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Sustains knee injury at Triple-A
Sun, Aug 9, 2026, 9:28 PM
Johnson was removed from Triple-A Indianapolis' game against Iowa on Saturday after four innings due to an apparent left knee injury, Danny Demilio of PittsburghBaseballNow.com reports.
Analysis: Johnson sustained the injury while tumbling over first base as he attempted to beat out a grounder for an infield single in the bottom of the fourth. Per Jason Mackey of MLB.com, Johnson needed to be carted off the field and was fitted for an air cast. The Pirates haven't provided an updated diagnosis for Johnson, but the knee issue seems likely to force the 22-year-old to Indianapolis' injured list. |
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Jared Jones Jared Jones Rough day vs. New York
Sun, Aug 9, 2026, 5:51 PM
Jones (2-4) took the loss Sunday against the Mets, allowing eight runs on six hits and three walks over three innings. He struck out three.
Analysis: It was a rough outing for the 25-year-old Jones, who's now lost three straight starts while giving up 11 runs in just seven innings across his last two outings. Jones' ERA is now up to 5.03 through 13 starts (59 innings) this season with a 1.20 WHIP and 65:19 K:BB. He'll look to turn things around his next time out, currently lined up for next week at home against the Red Sox. |
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Jacob Gonzalez Jacob Gonzalez Idle against southpaw
Sun, Aug 9, 2026, 12:11 PM
Gonzalez is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Mets.
Analysis: The left-handed-hitting Gonzalez will head to the bench for the second time in the series while the Mets send another lefty starter (Sean Manaea) to the bump. Jared Triolo will step in for Gonzalez at shortstop and will bat eighth. |
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Spencer Horwitz Spencer Horwitz Resting against lefty
Sun, Aug 9, 2026, 12:09 PM
Horwitz is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Mets.
Analysis: After starting the past three games, the left-handed hitter will retreat to the bench while southpaw Sean Manaea toes the rubber for the Mets. Rafael Flores will replace Horwitz at first base and bat seventh. |
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Endy Rodriguez Endy Rodriguez Missing out on another start
Sun, Aug 9, 2026, 12:08 PM
Rodriguez (hip) is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Mets.
Analysis: Rodriguez will receive a third straight game off while he tends to left hip discomfort. Henry Davis will draw another start behind the plate in place of Rodriguez, who is considered day-to-day. |
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Ronny Simon Ronny Simon Logs two RBI in Saturday's win
Sat, Aug 8, 2026, 8:34 PM
Simon went 2-for-5 with a two-run double and a steal during the Pirates' 9-0 win over the Mets on Saturday.
Analysis: Simon recorded his first RBI of the season, when his double in the first inning brought both Spencer Horwitz and Bryan Reynolds home. Simon also registered his first steal of the year in the third inning, coming home to score later in the frame. The 26-year-old outfielder has started in each of Pittsburgh's last three games and will continue to see extended reps for as long as both Oneil Cruz (hand) and Ryan O'Hearn (quadriceps) are on the IL. |
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Brandon Lowe Brandon Lowe Goes long in Saturday's win
Sat, Aug 8, 2026, 8:30 PM
Lowe went 1-of-4 with a walk, a solo homer and an additional run scored during the Pirates' 9-0 win over the Mets on Saturday.
Analysis: Saturday's game was already out of reach for the Mets, but Lowe added to the blowout with a solo home run in the seventh inning. It was his second homer in three games and 25th of the year, marking his third major-league season with at least 25 home runs. Lowe has an .807 OPS with two steals and 74 RBI over 490 plate appearances this season. |
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Nick Gonzales Nick Gonzales Collects three RBI vs. Mets
Sat, Aug 8, 2026, 8:26 PM
Gonzales went 1-for-5 with a double and three RBI during the Pirates' 9-0 win over the Mets on Saturday.
