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Noah Murdock Noah Murdock Called up for doubleheader
Wed, Jul 22, 2026, 9:22 AM
The Pirates recalled Murdock from Triple-A Indianapolis ahead of Wednesday's doubleheader versus the Yankees.
Analysis: Pittsburgh has designated Murdock as its 27th man for the twin bill, so he'll likely be headed back to Indianapolis on Thursday. The 27-year-old righty has turned in a 3.24 ERA, 1.11 WHIP and 26:5 K:BB in 16.2 innings out of the Triple-A bullpen this season. |
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Mitch Keller Mitch Keller Pitching Game 1 of doubleheader
Tue, Jul 21, 2026, 7:06 PM
Keller will start Game 1 of Wednesday's doubleheader against the Yankees, Colin Beazley of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.
Analysis: Keller will take the ball in Wednesday's matinee after Tuesday's contest was postponed due to inclement weather, causing the Pirates to participate in a third doubleheader since July 11. The right-hander has struggled to a 7.62 ERA and 1.74 WHIP with 31 strikeouts over 39 innings in his last eight starts, surrendering nine home runs over that stretch. |
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Bubba Chandler Bubba Chandler Starting Game 2 of doubleheader
Tue, Jul 21, 2026, 6:53 PM
Chandler will start Game 2 of Wednesday's doubleheader against the Yankees, Colin Beazley of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.
Analysis: Chandler was set to start Tuesday before the game ended up being postponed due to poor weather, but he'll now handle Wednesday's nightcap. The right-hander has struggled to a 6.60 ERA and 1.80 WHIP with nine walks and 12 strikeouts over 15 innings in his last three starts. |
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Bubba Chandler Bubba Chandler Tuesday's game postponed
Tue, Jul 21, 2026, 1:18 PM
Chandler won't pitch as scheduled Tuesday against the Yankees since the game was postponed due to a forecast of inclement weather, Jon Heyman of the New York Post reports.
Analysis: The 23-year-old's first start coming out of the All-Star break will have to wait at least one more day, with Tuesday's game being made up via a doubleheader Wednesday. Chandler, who has a 4.77 ERA, 1.45 WHIP and 85:55 K:BB over 94.1 innings this season, should start one of those contests in the twin bill. |
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Begins rehab assignment
Tue, Jul 21, 2026, 12:15 PM
Blanco (hamstring) began a rehab assignment in the Florida Complex League on July 17.
Analysis: Per Mark Chiarelli of Baseball America, Blanco suffered a hamstring injury June 20. He also missed the first half of 2025 with a hamstring injury. Nagging muscle injuries aside, Blanco has arguably the most raw power in the minors and slashed .237/.319/.500 with 12 home runs, a 10 percent walk rate and a 29 percent strikeout rate in 49 games at High-A Greensboro. |
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Chris Devenski Chris Devenski Ready for rehab assignment
Tue, Jul 21, 2026, 8:18 AM
Devenski (illness) was sent to the rookie-level Florida Complex League on Tuesday to begin a rehab assignment.
Analysis: Devenski has been sidelined since early May due to an undisclosed illness, but he's finally been cleared to participate in games. Given the length of his absence, the veteran reliever will likely require a handful of rehab outings before rejoining the Pirates' active roster. |
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Braxton Ashcraft Braxton Ashcraft Drubbed by Bronx Bombers
Mon, Jul 20, 2026, 10:20 PM
Ashcraft (9-4) took the loss against the Yankees on Monday, allowing eight runs (seven earned) on nine hits and one walk while striking out two across three innings.
Analysis: Ashcraft's put the Pirates behind early after yielding four runs in the first inning, three of which came on a Jazz Chisholm homer. Ashcraft was handed a 5-4 lead by his teammates, but the left-hander gave that back to the Yankees with another four-run frame in the third. The hits and runs allowed were both career highs for Ashcraft who, despite a 4-1 record, has a 5.40 ERA and 1.36 WHIP over his last seven starts in 36.2 innings. He's lined up to face the Cubs at home this weekend. |
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Spencer Horwitz Spencer Horwitz Ready for rehab assignment
Mon, Jul 20, 2026, 9:06 PM
Horwitz (hamstring) will begin a rehab assignment with Single-A Bradenton on Tuesday, Colin Beazley of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.
Analysis: Horwitz has been on the 10-day injured list since suffering a left hamstring strain June 24 against Seattle. However, his rehab has been trending in the right direction, and he'll take the next step Tuesday. Horwitz has missed nearly a month of action, so he figures to need at least a handful of at-bats in the minors before being activated. |
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Jacob Gonzalez Jacob Gonzalez Taking seat against southpaw
Mon, Jul 20, 2026, 3:27 PM
Gonzalez is out of the lineup for Monday's game against the Yankees.
Analysis: The left-handed-hitting Gonzalez will retreat to the bench Monday while the Yankees send southpaw Ryan Weathers to the bump for the series opener. Since being acquired from the White Sox on July 10, Gonzalez has made both of his starts at shortstop and has gone 3-for-10 with a home run, a double, three RBI and two runs through his first four games with the Pirates. |
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Jake Mangum Jake Mangum Resting against lefty
Mon, Jul 20, 2026, 3:24 PM
Mangum is out of the lineup for Monday's game against the Yankees.
Analysis: The switch-hitting Mangum has been much more effective against right-handers (104 wRC+) than lefties (83 wRC+) over his first two big-league seasons, so he'll hit the bench Monday while the Yankees send southpaw Ryan Weathers to the bump. With Mangum taking a seat, Billy Cook will receive the start in center field and will bat ninth. |
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Hunter Barco Hunter Barco Back in action at Triple-A
Mon, Jul 20, 2026, 10:32 AM
Barco (elbow) struck out two and allowed two hits and two walks over three scoreless innings Saturday in an appearance for Triple-A Indianapolis after being reinstated from the 7-day injured list.
