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Paul Skenes Paul Skenes Strikes out seven in eighth win
Sun, Jul 12, 2026, 6:04 PM
Skenes (8-8) notched the win Sunday against the Brewers, allowing two runs on three hits and one walk in 5.1 innings. He struck out seven.
Analysis: The Milwaukee bats were sluggish initially, as Skenes rattled off three perfect innings to begin the afternoon, but the Brewers did get to the hurler for a pair of runs in the fourth inning. The All-Star right-hander had delivered a 1.98 ERA and 0.64 WHIP over his first nine starts of 2026 but hasn't been nearly as dominant across his last 11 outings, during which he's posted a 4.94 ERA and 1.35 WHIP. Despite that rough stretch, Skenes still sports a strong 3.57 ERA, 1.02 WHIP and 130:24 K:BB through 108.1 frames this year. |
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Antwone Kelly Antwone Kelly Returns to Triple-A
Sun, Jul 12, 2026, 4:40 PM
The Pirates optioned Kelly to Triple-A Indianapolis after Sunday's 14-5 win against the Brewers, Alex Stumpf of MLB.com reports.
Analysis: The right-hander was called up from Indianapolis on Friday and allowed three runs over two innings during Sunday's blowout victory. Kelly surrendered two runs over 2.1 frames in his MLB debut earlier this season, so his big-league career is off to a bit of a bumpy start with multiple runs allowed in both of his appearances. |
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Tyler Callihan Tyler Callihan Heading to bench Sunday
Sun, Jul 12, 2026, 9:19 AM
Callihan is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Brewers.
Analysis: The left-handed hitter will hit the bench for the second time in the series while the Brewers face off against another lefty starter in Robert Gasser. Since blasting two home runs in a June 10 game against the Dodgers, Callihan has left the yard just once in his subsequent 24 contests, and he's slashing an underwhelming .231/.282/.354 during that stretch. He could soon find himself as the odd man out of the lineup against right-handed pitching after the Pirates completed a trade earlier in the weekend for another left-handed bat in Jacob Gonzalez, who may be in store for playing time at first base while Spencer Horwitz (hamstring) remains on the injured list. |
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Bryan Reynolds Bryan Reynolds Productive across doubleheader
Sun, Jul 12, 2026, 8:43 AM
Reynolds went 2-for-6 with a walk, a double, an RBI and two runs scored across both games of Saturday's doubleheader against the Brewers.
Analysis: Reynolds was overshadowed by Esmerlyn Valdez's three-homer day, but he delivered the game-winning RBI in the sixth inning in the second game of the doubleheader. Reynolds will head into the All-Star break having gone 11-for-39 with three homers, six RBI and nine runs scored across 10 games in July. |
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Mason Montgomery Mason Montgomery Collects first save
Sun, Jul 12, 2026, 8:38 AM
Montgomery walked one and struck out two across one inning to earn the save in the second game of Saturday's doubleheader against the Brewers.
Analysis: Gregory Soto earned the save in the first game of Saturday's doubleheader, so he was unavailable for the latter contest. Montgomery filled the void, allowing only a leadoff walk before retiring the next three batters he faced. Montgomery has had an inconsistent season, though he has turned in six straight appearances without being charged with a run, compiling an 11:2 K:BB across 5.1 innings in that span. |
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Bubba Chandler Bubba Chandler Fans six in no-decision Saturday
Sat, Jul 11, 2026, 10:24 PM
Chandler didn't factor into the decision in the second game of Saturday's doubleheader against the Brewers, giving up two runs on five hits and three walks over 4.2 innings. He struck out six.
Analysis: It was a slightly better effort for Chandler after he failed to strike out a batter and coughed up four runs in four innings in his prior start, but the 23-year-old right-hander is still struggling to find some consistency. He heads into the All-Star break with a 4.77 ERA, 1.45 WHIP and 85:55 K:BB through 94.1 innings. |
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Esmerlyn Valdez Esmerlyn Valdez Huge day in twin bill sweep
Sat, Jul 11, 2026, 10:20 PM
Valdez went 4-for-8 with three home runs and eight RBI Saturday as the Pirates swept a doubleheader against the Brewers.
Analysis: The rookie outfielder went yard twice in the matinee and produced the game-winning runs in the seventh inning with a grand slam off Aaron Ashby, then got the Bucs on the board in the fourth inning of the nightcap with a two-run shot off Shane Drohan. Valdez is up to 10 homers in his first 26 big-league games with 26 RBI and a dazzling .311/.370/.722 slash line. |
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Gregory Soto Gregory Soto Secures 12th save
Sat, Jul 11, 2026, 10:17 PM
Soto recorded his 12th save of the season in the first game of Saturday's doubleheader against the Brewers, giving up a hit and a walk in a scoreless ninth inning. He failed to strike out a batter.
Analysis: The veteran lefty collected his first save since June 16 as he tried to remain in the late-inning picture for Pittsburgh. Despite Soto's clean effort Saturday, he's been tagged for runs in six of 13 appearances since the beginning of June, stumbling to an 8.76 ERA, 1.78 WHIP and 12:6 K:BB over 12.1 innings during that span. |
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Braxton Ashcraft Braxton Ashcraft Hit hard in no-decision Saturday
Sat, Jul 11, 2026, 10:13 PM
Ashcraft didn't factor into the decision in the first game of Saturday's doubleheader against the Brewers, coughing up five runs on five hits and two walks over five innings. He struck out six.
