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Shawn Ross Shawn Ross Sent back to Triple-A
Mon, Jul 27, 2026, 2:29 PM
The Pirates optioned Ross to Triple-A Indianapolis on Monday, Danny Demilio of PittsburghBaseballNow.com reports.
Analysis: After receiving his first big-league call-up Friday when Rafael Flores (concussion) landed on the 7-day injured list, Ross will head back to Triple-A three days later with Pittsburgh getting another catcher in Endy Rodriguez (glute) back from the 10-day IL. Ross was able to make an impact at the dish in his short time in the majors, going 1-for-5 with a two-run home run over two games. |
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Endy Rodriguez Endy Rodriguez Back from IL
Mon, Jul 27, 2026, 2:26 PM
The Pirates reinstated Rodriguez (glute) from the 10-day injured list Monday, Danny Demilio of PittsburghBaseballNow.com reports.
Analysis: Rodriguez won't be included in the starting nine for Monday's series opener versus the Diamondbacks, but he should at the very least move back into a timeshare at catcher with Henry Davis. Before hitting the shelf July 8 due to a left glute strain, Rodriguez slashed .260/.388/.470 with five home runs, two stolen bases, 16 RBI and 15 runs over his 35 games with Pittsburgh. The Pirates optioned catcher Shawn Ross to Triple-A Indianapolis to open up a spot on the active roster for Rodriguez. |
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Seth Hernandez Seth Hernandez Lands on IL at High-A
Mon, Jul 27, 2026, 11:57 AM
High-A Greensboro placed Hernandez on its 7-day injured list Saturday due a left oblique discomfort, Jonathan Mayo of MLB.com reports.
Analysis: Hernandez's most recent appearance with Greensboro came Friday, when he logged three shutout innings with five strikeouts. The Pirates haven't provided an update on the severity of the young right-hander's injury, making it difficult to project whether he'll pitch again in 2026. Hernandez has put together a dominant first season in the professional ranks, collecting a 2.43 ERA and 118:31 K:BB over 74 innings between Greensboro and Single-A Bradenton. |
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Pops first career homer
Sun, Jul 26, 2026, 9:40 PM
Ross went 1-for-4 with a two-run home run Sunday against the Cubs.
Analysis: Ross drew his first big-league start Sunday and took immediate advantage, slugging the two-run homer in his first plate appearance. Endy Rodriguez (glute) is nearing his return and will likely cost Ross his roster spot, but Ross will serve as Pittsburgh's backup catcher in the short term. |
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Esmerlyn Valdez Esmerlyn Valdez Smacks 14th homer
Sun, Jul 26, 2026, 9:13 PM
Valdez went 2-for-4 with a solo home run, a walk, two runs scored and two RBI on Sunday against the Cubs.
Analysis: Valdez continued to power the Pirates' offense, first delivering a solo home run in the second inning and then an RBI single three frames later. He continues to have an extreme boom-or-bust profile, as he's struck out at a 38.9 percent clip since the start of July. On the other hand, he has eight home runs, 24 RBI and 16 runs scored across 20 games in that span. |
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Ryan O'Hearn Ryan O'Hearn Grand slam against Cubs
Sun, Jul 26, 2026, 9:02 PM
O'Hearn went 1-for-2 with a grand slam, two walks and two runs scored Sunday against the Cubs.
Analysis: O'Hearn broke the game open with a grand slam in the third inning, his 17th home run of the season. He's now matched his career-best homer total -- previously set in 2025 -- but he's reached the mark in 169 fewer plate appearances in the current campaign. O'Hearn has slumped for much of July, and he's gone only 6-for-31 since the All-Star break. |
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Rejoins High-A lineup
Sun, Jul 26, 2026, 6:18 PM
Blanco (hamstring) has gone 2-for-8 with a home run, a double and five RBI in two games for High-A Greensboro since being reinstated from the 7-day injured list Friday.
Analysis: Blanco had been on the IL for just over a month before returning to action for Greensboro after completing a four-game rehab assignment between the rookie-level Florida Complex League and Single-A Bradenton. The 21-year-old has produced plenty of pop with 26 extra-base hits in 51 games at High-A this season, but he's getting on base at just a .317 clip. |
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Khristian Curtis Khristian Curtis Deactivated at Triple-A
Sun, Jul 26, 2026, 6:08 PM
Triple-A Indianapolis placed Curtis on its 7-day injured list Saturday due to an unspecified injury, Jason Mackey of MLB.com reports.
Analysis: Curtis presumably sustained the injury during his 3.2-inning relief appearance with Indianapolis on Friday. The right-hander had just been optioned to Triple-A last weekend after he made his MLB debut with the Pirates shortly after the All-Star break. |
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Running hot since return
Sun, Jul 26, 2026, 6:05 PM
Jebb (thumb) has gone 5-for-9 with two home runs and five RBI in two games for Triple-A Indianapolis since being reinstated from the 60-day injured list Friday.
Analysis: Jebb had been on the shelf since April 28 after fracturing and suffering ligament damage to his left thumb and undergoing surgery. The 24-year-old hasn't needed much time to rediscover his power stroke upon returning to action at Indianapolis and has now slugged four home runs in eight Triple-A games this season. |
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Mason Montgomery Mason Montgomery Escapes with second save
Sun, Jul 26, 2026, 5:17 PM
Montgomery secured the save Sunday against the Cubs, allowing two runs on two hits and no walks in the ninth inning. He struck out two.