Analysis: Barco had been on the shelf since June 20 due to left elbow inflammation but was cleared to rejoin Indianapolis after completing a 1.2-inning rehab start in the rookie-level Florida Complex League over the All-Star break. The southpaw owns a 4.54 ERA, 1.51 WHIP and 48:20 K:BB in 41.2 innings across 12 appearances (six starts) for Indianapolis on the season. |
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Esmerlyn Valdez Esmerlyn Valdez Homers again in win
Sun, Jul 19, 2026, 5:12 PM
Valdez went 1-for-3 with a home run, two walks and two RBI in Sunday's 7-1 win over the Guardians.
Analysis: Valdez had a classic three-true-outcomes game, walking twice and striking out twice before launching a two-run shot in the ninth inning. The 22-year-old is now riding a seven-game hitting streak, going deep six times with 15 RBI and eight runs scored during that span. He's slashing a ridiculous .305/.373/.733 with 12 homers, 32 RBI and 23 runs scored across his first 118 major-league plate appearances. |
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Paul Skenes Paul Skenes Goes seven strong in win
Sun, Jul 19, 2026, 4:49 PM
Skenes (9-8) earned the win against the Guardians on Sunday, allowing one run on seven hits and two walks with eight strikeouts over seven innings.
Analysis: Skenes allowed a run in the third inning but was impressive otherwise, generating 18 whiffs on 100 pitches en route to his third straight win. After surrendering seven earned runs in his first July start, the All-Star has yielded just five over his three victories since. He owns a 3.43 ERA, 1.04 WHIP and 138:26 K:BB across 115.1 innings this season and lines up for a home matchup with the Cubs next weekend. |
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Heads back to Triple-A
Sun, Jul 19, 2026, 8:40 AM
The Pirates optioned Curtis to Triple-A Indianapolis on Sunday, Danny Demilio of PittsburghBaseballNow.com reports.
Analysis: The right-hander received his first promotion to the big leagues Saturday and made his MLB debut in the second game of a doubleheader in Cleveland with five scoreless innings of bulk relief. Curtis should have a better chance of returning to the majors later this summer now that he's on the 40-man roster, though his 4.96 ERA in 18 appearances between the Double-A and Triple-A levels could be a limiting factor, even after his strong performance Saturday. |
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Dominic Fletcher Dominic Fletcher Back with Pittsburgh
Sat, Jul 18, 2026, 10:46 PM
The Pirates signed Fletcher to a minor-league contract Friday.
Analysis: Fletcher opted out of his minor-league pact with Pittsburgh earlier this month and tested the market, only to return to the Pirates' organization a little over two weeks later. In 42 games with Triple-A Indianapolis this season, Fletcher has slashed .288/.379/.511 with eight homers, 27 RBI, 27 runs scored, two stolen bases and an 18:22 BB:K across 162 plate appearances. |
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Jacob Gonzalez Jacob Gonzalez Taking seat in Game 2
Sat, Jul 18, 2026, 5:19 PM
Gonzalez isn't in the lineup for the second game of Saturday's doubleheader against the Guardians.
Analysis: Gonzalez will get a chance to rest his legs after going 2-for-4 with a two-run homer during Pittsburgh's victory in the early game. While he sits, Ryan O'Hearn will start at first base, and Jared Triolo will get the nod at shortstop. |
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Henry Davis Henry Davis Sitting out nightcap
Sat, Jul 18, 2026, 5:16 PM
Davis isn't in the lineup for the second game of Saturday's doubleheader against Cleveland.
Analysis: Davis went 1-for-4 with two strikeouts in Saturday's matinee and will now get a chance to rest his legs during the nightcap. Rafael Flores will fill in behind the plate and bat eighth. |
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Mason Montgomery Mason Montgomery Opening nightcap
Sat, Jul 18, 2026, 3:21 PM
Montgomery will serve as the opening pitcher in Game 2 of Saturday's doubleheader against Cleveland, Alex Stumpf of MLB.com reports.
Analysis: Montgomery will receive his fifth opening assignment of the season after giving up just two earned runs over 8.1 innings across his last nine outings. The 26-year-old southpaw has never completed two full innings in an appearance this season, so he'll likely secure just the first three outs of the game before turning things over to the Pirates' bullpen. |
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Jared Triolo Jared Triolo Sitting out Game 1
Sat, Jul 18, 2026, 10:56 AM
Triolo isn't in the lineup for the first game of Saturday's doubleheader against the Guardians.
Analysis: Triolo has made six straight starts at shortstop and closed out the first half with a three-hit performance against Milwaukee, but the Pirates will keep him on the bench to begin Saturday's twin bill. Jacob Gonzalez will get the nod at shortstop and bat eighth. |
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Wilber Dotel Wilber Dotel Activated, named 27th man
Sat, Jul 18, 2026, 10:46 AM
The Pirates reinstated Dotel (lat) from the injured list Saturday and appointed him as their 27th man for the team's doubleheader against the Guardians.
Analysis: Dotel landed on the injured list June 13 with a right lat strain. Since then, he's made three rehab appearances in the minors, giving up one run on three hits and three walks while fanning seven batters in 4.2 innings. Now fully healthy, he'll help the Pirates' bullpen get through Saturday's twin bill before likely heading back to Triple-A Indianapolis. |
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