Analysis: All five hits off Ashcraft went for extra bases, including homers by Jake Bauers in the second inning and Sal Frelick in the fifth. The right-hander has served up six long balls in his last three starts as he shows signs of fatigue -- Ashcraft's tossed 113.1 innings already this season, nearly matching the 118 innings he tossed all of last season between Triple-A and the majors. Despite the swoon before the All-Star break, he still sports a 3.49 ERA, 1.11 WHIP and 128:27 K:BB on the year. |
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Popped by Buccos
Sat, Jul 11, 2026, 5:51 PM
The Pirates selected Giles with the No. 108 overall pick in the 2026 First-Year Player Draft.
Analysis: Giles can hit to all fields and appears to be more of a contact than power hitter, though he still has some pop. He doesn't have elite speed but could have enough to play center field if he develops right. |
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Lands with Pittsburgh
Sat, Jul 11, 2026, 5:04 PM
The Pirates selected DeCaro with the No. 80 overall pick in the 2026 First-Year Player Draft.
Analysis: While the Tar Heel hasn't missed a ton of bats, he keeps hitters off balance with his sequencing. Perhaps the ceiling is questionable, but DeCaro projects as a high-floor prospect for Pittsburgh. |
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Second-round pick by Pittsburgh
Sat, Jul 11, 2026, 3:53 PM
The Pirates selected Rembert with the No. 51 overall pick in the 2026 First-Year Player Draft.
Analysis: Rembert's hitting ability is strong, but there are questions about the rest of his profile. The Auburn product is listed as a 5-foot-11, 209-pound right-right second baseman. |
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Popped by Pirates
Sat, Jul 11, 2026, 3:41 PM
The Pirates selected Ruiz with the No. 44 overall pick in the 2026 First-Year Player Draft.
Analysis: A magician with a plus arm at shortstop, Ruiz might be the best defender to come off the board on Day One. Unfortunately, the undersized switch hitter from New York doesn't bring much offensive impact to the table. At 5-foot-10, 168 pounds, the Vandy commit doesn't project to grow into much power, although he might be able to make enough contact to be a No. 9 hitter in the majors some day. His above-average speed could make him a cheap source of stolen bases in time. |
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Jake Mangum Jake Mangum Resting during Game 2
Sat, Jul 11, 2026, 3:16 PM
Mangum isn't in the lineup for the second game of Saturday's doubleheader against the Brewers.
Analysis: After going 1-for-3 with two runs scored during a victory in Game 1, Mangum will grab a seat on the bench to begin the nightcap. Bryan Reynolds, Billy Cook and Esmerlyn Valdez will form the Pirates' outfield trio while Mangum sits. |
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Henry Davis Henry Davis Sitting during nightcap
Sat, Jul 11, 2026, 3:14 PM
Davis isn't in the lineup for the second game of Saturday's doubleheader against the Brewers.
Analysis: Davis went 1-for-2 with a run and a pair of walks during the first half of the twin bill, and he'll now get a chance to rest during the final game. Rafael Flores will start at catcher and bat seventh. |
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Noah Murdock Noah Murdock Up as 27th man
Sat, Jul 11, 2026, 3:05 PM
Murdock was added to the active roster as Pittsburgh's 27th man for Saturday's doubleheader against Milwaukee.
Analysis: Murdock has spent the entire 2026 campaign in the minors and owns a 3.45 ERA through 15.2 innings at Triple-A Indianapolis. He'll now join the big club for the first time this year to add depth to the Pirates' bullpen for the second game of the twin bill, and he'll likely be sent back down to Triple-A once Saturday's festivities are complete. |
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Jack Brannigan Jack Brannigan Relegated to Indianapolis
Sat, Jul 11, 2026, 3:00 PM
The Pirates optioned Brannigan to Triple-A Indianapolis on Saturday.
Analysis: Brannigan struck out in his lone plate appearance after getting called up from Triple-A on Tuesday, and he'll now return to the minors in order to make room for new acquisition Jacob Gonzalez. Brannigan, 25, has slashed .219/.341/.478 in 213 plate appearances across all five levels of Pittsburgh's farm system this season. |
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Thomas Harrington Thomas Harrington Back in Indy
Sat, Jul 11, 2026, 2:51 PM
The Pirates optioned Harrington to Triple-A Indianapolis on Saturday.
Analysis: Just a day after joining the active roster, Harrington will now be sent back to the minor leagues without making an appearance for the big club. The 24-year-old has amassed a 6.38 ERA and 1.60 WHIP through 55 innings at Triple-A this season and will likely spend the remainder of the year working as organizational depth. |
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Jacob Gonzalez Jacob Gonzalez Added to active roster
Sat, Jul 11, 2026, 2:47 PM
The Pirates activated Gonzalez to the major-league roster Saturday.
Analysis: Gonzalez had been at Triple-A when the White Sox traded him to Pittsburgh on Friday, but he'll officially return to the majors to begin his tenure with the Pirates. He won't be in the lineup for the final game of Saturday's doubleheader, though Injuries to Spencer Horwitz (hamstring) and Konnor Griffin (finger) could open up opportunities for Gonzalez to get starting reps with Pittsburgh. |
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Surprise pick in top five
Sat, Jul 11, 2026, 1:03 PM
The Pirates selected Curiel with the fifth overall pick in the 2026 First-Year Player Draft.
Analysis: A glove-first center fielder from LSU, Curiel is also firmly hit-over-power. Despite his quality center-field defense, Curiel is just an above-average runner, with his excellent instincts carrying that aspect of his profile. He also has a fringe-average arm to go with fringe-average raw power. Curiel hit .349 in college with 13 homers and 16 steals in 126 games. He cut his strikeout rate from 17.3 percent as a freshman to 15.7 percent as a draft-eligible sophomore. Curiel has good size at 6-foot-2, 192 pounds, and it's possible he'll be able to unlock another level as a power hitter with pro instruction, but as things stand, he's a better real-life prospect than a fantasy one. |
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