Analysis: It was interesting to see Pittsburgh deploy Montgomery in the ninth over Gregory Soto, who's been the club's primary closer this season and last worked Friday. Montgomery appears to be working his way up the bullpen ladder following the departure of Dennis Santana, but he barely survived Sunday and needed every bit of the 8-5 lead he was granted. Through 42.1 innings, Montgomery has a 4.04 ERA, 1.23 WHIP and 65:19 K:BB with two saves in two chances. |
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Braxton Ashcraft Braxton Ashcraft Nabs 10th win Sunday
Sun, Jul 26, 2026, 5:08 PM
Ashcraft (10-4) earned the win Sunday against the Cubs, allowing four runs on seven hits and two walks in six innings. He struck out five.
Analysis: Ashcraft hardly pitched well enough to deserve the win Sunday, but he received plenty of run support while Pittsburgh jumped out to an early 7-1 lead. The right-hander had a strong 2.77 ERA for the season through the month of May but has struggled mightily overall since the beginning of June, posting a 6.04 ERA and 1.43 WHIP over his last 47.2 innings (nine starts). Ashcraft is set to take a 4.05 ERA, 1.19 WHIP and 135:30 K:BB across 122.1 frames into his next scheduled outing in Cincinnati. |
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Henry Davis Henry Davis Resting Sunday
Sun, Jul 26, 2026, 12:36 PM
Davis is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Cubs.
Analysis: Davis will receive a breather for the matinee contest after he started behind the plate in the first two games of the series. Shawn Ross will pick up his first MLB start at catcher Sunday while Davis rests. |
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Paul Skenes Paul Skenes Unravels late in loss
Sat, Jul 25, 2026, 10:03 PM
Skenes (9-9) took the loss against the Cubs on Saturday, allowing five runs on six hits and two walks with 11 strikeouts over 5.1 innings.
Analysis: Skenes was locked in a pitcher's duel with Shota Imanaga before allowing three runs in the fifth inning and being charged with two more after departing with one out in the sixth. It snapped a three-start winning streak during which the 24-year-old yielded three earned runs or fewer, though he did generate 22 whiffs on 105 pitches while posting a season-high 11 punchouts Saturday. He owns a 3.65 ERA, 1.06 WHIP and 149:28 K:BB across 120.2 innings this season and will aim to rebound in a road matchup with the Reds next week. |
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Brandon Lowe Brandon Lowe Not in Saturday's lineup
Sat, Jul 25, 2026, 4:04 PM
Lowe is out of the lineup for Pittsburgh's matchup against the Cubs on Saturday.
Analysis: Lowe will ride the bench after going hitless with a walk and a strikeout in four plate appearances in the series opener against Chicago on Friday. Nick Gonzales will move over to second base and bat second for Pittsburgh. |
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Jared Jones Jared Jones Quality start against Cubs
Sat, Jul 25, 2026, 9:24 AM
Jones didn't factor into the decision in Friday's 3-2 extra-inning loss to the Cubs, allowing one run on two hits and a walk over six innings. He struck out five.
Analysis: The right-hander continues to look good in July, with the only blemish on his line Friday coming on a solo shot by Pete Crow-Armstrong in the sixth inning. Jones produced his second quality start of 2026 on 83 pitches (55 strikes), and he's given up just three runs total over four starts and 21 innings this month with a 1.29 ERA, 0.52 WHIP and 28:4 K:BB. Jones will look to stay locked in during his next trip to the mound, which is scheduled to come at home next week against the Diamondbacks. |
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Jake Mangum Jake Mangum Back in Friday's lineup
Fri, Jul 24, 2026, 3:58 PM
Mangum (foot) is in the lineup for Friday's game against the Cubs.
Analysis: Mangum was scratched from Wednesday's series finale against the Yankees due to right foot discomfort, but he is good to go for the series opener Friday against the Cubs. Mangum will lead off and play center field for Pittsburgh. |
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Contract selected
Fri, Jul 24, 2026, 3:51 PM
The Pirates selected Ross's contract from Triple-A Indianapolis on Friday.
Analysis: He's grabbing the roster spot vacated by Rafael Flores (concussion). Ross was slashing just .163/.272/.327 at Indianapolis, and his stint in the majors is likely to be brief, as Endy Rodriguez (glute) is due back soon. If Ross gets into a game, it will be his major-league debut. |
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Jose Urquidy Jose Urquidy DFA'd by Pittsburgh
Fri, Jul 24, 2026, 3:48 PM
Pittsburgh designated Urquidy for assignment Friday.
Analysis: Urquidy has been with Triple-A Indianapolis since April 17 after logging just five appearances with the big-league club. The 31-year-old started 17 games for Indianapolis, posting a 3.66 ERA, 1.05 WHIP and 73:18 K:BB in 83.2 innings this season. Pittsburgh designated Urquidy in order to make room for Shawn Ross on the 40-man roster. |
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Rafael Flores Jr. Rafael Flores Jr. Lands on concussion injured list
Fri, Jul 24, 2026, 3:48 PM
The Pirates placed Flores on the 7-day concussion injured list Friday.
Analysis: It's unclear when Flores suffered the concussion, but he will be sidelined for at least the next week. With Endy Rodriguez (glute) starting a rehab assignment Friday, Flores is likely to be optioned to Triple-A Indianapolis once healthy. |
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Endy Rodriguez Endy Rodriguez Starting up rehab assignment
Fri, Jul 24, 2026, 1:32 PM
Rodriguez (glute) will begin a rehab assignment with Triple-A Indianapolis on Friday, Aiden Stepansky of MLB.com reports.
Analysis: Rodriguez has been sidelined for two-plus weeks with a left glute strain, but he has been cleared to test things out in game action. Because his absence has been brief, the 26-year-old shouldn't need many rehab at-bats before rejoining the active roster. Once reinstated, Rodriguez is likely to share catching duties with Henry Davis. |
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