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Gregory Soto Gregory Soto Nails down 10th save
Sat, Jun 13, 2026, 9:37 PM
Soto secured the save Saturday against the Marlins, allowing no runs on one hit and no walks in the ninth inning. He struck out one.
Analysis: After giving up five runs over his previous two outings, Soto bounced back nicely Saturday. Dennis Santana opened the year as Pittsburgh's closer but has since dropped into a setup role, leaving Soto as the Pirates' favorite for saves going forward. Through 30.1 innings, Soto has a strong 3.26 ERA, 0.92 WHIP and 35:12 K:BB while converting 10 of his 13 save chances. |
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Bubba Chandler Bubba Chandler Six Ks in no-decision
Sat, Jun 13, 2026, 8:59 PM
Chandler took a no-decision Saturday against the Marlins, allowing two runs on three hits and one walk in 5.2 innings. He struck out six.
Analysis: Chandler was one out away from qualifying for what could have been just his second quality start of the season, but he still delivered a strong showing overall. The 23-year-old right-hander has pitched at least five innings in five consecutive outings, though he remains without a single appearance with zero walks this year. Chandler will be tough to trust during his next scheduled start in Colorado, where he'll bring a shaky 4.76 ERA, 1.38 WHIP and 68:41 K:BB over 68 frames. |
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Wilber Dotel Wilber Dotel Dealing with lat strain
Sat, Jun 13, 2026, 2:01 PM
The Pirates placed Dotel on the 15-day injured list Saturday with a right lat strain.
Analysis: Dotel gave up four earned runs in just 1.2 innings during his appearance Friday, and his strained lat may have been a factor in his poor performance. He'll now remain out until at least June 28, and the Pirates will bring up Brandan Bidois from Triple-A Indianapolis to fill the void in their bullpen. |
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Brandan Bidois Brandan Bidois Back in majors
Sat, Jun 13, 2026, 1:56 PM
The Pirates recalled Bidois from Triple-A Indianapolis on Saturday.
Analysis: Bidois was sent down to Triple-A on Friday, but he'll turn around and head right back to Pittsburgh following Wilber Dotel's (lat) move to the injured list Saturday. Bidois has turned in a 4.05 ERA and 1.65 WHIP through 13.1 innings with the Pirates this season, but a 7.08 FIP will likely ensure he remains far away from high-leverage opportunities. |
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Antwone Kelly Antwone Kelly Sent back to Triple-A
Sat, Jun 13, 2026, 11:33 AM
The Pirates optioned Kelly to Triple-A Indianapolis on Saturday, Danny Demilio of PittsburghBaseballNow.com reports.
Analysis: Kelly will head back to the minors after giving up two earned runs in 2.1 innings during his MLB debut Friday. The 22-year-old owns a 4.50 ERA and 1.48 WHIP through 54 frames at Indianapolis while working primarily as a starter and could be called upon to make additional appearances for the Pirates later in the season -- likely as a long reliever. Isaac Mattson was recalled from Triple-A to fill the open spot in Pittsburgh's bullpen. |
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Isaac Mattson Isaac Mattson Back with Buccos
Sat, Jun 13, 2026, 11:28 AM
The Pirates recalled Mattson from Triple-A Indianapolis on Saturday, Danny Demilio of PittsburghBaseballNow.com reports.
Analysis: Mattson will rejoin the Pirates' bullpen after posting a 1.86 ERA and 1.45 WHIP with 11 strikeouts in 9.2 innings since being optioned to Triple-A on May 20. Antwone Kelly was optioned to Indianapolis in a corresponding move. |
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Rafael Flores Jr. Rafael Flores Jr. Sent back to Indy
Sat, Jun 13, 2026, 11:23 AM
The Pirates optioned Flores to Triple-A Indianapolis on Saturday, Danny Demilio of PittsburghBaseballNow.com reports.
