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Braxton Ashcraft Braxton Ashcraft Strikes out nine in loss
Sat, Sep 5, 2026, 9:40 PM
Ashcraft (14-6) took the loss against the Angels on Saturday, allowing three runs on seven hits and no walks with nine strikeouts over five innings.
Analysis: Ashcraft opened with three scoreless frames but stumbled late, departing with a 3-0 deficit at just 67 pitches. The 26-year-old has now yielded three earned runs or fewer in seven straight outings, but he's exceeded 90 pitches just once in that span and appears to be having his workload limited down the stretch. He owns a 3.65 ERA, 1.09 WHIP and 173:35 K:BB across 165.1 innings this season and lines up for a road matchup with the Cubs next weekend. |
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Bryan Reynolds Bryan Reynolds Perfect at plate in loss
Sat, Sep 5, 2026, 9:10 PM
Reynolds went 3-for-3 with a solo home run and a walk in Saturday's 6-1 loss to the Angels.
Analysis: Reynolds was the lone bright spot for the Pirates, reaching base in each of his plate appearances and launching a 421-foot blast in the eighth inning. While the long ball was the 31-year-old's first since July 28, he's hit safely in six of his past seven games with four multi-hit efforts. On the year, he's slashing .267/.373/.429 with 16 home runs, 67 RBI, 96 runs scored and nine steals across 624 plate appearances. |
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Brandon Lowe Brandon Lowe Sitting down Saturday
Sat, Sep 5, 2026, 2:23 PM
Lowe isn't in the lineup for Saturday's game against the Angels.
Analysis: The Pirates will get Lowe a breather Saturday while they face left-handed starter Yusei Kikuchi. Nick Gonzales will slide over to second base as a result, giving Jared Triolo a start at third base. |
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Konnor Griffin Konnor Griffin Scores once in return
Sat, Sep 5, 2026, 7:45 AM
Griffin went 0-for-3 with a run scored Friday against the Angels.
Analysis: Griffin was activated from the 60-day injured list Friday and hit sixth in the order. He reached base on a fielder's choice in the second inning and scored from first base on a double by Jake Mangum, recording the only run of the game by either team. Griffin should be a mainstay in the Pirates' lineup, and he'll likely be aggressive on the basepaths even if he starts slowly at the plate while shaking off some rust. |
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Mason Montgomery Mason Montgomery Earns save against Halos
Fri, Sep 4, 2026, 10:59 PM
Montgomery came away with the save in Friday's 1-0 win over the Angels, allowing one hit while striking out one batter in a scoreless ninth inning.
Analysis: Friday's contest turned out to be a pitchers' duel between Jared Jones and Ryan Johnson, with Montgomery being called in for the ninth inning to protect Pittsburgh's one-run lead. He worked around a Mike Trout single to retire the side, finishing things off by getting Travis d'Arnaud to strike out looking. Montgomery has logged a save in back-to-back outings and is up to nine on the year with a 2.91 ERA and 1.06 WHIP over 58.2 innings. |
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Jared Jones Jared Jones Fans nine over six shutout innings
Fri, Sep 4, 2026, 10:54 PM
Jones (3-6) earned the win against the Angels on Friday, allowing three hits and one walk while striking out nine across six scoreless innings.
Analysis: It was Jones' best start since July 8 against Atlanta, when he struck out eight batters while not allowing a run, hit or walk across six frames. He struck out four consecutive batters both from the second to third innings and between the fifth and sixth frames, en route to tying a season high in punchouts. His Pirates teammates put up only one run, but that turned out to be enough for Jones to come away with his first win since July 18 against the Guardians. He'll take a 4.46 ERA and 1.23 WHIP over 78.2 innings into his next start, lined up for next week on the road against the White Sox. |
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Rafael Flores Jr. Rafael Flores Jr. Resting Friday
Fri, Sep 4, 2026, 4:35 PM
Flores is not in the Pirates' starting lineup against the Angels on Friday.
Analysis: Flores will get a breather after going 2-for-31 with one home run, three RBI and a 2:8 BB:K over his last six games. Henry Davis will start behind home plate and bat ninth while forming a battery with Jared Jones. |
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Esmerlyn Valdez Esmerlyn Valdez Sitting again Friday
Fri, Sep 4, 2026, 4:33 PM
Valdez is not in the Pirates' starting lineup against the Angels on Friday.
Analysis: Valdez is out of the lineup for a second consecutive game, with Jake Mangum, Oneil Cruz and Bryan Reynolds starting in the outfield from left to right. VAldez has gone 6-for-37 (.162) with two home runs, four RBI and a 5:21 BB:K over his last 10 outings. |
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Luke Weaver Luke Weaver Managing poison ivy rash
Fri, Sep 4, 2026, 1:43 PM
Weaver revealed Wednesday that he's been dealing with a severe poison ivy rash for more than three weeks that's made it difficult for him to sleep, Jose Negron of DKPittsburghSports.com reports.
Analysis: The issue has not sidelined Weaver at any point, but he admitted that it's probably affected his performance. After collecting a 1.84 ERA and 45:11 K:BB in 44 frames for the Mets, Weaver holds a 5.79 ERA and 11:4 K:BB over 9.1 innings since being dealt to the Pirates. Weaver also had a sinus cold recently, but he will be available out of the bullpen Friday versus the Angels. |
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Brandon Eisert Brandon Eisert Demoted Friday
Fri, Sep 4, 2026, 1:35 PM
The Pirates optioned Eisert to Triple-A Indianapolis on Friday, Danny Demilio of PittsburghBaseballNow.com reports.