Analysis: Gonzales got the Pirates on the board with an RBI in the first inning before extending the team's lead to 8-0 with a two-run double in the fourth. His three RBI matched a season high that he set against the Astros on June 3, and he has gone 6-for-15 with two extra-base hits over his last four games. On the year, Gonzales is slashing .309/.362/.402 with five steals, six home runs and 53 RBI over 467 plate appearances. |
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Jake Mangum Jake Mangum Smacks two doubles Saturday
Sat, Aug 8, 2026, 8:22 PM
Mangum went 3-for-5 with two doubles, one RBI, one steal and two runs scored during the Pirates' 9-0 win over the Mets on Saturday.
Analysis: Mangum set a season high in doubles and logged his eighth game of at least three hits, his first since the All-Star break. The 30-year-old Mangum is enjoying a productive first season in Pittsburgh, slashing .300/.354/.380 with 21 steals (in 28 attempts), three home runs and 26 RBI across 345 plate appearances. |
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Bubba Chandler Bubba Chandler Blanks Mets on Saturday
Sat, Aug 8, 2026, 8:17 PM
Chandler (5-8) earned the win against the Mets on Saturday, allowing three hits and one walk while striking out five across six scoreless innings.
Analysis: Chandler got plenty of run support from his teammates, who supplied eight runs through the first four innings. The 23-year-old right-hander held his end of the bargain, facing the minimum number of batters in three of six frames while ending his night with back-to-back strikeouts in the sixth inning en route to his fourth quality start of the season (and second since the All-Star break). Chandler will take a 4.26 ERA and 1.38 WHIP over 116.1 innings into his next start, which is lined up for next weekend against the Red Sox at Fenway Park. |
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Endy Rodriguez Endy Rodriguez Scratched Saturday
Sat, Aug 8, 2026, 4:33 PM
Rodriguez was scratched from the lineup for Saturday's game against the Mets due to left hip discomfort.
Analysis: The Pirates' medical staff is still in the process of evaluating Rodriguez and should provide more details regarding the severity of his injury in the near future. In the meantime, Henry Davis will start behind the plate and bat ninth. |
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Carmen Mlodzinski Carmen Mlodzinski Early exit against Mets
Sat, Aug 8, 2026, 9:14 AM
Mlodzinski (6-4) took the loss Friday, coughing up five runs on seven hits and a walk over three innings as the Pirates were downed 6-4 by the Mets. He struck out one.
Analysis: A three-run homer by Marcus Semien in the third inning was the big blow off Mlodzinski, who was making his first start since May 25. The right-hander did get stretched out to 63 pitches (40 strikes), and while he sports a 3.51 ERA, 1.36 WHIP and 77:32 K:BB through 97.1 innings over 26 appearances (10 starts) on the year, he'll need better results to stick around in the rotation as the replacement for Mitch Keller (arm). Mlodzinski will get another chance to show he can handle the job on the road next week in Miami. |
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Endy Rodriguez Endy Rodriguez Exiting starting lineup
Fri, Aug 7, 2026, 2:44 PM
Rodriguez is absent from the lineup for Friday's tilt against the Mets.
Analysis: Rodriguez had made five consecutive starts (three at catcher, one apiece and first base and designated hitter), but he'll begin Friday's series opener on the bench. Rafael Flores is behind the plate for the Pirates. |
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Oneil Cruz Oneil Cruz Cleared to begin rehab assignment
Fri, Aug 7, 2026, 10:15 AM
Cruz (hand) will begin a rehab assignment with Triple-A Indianapolis on Friday, Alex Stumpf of MLB.com reports.
Analysis: Cruz has finally been cleared to test things out in a game setting after missing two months with a fractured left hand. The center fielder would ideally be given a handful of rehab contests to knock the rust off, but the Pirates might not have the luxury of taking things slowly as they fight for a playoff spot. Cruz slashed .264/.350/.472 with 14 home runs and 21 stolen bases in 64 games for Pittsburgh before getting hurt. |
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Braxton Ashcraft Braxton Ashcraft Takes fifth loss Thursday
Thu, Aug 6, 2026, 11:07 PM
Ashcraft (11-5) took the loss Thursday against the Brewers, allowing four runs on four hits and one walk while striking out five over five innings.