Analysis: Flores went 2-for-5 and notched his first MLB home run during his brief run with the Pirates, but he'll head back to Triple-A now that Henry Davis has returned from paternity leave. Flores could return to Pittsburgh later in the season if the big club's catcher depth is tested again, though most of his time will likely be spent in the minors. |
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Henry Davis Henry Davis Back from paternity leave
Sat, Jun 13, 2026, 11:19 AM
The Pirates reinstated Davis from the paternity list Saturday, Danny Demilio of PittsburghBaseballNow.com reports.
Analysis: Davis returns to the active roster after spending the past three days away from the team to welcome the birth of his first child. Rafael Flores was optioned to Triple-A Indianapolis in a corresponding move. |
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Brandon Lowe Brandon Lowe Tallies 17th homer
Sat, Jun 13, 2026, 8:56 AM
Lowe went 1-for-4 with a solo home run Friday against the Mariners.
Analysis: Lowe popped a home run in the eighth inning, his 17th of the season and second in as many games. He's had an all-or-nothing approach at the plate across his first 10 games of June, hitting only .189 with a 26.2 percent strikeout rate. However, three of his seven hits in that span have cleared the fence. |
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Endy Rodriguez Endy Rodriguez Flashes power in Friday's loss
Sat, Jun 13, 2026, 8:25 AM
Rodriguez went 2-for-4 with a double, a solo home run and a second run scored in Friday's 8-3 loss to the Marlins.
Analysis: After sitting out Thursday's game due to a minor hip issue, Rodriguez looked plenty healthy in his return as he took Sandy Alcantara deep in the fifth inning. The 26-year-old catcher is slashing .240/.387/.420 in 19 games since joining the big-league roster in mid-May with two homers, two steals, six RBI and nine runs, making a solid case to remain part of the picture behind the plate when Joey Bart (foot) is activated from the IL. |
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Braxton Ashcraft Braxton Ashcraft Settles for no-decision Friday
Sat, Jun 13, 2026, 8:21 AM
Ashcraft didn't factor into the decision in Friday's 8-3 loss to the Marlins, giving up two runs on five hits and two walks over five innings. He struck out four.
Analysis: The right-hander didn't have his best stuff, tossing 56 of 90 pitches for strikes with just nine swinging strikes, but Ashcraft limited the damage and left the mound with the score tied 2-2. He's now failed to last longer than five innings in back-to-back starts to begin June after completing at least six frames in all six of his May outings, and fatigue may be creeping up on Ashcraft -- he's already thrown 84.2 innings in 2026 after working a career-high 118 between Triple-A and the majors last season. He'll take a 3.30 ERA, 1.10 WHIP and 90:19 K:BB into his next start, which is set to come on the road next week against the A's. |
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Endy Rodriguez Endy Rodriguez Back in action Friday
Fri, Jun 12, 2026, 4:58 PM
Rodriguez (hip) is starting behind the plate and batting seventh Friday against the Marlins.
Analysis: The 26-year-old exited Wednesday's game against the Dodgers due to left hip discomfort but is ready to rejoin the lineup for Friday's series opener versus the Marlins. Since going 2-for-4 with a double and a homer June 2, Rodriguez has just one hit in 16 at-bats over his past seven contests. |
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Antwone Kelly Antwone Kelly Up with big club
Fri, Jun 12, 2026, 9:47 AM
The Pirates recalled Kelly from Triple-A Indianapolis on Friday, Colin Beazley of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.
Analysis: Kelly has logged a 4.50 ERA, 1.48 WHIP and 47:24 K:BB across 54 innings with Indianapolis this season. He's been used mostly as a starting pitcher with Indianapolis, but the Pirates will break him in at the major-league level as a reliever. |
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Brandan Bidois Brandan Bidois Optioned to Triple-A
Fri, Jun 12, 2026, 9:44 AM
The Pirates optioned Bidois to Triple-A Indianapolis on Friday, Colin Beazley of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.
