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Evan Sisk Evan Sisk Rehab assignment on tap
Wed, Jul 29, 2026, 10:35 AM
Sisk (elbow) will begin a rehab assignment at Triple-A Indianapolis on Thursday, Alex Stumpf of MLB.com reports.
Analysis: Sisk has been shelved for the past month with left elbow inflammation, but he's progressed enough to pitch in games again. The southpaw reliever was terrific out of the Pirates bullpen before getting hurt, collecting a 2.23 ERA, 1.18 WHIP and 43:13 K:BB in 36.1 innings. |
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Oneil Cruz Oneil Cruz Cleared for all baseball activities
Wed, Jul 29, 2026, 10:31 AM
Pirates director of sports medicine Todd Tomczyk said Wednesday that Cruz (hand) has been cleared for all baseball activities, Alex Stumpf of MLB.com reports.
Analysis: Cruz is finally trending in the right direction as he continues rehabbing a fractured left hand. The Pirates anticipate the center fielder getting in some live at-bats later this week or early next week before heading out on a rehab assignment shortly thereafter. Cruz is eligible to return from the 60-day injured list Aug. 7, and he could be ready to go on or around that date if all goes well. Jake Mangum has been filling in as the Pirates' everyday center fielder since Cruz went down, but he will revert to fourth-outfielder duties once Cruz is back in the fold. |
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Seth Hernandez Seth Hernandez Could be done for season
Wed, Jul 29, 2026, 10:18 AM
Pirates director of sports medicine Todd Tomczyk said Wednesday that Hernandez is expected to be out for 6-to-8 weeks while recovering from a left oblique strain, Danny Demilio of PittsburghBaseballNow.com reports.
Analysis: Given the recovery timeline laid out by Tomczyk, Hernandez's 2026 campaign is most likely over, as High-A Greensboro will wrap up its season Sept. 6. After the 20-year-old right-hander totaled 74 innings between his 18 starts at High-A and Single-A Bradenton, he may have been a shutdown candidate at some point in August if the injury hadn't intervened. The oblique strain shouldn't dramatically affect Hernandez's offseason training program nor his standing as one of the top pitching prospects in the minors heading into 2027. Hernandez overwhelmed Florida State League and South Atlantic League hitters with his power arsenal during his first season in the pro ranks, racking up 118 strikeouts while pitching to a 2.43 ERA and 1.05 WHIP. |
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Endy Rodriguez Endy Rodriguez Absent from lineup
Wed, Jul 29, 2026, 9:50 AM
Rodriguez is not in the lineup for Wednesday's game versus the Diamondbacks.
Analysis: The Pirates have eased Rodriguez back into action following his return from the injured list earlier this week, as this will be his second time on the bench in three contests. Rodriguez should eventually retake the primary catcher job, but it will be Henry Davis behind the dish in Wednesday's series finale. |
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Jacob Gonzalez Jacob Gonzalez Out of lineup versus left-hander
Wed, Jul 29, 2026, 9:48 AM
Gonzalez is not in the lineup for Wednesday's contest against the Diamondbacks.
Analysis: With left-hander Eduardo Rodriguez on the bump for the Diamondbacks, the lefty-swinging Gonzalez will begin the game on the bench. Jared Triolo will fill in at shortstop and bat seventh in Wednesday's rubber match. |
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Jake Mangum Jake Mangum Out of Pittsburgh lineup
Wed, Jul 29, 2026, 9:43 AM
Mangum is not in the lineup for Wednesday's contest versus the Diamondbacks.
Analysis: Mangum will rest during Wednesday's matinee after starting in center field each of the last five days. Jhostynxon Garcia will enter the Pirates' lineup in center field and will bat eighth. |
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Isaac Mattson Isaac Mattson Demoted to Indianapolis
Wed, Jul 29, 2026, 9:25 AM
The Pirates optioned Mattson to Triple-A Indianapolis on Wednesday, Kevin Gorman of TribLive.com reports.