Analysis: Ashcraft was tagged for a solo homer by Jackson Chourio in the first inning and surrendered another solo shot to Gary Sanchez in the fifth as Milwaukee handed him his fifth loss of the season. The right-hander has struggled over his last five starts, allowing 22 runs (21 earned) across 24 innings, causing his ERA to climb from 3.24 to 4.08. Despite the recent skid, Ashcraft has remained a reliable innings eater, completing at least five innings in all but two of his 23 starts this season. The 26-year-old is scheduled to make his next start Wednesday on the road against the Marlins. |
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Carmen Mlodzinski Carmen Mlodzinski Starting Friday's game
Thu, Aug 6, 2026, 4:07 PM
Mlodzinski will start Friday's game against the Mets, Jose Negron of DK Pittsburgh Sports reports.
Analysis: Mlodzinski is getting another opportunity to start for the Pirates after Mitch Keller (arm) went down with a season-ending injury. Although each of Mlodzinski's last 14 appearances have come in relief, he has covered multiple innings in all of those outings, including going three shutout frames in each of his last two trips to the hill. He threw 47 pitches in his last appearance Aug. 1, so Mlodzinski should be handle around 60 pitches Friday. |
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Esmerlyn Valdez Esmerlyn Valdez Day off amidst slump
Thu, Aug 6, 2026, 11:24 AM
Valdez is not in the lineup for Thursday's game in Milwaukee.
Analysis: Valdez has really been fighting it at the plate lately. He's 0-for-13 with 11 strikeouts so far in August, and over his last 15 contests is just 5-for-45 with 35.5 percent strikeout rate. He will get a day Thursday to regroup while Ronny Simon fills in in right field for the Pirates. |
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Endy Rodriguez Endy Rodriguez Goes yard again
Wed, Aug 5, 2026, 10:35 PM
Rodriguez went 1-for-3 with a two-run home run in Wednesday's 4-2 loss to the Brewers.
Analysis: Rodriguez has hit safely in seven of eight games since he returned from a glute injury. He's also homered in consecutive contests, giving him seven long balls on the year. The catcher is batting .269 with an .856 OPS, 20 RBI, 20 runs scored, six doubles and six stolen bases over 153 plate appearances. Henry Davis has hit just .206 since the All-Star break, so it looks like Rodriguez will continue to push the Pirates' catching situation into at least a timeshare. |
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Paul Skenes Paul Skenes Handed another loss
Wed, Aug 5, 2026, 10:30 PM
Skenes (9-10) allowed three runs on two hits and four walks while striking out six over five innings to take the loss versus the Brewers on Wednesday.
Analysis: Skenes has walked a season-high four batters in each of his last two starts. He's also allowed 13 runs over his last 14.1 innings, marking another rough patch in a season that has seen the right-hander struggle more often than usual. He threw just 53 of 93 pitches for strikes in Wednesday's outing. For the season, Skenes has a 3.96 ERA, 1.12 WHIP and 162:36 K:BB through 129.2 innings over 24 starts. He's projected to make his next start at Miami. |
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Ronny Simon Ronny Simon Call-up official
Wed, Aug 5, 2026, 6:48 PM
The Pirates selected Simon's contract from Triple-A Indianapolis on Wednesday.
Analysis: Pittsburgh released designated hitter Marcell Ozuna to clear room on the 40-man roster and 26-man active roster for Simon, who will be up in the big leagues for the first time in 2026. The 26-year-old posted an .883 OPS with eight home runs and 32 steals at Triple-A this season and should offer the Pirates some versatility off the bench. Simon is a switch-hitter who's capable of playing multiple infield and outfield spots. |
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