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Jared Jones Jared Jones Stellar in no-decision
Wed, Jul 8, 2026, 8:22 PM
Jones did not factor into the decision Wednesday against Atlanta, logging eight strikeouts across six perfect innings.
Analysis: While the Pirates failed to provide Jones with any run support in an eventual 3-0 defeat, the right-hander's dominant performance certainly offered a silver lining. Jones struck out eight of the 18 batters he faced, ultimately needing 77 pitches to get through six perfect innings. The 34-year-old Jones has now allowed just five earned runs across 17.2 innings in his last four starts as he continues to work his way back from UCL surgery that ended his 2025 campaign. Overall, his ERA sits at 4.37 with a 1.14 WHIP and 39:11 K:BB through his first eight starts (35 innings) this season. |
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Marcell Ozuna Marcell Ozuna Serving as DH on Wednesday
Wed, Jul 8, 2026, 3:57 PM
Ozuna will start at designated hitter and bat seventh Wednesday against Atlanta.
Analysis: Ozuna will pick up just his second start through the Pirates' first seven games of July. Per Colin Beazley of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, general manager Ben Cherington said Wednesday that Ozuna had been managing a toe injury that rendered him unavailable for a few of the Bucs' games in Washington over the weekend, but it's unclear if the 35-year-old would have started in any of those contests even if fully healthy. Ozuna has been a major disappointment this season, having thus far turned in a career-worst .610 OPS while striking out in 30.7 percent of his plate appearances. |
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Tyler Callihan Tyler Callihan Exiting lineup Wednesday
Wed, Jul 8, 2026, 3:53 PM
Callihan is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against Atlanta.
Analysis: After starting in each of the last three games at three different positions, Callihan will give up his spot in the lineup Wednesday to designated hitter Marcell Ozuna. Callihan produced a 1.350 OPS in his first 10 games with Pittsburgh following his promotion from Triple-A Indianapolis in late May, but he's cooled down considerably since then, slashing .224/.278/.327 with a 35.2 percent strikeout rate over his subsequent 19 contests. |
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Henry Davis Henry Davis Stepping in as No. 1 catcher
Wed, Jul 8, 2026, 3:50 PM
Davis will start at catcher and bat ninth in Wednesday's game against Atlanta.
Analysis: Davis had already started behind the plate in two of the Pirates' previous three games, but Endy Rodriguez's (glute) move to the 10-day injured list Wednesday will clear the way for the former to serve as the team's primary backstop through the All-Star break. For the season, Davis is slashing an abysmal .155/.250/.323 slash line, but he's been much better since the beginning of June with a .758 OPS over 17 games. |
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Rafael Flores Jr. Rafael Flores Jr. Moves up to majors
Wed, Jul 8, 2026, 3:32 PM
The Pirates recalled Flores from Triple-A Indianapolis on Wednesday.
Analysis: Flores will provide the Pirates with an extra option behind the plate beyond Henry Davis after Endy Rodriguez (glute) was placed on the 10-day injured list in a corresponding move. The 25-year-old Flores -- who is also capable of playing first base -- was up with the Pirates for a brief spell in June and produced a pair of extra-base hits in his three at-bats. He's cobbled together a .233/.367/.345 slash line with four home runs and no stolen bases across 281 plate appearances at Triple-A this season. |
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Endy Rodriguez Endy Rodriguez Shelved with glute strain
Wed, Jul 8, 2026, 2:17 PM
The Pirates placed Rodriguez on the 10-day injured list Wednesday due to a left glute strain.
Analysis: Rodriguez exited Sunday's 11-5 win over the Nationals with what had been described as a left hip issue, but the Pirates have since provided more clarity regarding the catcher's injury. Since the 26-year-old backstop's move to the IL is retroactive to Monday, he'll be eligible to play coming out of the All-Star break, though it's not yet clear if Rodriguez is on pace to be ready to play by then. In the meantime, Henry Davis is expected to serve as the Pirates' primary catcher while Rafael Flores was recalled from Triple-A Indianapolis to provide the team with another option behind the plate. |
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Paul Skenes Paul Skenes Posts quality start in win
Tue, Jul 7, 2026, 8:49 PM
Skenes (7-8) earned the win against Atlanta on Tuesday, allowing two runs on eight hits and one walk with four strikeouts over six innings.
Analysis: Skenes was given a huge lead and ran with it, throwing 66 of 95 pitches for strikes with 12 whiffs while delivering his ninth quality start of the campaign. It was a much-needed outing for the 24-year-old after he surrendered 11 earned runs over his previous two contests. He owns a 3.58 ERA, 1.04 WHIP and 123:23 K:BB across 103 innings this season and will make his final start before the All-Star break at home against the Brewers this weekend. |
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Ryan O'Hearn Ryan O'Hearn Homers thrice in rout
Tue, Jul 7, 2026, 8:42 PM
O'Hearn went 4-for-5 with three home runs and 10 RBI in Tuesday's 12-4 win over Atlanta.
Analysis: O'Hearn launched a grand slam and two three-run shots, driving in 10 of Pittsburgh's 14 runs. Per Aiden Stepansky of MLB.com, he became just the 17th player in the Modern Era to tally at least 10 RBI in a game. The 32-year-old has now hit safely in eight of his past nine starts, including another multi-homer effort June 28. On the season, he's slashing .293/.351/.500 with 16 homers, 61 RBI, 47 runs scored and one steal across 319 plate appearances in what is shaping up to be a career year. |
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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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