Analysis: Mattson (1.2 innings, 39 pitches) and Brandon Eisert (2.1 innings, 41 pitches) both saw heavy usage out of the bullpen in Tuesday's 8-7 loss to Arizona in 12 innings, so Pittsburgh will call up a pair of fresh relief arms from Triple-A (Noah Murdock and Hunter Barco) to replace them ahead of Wednesday's series finale. During his six-plus-week stay in the majors, Mattson appeared in 13 games and turned in a 6.39 ERA, 1.74 WHIP and 15:4 K:BB across 12.2 innings. |
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Brandon Eisert Brandon Eisert Dispatched to minors
Wed, Jul 29, 2026, 9:25 AM
The Pirates optioned Eisert to Triple-A Indianapolis on Wednesday, Jason Mackey of MLB.com reports.
Analysis: Eisert was needed for 2.1 innings and 41 pitches in Tuesday's extra-innings loss to the Diamondbacks, so he's being replaced by a fresh arm. The lefty holds a 6.29 ERA and 40:12 K:BB over 34.1 innings between the White Sox and Pirates this season. |
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Hunter Barco Hunter Barco Added to bullpen
Wed, Jul 29, 2026, 9:21 AM
The Pirates recalled Barco from Triple-A Indianapolis on Wednesday, Jason Mackey of MLB.com reports.
Analysis: Barco has appeared in five games out of the Pittsburgh bullpen this season, logging a 7.71 ERA and 8:9 K:BB over 11.2 innings. The left-hander has been pitching in relief lately with Indianapolis and can provide length for a Pirates bullpen that's been overused of late. |
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Tyler Callihan Tyler Callihan Sent back to Triple-A
Wed, Jul 29, 2026, 9:20 AM
The Pirates optioned Callihan to Triple-A Indianapolis on Wednesday, Danny Demilio of PittsburghBaseballNow.com reports.
Analysis: Callihan had settled into the strong side of a platoon at multiple positions shortly after being called up from Indianapolis on May 28, but he was benched against a righty (Brandon Pfaadt) in Tuesday's 8-7 loss to Arizona and will now find himself back in the minors after a prolonged dry spell at the plate. After opening his time in Pittsburgh by getting on base at a .447 clip and providing five extra-base hits and a stolen base through his first 13 games, Callihan slashed just .156/.191/.266 with one home run, no steals and a 42 percent strikeout rate over his subsequent 27 contests. The Pirates will likely lean on a committee of Marcell Ozuna, Jhostynxon Garcia and Jared Triolo to replace Callihan's spot in the lineup versus right-handed pitching. |
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Noah Murdock Noah Murdock Moves up from Triple-A
Wed, Jul 29, 2026, 9:17 AM
The Pirates recalled Murdock from Triple-A Indianapolis on Wednesday.
Analysis: Murdock has previously been up with the Pirates on two occasions as the 27th man during a doubleheader, but he has yet to make his team debut. The righty will give Pittsburgh a fresh bullpen arm after it went extra innings in each of the first two games of the series against the Diamondbacks. |
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Jhostynxon Garcia Jhostynxon Garcia Returns to majors
Wed, Jul 29, 2026, 9:13 AM
The Pirates recalled Garcia from Triple-A Indianapolis on Wednesday, Jason Mackey of MLB.com reports.
Analysis: Garcia has spent virtually all of the 2026 season with Indianapolis, slashing .270/.340/.422 with seven home runs and a 21:54 BB:K. Though Garcia will start in center field and bat eighth in Wednesday's series finale versus Arizona, he doesn't have an obvious path to an everyday role and could settle in as a backup at all three outfield spots during his latest stint in the big leagues. |
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Brandon Lowe Brandon Lowe Sparks ninth-inning comeback
Wed, Jul 29, 2026, 8:48 AM
Lowe went 2-for-5 with a two-run home run, a double and a walk in Tuesday's 8-7 extra-innings loss to the Diamondbacks.
Analysis: Lowe's two-run shot in the bottom of the ninth allowed the Pirates to force extra innings, but Pittsburgh would end up losing in 12 innings. Lowe has been seeing the ball well lately, and this was his third consecutive multi-hit contest. He's hitting .314 with an .861 OPS, a homer, three doubles, five RBI and six runs scored since the All-Star break. |
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Wilber Dotel Wilber Dotel Tagged with loss
Wed, Jul 29, 2026, 8:45 AM
Dotel (1-3) was tagged with the loss Tuesday against the Diamondbacks after allowing an unearned run on two hits and a walk across two innings. He didn't record a strikeout.
