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Carmen Mlodzinski Carmen Mlodzinski Allows three runs in bulk relief
Sun, Aug 23, 2026, 9:37 PM
Mlodzinski allowed three runs on five hits, no walks and a hit-by-pitch while striking out four over three innings of bulk relief in Sunday's 4-0 loss to the Dodgers.
Analysis: After two innings from opener Lake Bachar, Mlodzinski entered in bulk relief and wasn't overly effective against a well-regarded Dodgers offense. The right-hander has essentially taken over as the Pirates' fifth starter since Mitch Keller (arm) went down with a season-ending injury, but he's struggled to a 12.71 ERA over his past four outings. Overall, Mlodzinski owns a 6-6 record with a 4.17 ERA, 1.46 WHIP and 85:36 K:BB across 105.2 innings and 29 appearances (12 starts). The 27-year-old is tentatively lined up to pitch Saturday against the Cardinals, though it remains to be seen if he'll be deployed as a traditional starter or bulk reliever. |
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Jacob Gonzalez Jacob Gonzalez Idle against southpaw
Sun, Aug 23, 2026, 3:22 PM
Gonzalez is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Dodgers.
Analysis: The Pirates will keep the left-handed-hitting Gonzalez on the bench for the second day in a row while the Dodgers send another lefty (Blake Snell) to the bump. Jared Triolo will step in for Gonzalez at shortstop and will bat eighth. |
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Jared Triolo Jared Triolo Playing time picking up
Sun, Aug 23, 2026, 3:21 PM
Triolo will start at shortstop and bat eighth in Sunday's game against the Dodgers.
Analysis: Though he'll be filling in at shortstop while the left-handed-hitting Jacob Gonzalez sits against Dodgers lefty Blake Snell, Triolo could end up seeing more playing time at third base moving forward in place of Nick Gonzales. Gonzales is occupying the hot corner Sunday, but he's graded out poorly defensively at that position, which prompted the Pirates to use him at either second base or designated hitter in his prior four starts. Thanks to his quality glovework, Triolo will earn a start on the left side of the infield for a 10th straight game, but he hasn't offered much from a fantasy perspective with a .200 average, one home run, no stolen bases, five runs and three RBI over the prior nine contests. |
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Jake Mangum Jake Mangum On bench Sunday
Sun, Aug 23, 2026, 3:16 PM
Mangum is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Dodgers.
Analysis: Mangum will sit for the second time in four games while the Pirates go with a starting outfield of Nick Yorke, Billy Cook and Esmerlyn Valdez from left to right. Following Oneil Cruz's recent return from the injured list, Mangum could find himself more squeezed for playing time while the Pirates look to open up room in the lineup for Jared Triolo, who will draw a 10th consecutive start Sunday. |
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Henry Davis Henry Davis Ceding work to Flores
Sun, Aug 23, 2026, 3:13 PM
Davis is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Dodgers.
Analysis: After making four straight starts behind the plate from Aug. 8 through 12, Davis appears to have fallen into a timeshare with Rafael Flores. Davis has started on consecutive days just once over the past 10 games, with Flores' hot bat earning him more opportunities behind the plate as well as at first base on his non-catching days. |
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Antwone Kelly Antwone Kelly Dispatched to Triple-A
Sun, Aug 23, 2026, 3:01 PM
The Pirates optioned Kelly to Triple-A Indianapolis on Sunday.
Analysis: Kelly's stint in the big leagues lasted just five days, with the right-hander tossing a scoreless inning in relief during his lone appearance in Saturday's 4-3 loss to the Dodgers. The Pirates will called up right-hander Khristian Curtis from Triple-A to replace Kelly in the bullpen. |
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Khristian Curtis Khristian Curtis Back in big leagues
Sun, Aug 23, 2026, 2:54 PM
The Pirates recalled Curtis from Triple-A Indianapolis on Sunday.
Analysis: Curtis will join the big club for the second time this season and will provide the Pirates with a right-hander relief option who's capable of covering multiple innings. In his lone appearance during his previous stint with the Pirates back in July, Curtis struck out four batters over five scoreless innings of long relief. |
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Oneil Cruz Oneil Cruz Not starting Sunday
Sun, Aug 23, 2026, 1:55 PM
Cruz is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Dodgers.
Analysis: Cruz started the past four games after being reinstated from the injured list and will receive a break after going 4-for-13 with three walks, a triple, two homers, one steal, seven RBI and three runs scored. Billy Cook is picking up a start in center field in the series finale in Los Angeles. |
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Konnor Griffin Konnor Griffin Taking swings
Sun, Aug 23, 2026, 9:08 AM
Griffin (finger) took swings Friday as he continues to ramp up baseball activities, MLB.com reports.
Analysis: Griffin is currently working out at the Pirates' facility in Florida. Manager Don Kelly didn't have many details, but he said the initial reports indicate the session went well. Griffin is trending toward a return in early September. |
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Jared Jones Jared Jones Inefficient in no-decision
Sat, Aug 22, 2026, 9:37 PM
Jones took a no-decision against the Dodgers on Saturday, allowing two runs on three hits and five walks in four innings. He struck out five.
Analysis: Facing a vaunted Dodgers lineup, Jones nibbled around the plate Saturday and landed just 48 of his 87 pitches for strikes. The five walks allowed were a season worst, and the hard-throwing right-hander has yet to touch the 90-pitch marker in any of his 15 appearances following a delayed start to the season due to Tommy John surgery. Jones will carry a shaky 4.76 ERA, 1.25 WHIP and 77:26 K:BB over 68 innings into his next scheduled outing in St. Louis. |
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Carmen Mlodzinski Carmen Mlodzinski Serving as bulk reliever Sunday
Sat, Aug 22, 2026, 9:29 PM
Mlodzinski will operate as a bulk reliever against the Dodgers on Sunday, Jason Mackey of MLB.com reports.
