis: Cruz has started June in fine form, posting a .591 OBP with a homer, two stolen bases and seven walks through five games, but he'll get a breather Sunday. Jake Mangum is starting in center field for the Pirates. |
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Brandon Lowe Brandon Lowe Out of lineup after scare Saturday
Sun, Jun 7, 2026, 11:37 AM
Lowe (knee) isn't starting for the Pirates against Atlanta on Sunday.
Analysis: Lowe fouled a ball off his right knee in the ninth inning Saturday and had to exit the game. He expressed worry about the incident after the game because he fractured his kneecap on a similar at-bat in September of 2023, per Jason Mackey of MLB.com, but a CT scan Saturday revealed that Lowe avoided a serious injury. Still, Lowe is set to miss at least one contest, and he'll have Monday's team off day to get more rest. Nick Gonzales is starting at second base for the Pirates on Sunday, and Marcell Ozuna is the team's DH. |
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Davis Wendzel Davis Wendzel Gets chance with Pirates
Sun, Jun 7, 2026, 11:26 AM
Pittsburgh selected Wendzel's contract from Triple-A Indianapolis on Sunday.
Analysis: Wendzel is a 29-year-old infielder whose lone big-league experience was a 27-game stint with Texas in 2024. He earned his chance with Pittsburgh with a good showing at Indianapolis, slashing .246/.360/.491 with nine homers, 34 RBI and two stolen bases over 211 plate appearances. Wendzel can play all over the infield and will likely fill a utility role while with the major-league team. |
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Jhostynxon Garcia Jhostynxon Garcia Sent down to minors
Sun, Jun 7, 2026, 11:19 AM
The Pirates optioned Garcia to Triple-A Indianapolis on Sunday.
Analysis: Garcia struggled after getting called up May 19, posting a paltry .472 OPS with no homers or stolen bases and just two RBI while striking out at a 27.0 percent rate over 37 plate appearances. He started just twice over the past seven games and will now head back to the minors to get more regular work. Infielder Davis Wendzel was selected from Indianapolis to take Garcia's spot on the 26-man roster. |
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Bubba Chandler Bubba Chandler Working behind opener Sunday
Sun, Jun 7, 2026, 9:44 AM
Chandler is slated to work behind opener Mason Montgomery versus Atlanta on Sunday, Jason Mackey of MLB.com reports.
Analysis: Chandler functioned as the starter in each of his first 12 outings this year, but the Pirates will see how he fares behind an opener. The 21-year-old hasn't tossed more than five innings since April 17 versus Tampa Bay, so coming in after Montgomery could help him turn the ball over to the bullpen a little deeper into the game. Of course, it will also prevent Chandler from being eligible for a quality start, but he's delivered only one such outing this season. |
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Mason Montgomery Mason Montgomery Working as opener Sunday
Sun, Jun 7, 2026, 9:38 AM
Montgomery is starting Sunday's matchup versus Atlanta, likely as an opener ahead of Bubba Chandler, Jason Mackey of MLB.com reports.
Analysis: This will be the fourth time this season that Montgomery has been deployed as an opener. He's been effective in that role, tossing a scoreless inning in each of his first three starts. From a fantasy perspective, however, it means that Montgomery won't be eligible to notch a win, hold or save. |
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Braxton Ashcraft Braxton Ashcraft Stumbles in third loss
Sat, Jun 6, 2026, 10:05 PM
Ashcraft (5-3) took the loss Saturday against Atlanta, allowing six runs on nine hits and no walks in five innings. He struck out five.
Analysis: Ashcraft fired 61 of his 86 pitches for strikes Saturday, but he might've been too aggressive in pounding the zone. The 26-year-old right-hander was knocked around for a season-worst nine hits and tied a season high in runs allowed, though he was still able to pitch at least five innings for the 12th time in 13 starts this year. Ashcraft will bring a strong 3.28 ERA, 1.08 WHIP and 86:17 K:BB over 79.2 frames into his next scheduled outing at home against the Marlins. |
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Jake Mangum Jake Mangum Out of lineup Saturday
Sat, Jun 6, 2026, 11:43 AM
Mangum is not in the Pirates' starting lineup against Atlanta on Saturday.
Analysis: Mangum will be on the bench for the start of Saturday's game while Bryan Reynolds, Oneil Cruz and Ryan O'Hearn start in the outfield from left to right. Mangum has gone 10-for-27 (.370) with five steals, one home run and four RBI over his last 10 games. |
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Mitch Keller Mitch Keller Gives up six runs Friday
Sat, Jun 6, 2026, 7:37 AM
Keller (5-3) was tagged with the loss Friday against Atlanta, allowing six runs on seven hits and three walks across 4.2 innings. He struck out four and also hit a batter.