Analysis: Dotel pitched the 11th and 12th innings, and he gave up the deciding run of the game in the 12th on an RBI single from James McCann that scored Tyler Locklear. Dotel has yet to allow an earned run in three outings and six innings since returning from the injured list July 18 after missing more than a month with a lat problem. He owns a 4.44 ERA with a 1.27 WHIP across 24.1 innings and 12 outings with the Pirates in 2026. |
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Bubba Chandler Bubba Chandler Escapes with no-decision
Wed, Jul 29, 2026, 8:39 AM
Chandler didn't factor into the decision Tuesday against the Diamondbacks despite allowing five runs (four earned) on eight hits and a walk across four innings. He struck out three.
Analysis: Chandler appeared headed for his ninth loss of the season, but the Pirates scored six runs between the eighth and ninth innings, so Chandler was able to escape with a no-decision. Still, he hasn't been consistent lately. Over his last six starts, the 24-year-old has three outings in which he's allowed two runs or fewer, and three in which he's given up at least four runs. Chandler will look to bounce back in his next start, tentatively scheduled for Sunday at Cincinnati. |
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Esmerlyn Valdez Esmerlyn Valdez Good to go Tuesday
Tue, Jul 28, 2026, 3:04 PM
Valdez (hand) will be in the starting lineup for Tuesday's game against the Diamondbacks, Jason Mackey of MLB.com reports.
Analysis: Valdez exited Monday's series opener after being struck on the left hand by a pitch, but he won't end up missing a start after he underwent medical testing and was diagnosed with a bruise. The 22-year-old is in a bit of a slump, having gone 3-for-16 with six walks and eight strikeouts over his past six games, but he's been a force at the plate overall in July with a 1.043 OPS through 21 contests. |
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Spencer Horwitz Spencer Horwitz Suffers concussion on rehab
Tue, Jul 28, 2026, 2:44 PM
Horwitz (hamstring) was diagnosed with a concussion Tuesday after being hit in the helmet with a pitch while on a rehab assignment at Single-A Bradenton, Aiden Stepansky of MLB.com reports.
Analysis: Horwitz's activation from the 10-day injured list had appeared imminent, but his status is now up in the air as a result of the head injury. The first baseman initially landed on the IL in late June due to a left hamstring strain, but he appears to have made a full recovery from that injury. Horwitz will remain on the IL for now and might need to play more rehab games once he clears concussion protocol. |
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Esmerlyn Valdez Esmerlyn Valdez Avoids fracture
Tue, Jul 28, 2026, 12:36 PM
Valdez was diagnosed with a bruised left hand after medical testing Tuesday showed no fractures, Alex Stumpf of MLB.com reports.
Analysis: After being hit by a pitch on the left hand Monday against the Diamondbacks, the 22-year-old underwent a "battery" of tests Tuesday and appears to have avoided a serious injury. Valdez should be considered day-to-day, though it's unclear if he'll be able to rejoin the lineup for Tuesday's contest. |
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Oneil Cruz Oneil Cruz Nearing rehab assignment
Tue, Jul 28, 2026, 11:53 AM
Pirates general manager Ben Cherington said Sunday that Cruz (hand) has had "good days of late" and could be ready to start up a rehab assignment in early August, Dominic Campbell of SI.com reports.
Analysis: Cruz has been on the shelf since sustaining a fractured left hand June 8 and will be eligible to return from the 60-day injured list Aug. 7. He would appear to have decent odds of being ready to rejoin the Pirates on or around that date, as he's been swinging a bat for a few weeks and seems to have moved past the lingering soreness in his hand that he had experienced early on during the recovery process. Cruz will continue to ramping up over the next few days before the Pirates potentially map out a rehab assignment for him. |
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Evan Sisk Evan Sisk Starts throwing again
Tue, Jul 28, 2026, 11:39 AM
Sisk (elbow) began a throwing progression July 18, MLB.com reports.
Analysis: The Pirates haven't provided word on when Sisk will be ready to begin a rehab assignment, but that could happen soon if he's experienced no setbacks while ramping up his throwing. Before hitting the shelf July 4 due to left elbow inflammation, Sisk turned in a 2.23 ERA, 1.18 WHIP and 43:13 K:BB in 36.1 innings out of the Pittsburgh bullpen. |
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