Analysis: The left-hander was called up by Pittsburgh on Tuesday and will return to Triple-A after firing 1.2 scoreless frames in two appearances. In 34 outings between the Pirates and White Sox this season, Eisert has a 6.00 ERA, 1.39 WHIP and 41:12 K:BB across 36 innings. |
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Christian Bethancourt Christian Bethancourt DFA'd by Pittsburgh
Fri, Sep 4, 2026, 1:33 PM
The Pirates designated Bethancourt for assignment Friday, Danny Demilio of PittsburghBaseballNow.com reports.
Analysis: The veteran catcher was added to the big-league roster Tuesday after being acquired from the Yankees in mid-August, but he'll lose his place on Pittsburgh's 26-man and 40-man rosters without appearing in a game. Bethancourt hasn't seen action in the majors since 2024 with the Marlins and Cubs. |
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Isaac Mattson Isaac Mattson Back in big leagues
Fri, Sep 4, 2026, 1:31 PM
The Pirates recalled Mattson from Triple-A Indianapolis on Friday, Danny Demilio of PittsburghBaseballNow.com reports.
Analysis: The right-hander has been shuttled between Triple-A and the majors throughout the season. Mattson has pitched in 37 MLB games in 2026 and has a 4.91 ERA, 1.58 WHIP and 34:18 K:BB over 36.2 innings. |
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Konnor Griffin Konnor Griffin Back from injured list
Fri, Sep 4, 2026, 1:28 PM
The Pirates reinstated Griffin (finger) from the 60-day injured list Friday, Danny Demilio of PittsburghBaseballNow.com reports.
Analysis: The 20-year-old rookie has been on the shelf for two months due to a torn sagittal band on his left ring finger, but he looked healthy while going 3-for-11 during a three-game rehab assignment. Griffin has acclimated well in his first taste of the majors this year, posting a .276/.332/.404 slash line with five homers, 20 steals, 25 RBI and 35 runs through his first 59 big-league contests. He is starting at shortstop and batting sixth in Friday's series opener against the Angels. |
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Kyler Fedko Kyler Fedko Inks minor-league deal with Pittsburgh
Thu, Sep 3, 2026, 6:56 PM
Fedko (knee) signed a minor-league contract with the Pirates on Thursday, Colin Beazley of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.
Analysis: Fedko was designated for assignment by the Twins on Tuesday, and he has now found his next opportunity with the Pirates. The outfielder underwent surgery in early August to repair a torn ACL, MCL, and LCL in his left knee, and he is going to be sidelined for the rest of the season as a result. |
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Mason Montgomery Mason Montgomery Picks up eighth save
Thu, Sep 3, 2026, 3:27 PM
Montgomery earned the save in Thursday's 5-2 win over the Giants, striking out one in a perfect ninth inning.
Analysis: Montgomery has now converted eight straight save chances while allowing just two runs over his last 26 innings. The southpaw looks to have tightened his grip on the ninth-inning job in Pittsburgh, as he's lowered his ERA to 2.97 with a 1.06 WHIP and 90:22 K:BB across 57.2 innings this season. |
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Khristian Curtis Khristian Curtis Added to big-league bullpen
Thu, Sep 3, 2026, 11:29 AM
The Pirates recalled Curtis from Triple-A Indianapolis on Thursday.
Analysis: Curtis hasn't given up a run across eight innings covering two relief outings this season for the Pirates, and he's collected a 4.90 ERA and 108:48 K:BB in 86.1 innings between Double-A Altoona and Indianapolis. The 24-year-old is stretched out to provide length in the Pittsburgh bullpen, if needed. |
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Kirby Yates Kirby Yates Shelved by shoulder impingement
Thu, Sep 3, 2026, 11:26 AM
The Pirates placed Yates on the 15-day injured list Thursday with a right shoulder impingement.
Analysis: Yates hasn't pitched since Saturday, so it could be an injury that's nagged at him for a while. The veteran reliever will be eligible for activation Sept. 15, though it's unclear at this point if he will be ready to go on that date. Khristian Curtis is grabbing Yates' roster spot. |
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Ryan O'Hearn Ryan O'Hearn Targets return versus Cubs next week
Thu, Sep 3, 2026, 11:01 AM
O'Hearn (quadriceps) is aiming to be activated from the 10-day injured list for the Pirates' Sept. 11-13 series against the Cubs, Kevin Gorman of TribLive.com reports.
Analysis: O'Hearn has been ramping up baseball activities as he works his way back from a left quad strain, noting Thursday that there's "still a ways to go but I'm trending in the right direction." The 33-year-old has missed the last five weeks of action, so he will likely require a few rehab games before rejoining the Pirates' active roster. |
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Carmen Mlodzinski Carmen Mlodzinski Works in long relief Wednesday
Thu, Sep 3, 2026, 11:01 AM
Mlodzinski struck out two batters over three perfect innings of relief in Wednesday's 5-4 extra-inning loss to the Giants.
Analysis: Mlodzinski appeared to be in line to start or pitch in bulk relief for Thursday's series finale, but the Pirates instead summoned him from the bullpen Wednesday after starter Bubba Chandler and reliever Brandon Eisert covered the first six innings. The right-hander retired all nine batters he faced as the Pirates clawed back from a two-run deficit to extend the game to extras. |
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Konnor Griffin Konnor Griffin Poised to return from IL on Friday
Thu, Sep 3, 2026, 9:41 AM
The Pirates are expected to activate Griffin (finger) from the 60-day injured list Friday, Kevin Gorman of TribLive.com reports.
Analysis: Griffin has rejoined the Pirates in Pittsburgh after going 3-for-11 in three rehab games, and he will return to the active roster Friday on the first day he's eligible. The rookie shortstop has been sidelined for the past two months with a torn sagittal band on his left ring finger. With Griffin taking back over at shortstop this weekend, Jacob Gonzalez could be mixed in some at third base down the stretch for the Pirates. |
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