Analysis: Bidois has had a rough week, yielding five runs (one earned) on three hits and four walks over two innings in two appearances. His spot in the bullpen will be filled by Antwone Kelly. |
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Rafael Flores Jr. Rafael Flores Jr. Clubs first career homer
Thu, Jun 11, 2026, 11:07 PM
Flores went 2-for-3 with a solo home run, a double, a second RBI and a walk in Thursday's 8-6 loss to the Dodgers.
Analysis: Flores got the start behind the plate as the Pirates deal with a bit of a crisis at catcher. Endy Rodriguez (hip) was banged up from Wednesday's game, while Henry Davis (paternity) and Joey Bart (foot) were both unavailable. This was just the ninth game of Flores' big-league career, and he delivered a homer in the fifth inning to get Pittsburgh on the board. His stay in the majors is likely to be short, but he could get another game or two before heading back to Triple-A Indianapolis. |
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Brandon Lowe Brandon Lowe Homers in loss
Thu, Jun 11, 2026, 11:02 PM
Lowe went 1-for-4 with a two-run home run and a walk in Thursday's 8-6 loss to the Dodgers.
Analysis: Lowe has gone 6-for-33 (.182) over nine games in June, though all six knocks have gone for extra bases (two homers, four doubles). The second baseman helped the Pirates put a dent in a five-run deficit, though they ultimately never caught up. On the year, Lowe is batting .249 with an .858 OPS, 16 homers, 45 RBI, 42 runs scored, 16 doubles and a triple over 63 contests. He has yet to attempt a stolen base, but he's on pace to reach the 30-homer mark for the second year in a row and the third time in his career. |
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Mitch Keller Mitch Keller Struggles in third straight start
Thu, Jun 11, 2026, 10:59 PM
Keller (5-4) allowed five runs on seven hits, four walks and two hit batsmen while striking out three over four innings to take the loss versus the Dodgers on Thursday.
Analysis: Keller's struggles reached a third straight start, a span in which he's been unable to complete five frames. He's given up 18 runs over 12.2 innings across those outings, and he's allowed at least four runs in five of his last six games. Keller's now at a 5.14 ERA, 1.31 WHIP and 58:27 K:BB through 77 innings over 14 starts. His next start is projected to be on the road against the Athletics in hitter-friendly Sacramento, which could be trouble for him trying to end the skid. |
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Antwone Kelly Antwone Kelly Ticketed for big leagues
Thu, Jun 11, 2026, 10:28 PM
The Pirates are expected to recall Kelly from Triple-A Indianapolis ahead of Friday's game against the Marlins, Francys Romero of BeisbolFR.com reports.
Analysis: The 22-year-old will be looking to make his big-league debut after posting a 4.50 ERA, 1.48 WHIP and 47:24 K:BB across 54 innings with Indianapolis. Kelly appeared in 13 games, making 10 starts, at Triple-A. He's expected to work out of the Pittsburgh bullpen. |
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Esmerlyn Valdez Esmerlyn Valdez Back up in majors
Thu, Jun 11, 2026, 12:41 PM
The Pirates recalled Valdez from Triple-A Indianapolis on Thursday.
Analysis: Valdez went 2-for-16 with a pair of home runs during an earlier stint in the big leagues this season. The Pirates could give Valdez regular chances in the outfield while they deal with the fallout of the Oneil Cruz's absence due to a hand injury. Valdez, 22, has slashed .255/.388/.526 with 13 home runs across 237 plate appearances with Indianapolis this season. |
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Davis Wendzel Davis Wendzel Optioned to Triple-A
Thu, Jun 11, 2026, 12:36 PM
The Pirates optioned Wendzel to Triple-A Indianapolis on Thursday.
Analysis: Wendzel was just promoted earlier this week and went 0-for-4 at the dish in his only start. He's being replaced on the active roster by Esmerlyn Valdez. |
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