Analysis: Lacke Bachar will make his sixth start of the season in Sunday's series finale and figures to toss at least one inning before turning the keys over to Mlodzinski. The latter has allowed at least four earned runs in each of his last three outings, and in eight appearances since the All-Star break, Mlodzinski has a 6.95 ERA and 1.77 WHIP over 22 innings. |
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Lake Bachar Lake Bachar Starting Sunday vs. LAD
Sat, Aug 22, 2026, 9:26 PM
Bachar will be the Pirates' starter for Sunday's series finale against the Dodgers, Jason Mackey of MLB.com reports.
Analysis: Bachar will serve as Pittsburgh's opener for Sunday's game before turning the keys over to Carmen Mlodzinski, the latter of whom will operate in a bulk-relief role. It'll be the sixth start of the season for Bachar, who has a 3.75 ERA, 1.11 WHIP and 73:27 K:BB over 69.2 innings this season between the Pirates and Marlins. |
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Nick Gonzales Nick Gonzales Drives in two
Sat, Aug 22, 2026, 7:23 AM
Gonzales went 2-for-5 with two RBI against the Dodgers on Friday.
Analysis: Gonzales drove in the first run of the game with a single in the opening inning, and he then tacked on an additional run two frames later. In three starts since returning from a head injury, Gonzales has gone 5-for-15 with two RBI, a run scored and a double. Across 499 plate appearances this season, he has maintained an impressive .311 batting average, though Gonzales also has just a .093 ISO. |
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Oneil Cruz Oneil Cruz Forces extras Friday
Sat, Aug 22, 2026, 2:08 AM
Cruz went 1-for-3 with a two-run home run and two walks in Friday's 5-4 extra-inning loss to the Dodgers.
Analysis: Cruz went deep in the eighth inning to force the extra frame. He's gone 3-for-9 with a pair of homers, five RBI and a stolen base over three games since he returned from a fractured left hand. Cruz has hit fifth in all of those contests after primarily serving as the Pirate's leadoff hitter prior to his injury. On the year, he's batting .266 with an .846 OPS, 16 homers, 49 RBI, 47 runs scored, 10 doubles and 22 stolen bases over 67 contests. |
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Bubba Chandler Bubba Chandler Chased after four frames
Sat, Aug 22, 2026, 2:05 AM
Chandler allowed four runs on four hits, two walks and a hit batsman while striking out six over four innings in a no-decision versus the Dodgers on Friday.
Analysis: Chandler had won his last three starts, but he wasn't up to the challenge the Dodgers presented in this contest. The right-hander gave up a pair of runs in the first and third innings for his most runs allowed in a game in August. He has 4.38 ERA, 1.37 WHIP and 114:66 K:BB across 125.1 innings over 25 games (24 starts) this year. Chandler's next outing is projected to be at San Diego. |
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Esmerlyn Valdez Esmerlyn Valdez Sitting Friday
Fri, Aug 21, 2026, 6:11 PM
Valdez is not in the Pirates' starting lineup against the Dodgers on Friday.
Analysis: Valdez will take a seat following a three-game stretch in which he went 0-for-12 with eight strikeouts, one walk and one run scored. Jake Mangum will start in right field and bat eighth in Friday's series opener. |
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Jhostynxon Garcia Jhostynxon Garcia Lands on 7-day IL
Thu, Aug 20, 2026, 4:37 PM
Garcia was placed on the 7-day injured list Thursday with an undisclosed injury, Colin Beazley of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.
Analysis: The Pirates demoted Garcia to Triple-A Indianapolis on Aug. 14 after he had been up with the big club since July 29. The 23-year-old got three hits with a RBI and no walks across 11 plate appearances in the three games he appeared in after being optioned. |
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Robert Hassell III Robert Hassell III Hits 7-day IL
Thu, Aug 20, 2026, 4:31 PM
Hassell was placed on the 7-day injured list Thursday with an undisclosed injury, Colin Beazley of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.
Analysis: Hassell was promoted to Triple-A Indianapolis from Double-A Altoona on Aug. 18, but did not make an appearance prior to the injury designation. He had been with Double-A Altoona since August. 8, where he got four hits with two RBI and six walks across 24 plate appearances in a five game stretch. |
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Brandon Lowe Brandon Lowe Walks off Tigers
Wed, Aug 19, 2026, 10:05 PM
Lowe went 1-for-3 with a solo home run, two walks and two runs scored Wednesday against the Tigers.
Analysis: Lowe capped a dramatic win for Pittsburgh on Wednesday, blasting a walk-off home run against Kenley Jansen in the ninth inning. That marked his fourth long ball of August, though he's also struck out at a 38.2 percent clip while hitting just .229 across 18 games. Lowe now has 27 homers on the season and has also reached 80 RBI for the second consecutive campaign. |
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Rafael Flores Jr. Rafael Flores Jr. Comes up big off bench Wednesday
Wed, Aug 19, 2026, 4:59 PM
Flores went 2-for-2 with two solo home runs in Wednesday's 4-3 win over the Tigers.
Analysis: The Pirates tried to give the red-hot Flores a breather by keeping him out of the lineup Wednesday, but the 25-year-old was summoned off the bench to pinch hit for Henry Davis in the seventh inning and took Jacob Waguespack deep to make it a 3-2 game. Two frames later, Flores homered again to tie it, this time off Detroit closer Kenley Jansen, setting the stage for Brandon Lowe's walk-off blast. Flores has gone yard five times in the last seven games, a sizzling stretch in which he's batting .435 (10-for-23) with 10 RBI. |
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