Analysis: Keller enjoyed an excellent start to the season, and while some regression was expected, he's been hit hard of late. He's given up four or more runs in four of his last five appearances, a stretch in which he's gone 1-2 while posting an 8.31 ERA and 1.58 WHIP with a 20:9 K:BB across 26 innings. Keller has now fallen short of five innings in his last two appearances. Keller won't have an easier outing next time around since he's scheduled to face the Dodgers at home next week. |
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Ryan O'Hearn Ryan O'Hearn Not in Pirates' lineup
Fri, Jun 5, 2026, 3:53 PM
O'Hearn is absent from the lineup for Friday's contest in Atlanta.
Analysis: The left-handed-swinging O'Hearn has homered twice and reached base six times in four games since coming off the injured list, but he will get a breather Friday versus Atlanta southpaw Martin Perez. Marcell Ozuna will be the Pirates' designated hitter, Jhostynxon Garcia will patrol right field and Spencer Horwitz will handle first base. |
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Brandon Lowe Brandon Lowe Scores twice in win
Fri, Jun 5, 2026, 8:18 AM
Lowe went 2-for-5 with two doubles and two runs scored Thursday against the Astros.
Analysis: Lowe ignited a Pirates rally with each of his doubles, coming around to score both times. It was his first multi-hit game in his last seven starts, though he's still been plenty productive of late. Across his last 10 games, Lowe has two homers, eight RBI and 10 runs scored. He's maintained a .873 OPS across 57 games this season, his highest mark since 2020. |
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Endy Rodriguez Endy Rodriguez Smashes first homer Tuesday
Wed, Jun 3, 2026, 2:02 AM
Rodriguez went 2-for-4 with a home run, a double, a walk, three RBI, an additional run scored and a stolen base in Tuesday's 10-6 win over the Astros.
Analysis: Rodriguez gave Pittsburgh an early spark in the second inning by launching a two-run homer off Mike Burrows for his first long ball of the season. He later added an RBI double in the ninth inning and also stole his second base of the year during the sixth. Since being recalled May 12, Rodriguez has started to find a rhythm at the plate, batting 9-for-30 (.300) with two doubles, five RBI and seven runs scored. |
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Carmen Mlodzinski Carmen Mlodzinski Activated from restricted list
Mon, Jun 1, 2026, 8:19 PM
The Pirates activated Mlodzinski from the restricted list Monday, Jason Mackey of MLB.com reports.
Analysis: Mlodzinski's stay on the restricted list lasted 24 hours after he expressed frustration following his removal from the Pirates' rotation with the activation of Jared Jones from the injured list this past weekend. Mlodzinski is now putting his feelings aside and said Monday that he's willing to do whatever he can to help the team, as he's now going to come out of the Pittsburgh bullpen. The right-hander's stuff (92 Stuff+) has graded well below average this season as a starter. He's also given up a ton of hard contact with a second-percentile hard-hit rate of 50.9 percent. Mlodzinski was more effective as a reliever and spot starter prior to 2026. |
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Nick Gonzales Nick Gonzales Blasts first homer
Sun, May 31, 2026, 11:21 PM
Gonzales went 1-for-3 with a two-run home run, a walk and two runs scored Sunday against the Twins.
Analysis: Gonzales has hit for a relatively empty .303 batting average across 216 plate appearances this season, though he managed to end his home run drought with a two-run homer in the third inning. He still has only a .061 ISO on the campaign, though he has hit either fourth or fifth in Pittsburgh's order in seven of his last eight starts. Gonzales' playing time should also be solidified in the short term with Konnor Griffin (elbow) sidelined. |
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Ryan O'Hearn Ryan O'Hearn Homers in return
Sun, May 31, 2026, 11:11 PM
O'Hearn went 2-for-4 with a solo home run Sunday against the Twins.
Analysis: O'Hearn was activated from the injured list Sunday after missing almost exactly two weeks with an oblique injury. He homered in his first plate appearance, tallying his eighth long ball of the season. O'Hearn batted cleanup in his return and should continue to occupy a key spot in the Pirates' lineup. |
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Chris Devenski Chris Devenski Close to mound work
Sun, May 31, 2026, 8:27 PM
Devenski (illness) is expected to resume throwing bullpen sessions during the upcoming week, MLB.com reports.
Analysis: Devenski was cleared to resume all baseball activities May 13, but he appears to have been limited to throwing off flat ground since that date. While the right-hander looks poised to take the next step in throwing program by getting back on a mound, he's still likely at least a couple weeks away from being ready for action with the Pirates. Before landing on the injured list May 7 due to an undisclosed illness, Devenski surrendered two earned runs on five hits over 2.1 innings in three appearances out of the Pittsburgh bullpen. |
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