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Carmen Mlodzinski Carmen Mlodzinski Struggles again in short outing
Sun, Apr 26, 2026, 5:33 PM
Mlodzinski (1-2) took the loss Sunday against the Brewers, allowing five runs (four earned) on five hits and one walk in 3.2 innings. He struck out four.
Analysis: Following a pair of scoreless outings in his April 10 and April 15 appearances, Mlodzinski has faltered in each of his past two starts. The right-hander has now coughed up at least four runs in back-to-back outings, failing to work at least five frames in both. While Mlodzinski sports a strong 30:11 K:BB through 28.1 frames so far, his 4.13 ERA and 1.45 WHIP make him tough to trust in his next scheduled start versus the division-rival Reds. |
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Wilber Dotel Wilber Dotel Handling bulk role Monday
Sun, Apr 26, 2026, 4:20 PM
Pirates manager Don Kelly said that Dotel will be utilized as a bulk reliever behind opening pitcher Mason Montgomery in Monday's home game against the Cardinals, Kevin Gorman of TribLive.com reports.
Analysis: Monday had been Braxton Ashcraft's (personal) turn in the rotation, but he won't be eligible to rejoin the Pirates until Tuesday after recently getting placed on the bereavement/medical emergency list. The Pirates will thus turn to Dotel to cover extended innings in Monday's series opener. Dotel has appeared in two contests since being called up from Triple-A Indianapolis on April 19, giving up one run on two hits and three walks while striking out one batter over 2.2 innings. He had previously gotten stretched out to 5.2 innings over his three starts at Triple-A Indianapolis this season prior to being promoted earlier this month. |
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Mason Montgomery Mason Montgomery Set to open Monday's contest
Sun, Apr 26, 2026, 4:16 PM
Montgomery will operate as the Pirates' opening pitcher in Monday's series opener against the Cardinals, Colin Beazley of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.
Analysis: Montgomery will serve as Pittsburgh's opener for the second time this season, having tossed a scoreless first inning in the team's 2-0 win over Washington on April 15. The southpaw has recorded seven straight scoreless appearances, allowing four hits and two walks while striking out 11 over 6.2 innings during that stretch. Wilber Dotel is expected to follow Montgomery on the mound, handling the bulk role against St. Louis on Monday. |
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Brandon Lowe Brandon Lowe Not in Sunday's lineup
Sun, Apr 26, 2026, 12:47 PM
Lowe is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Brewers
Analysis: Lowe went 2-for-9 with a double, a run and three strikeouts in the first two games of the series and will hit the bench for the finale. It's likely just a maintenance day for Lowe with a lefty starter (Kyle Harrison) taking the mound for Milwaukee. |
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Oneil Cruz Oneil Cruz Receiving Sunday off
Sun, Apr 26, 2026, 12:43 PM
Cruz is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Brewers.
Analysis: It's the first day off for Cruz since the second contest of the season, and it comes after he went 0-for-10 with five strikeouts and an RBI across the first two games of the series in Milwaukee. Billy Cook is picking up a start in center field Sunday. |
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Marcell Ozuna Marcell Ozuna Beginning on bench Saturday
Sat, Apr 25, 2026, 3:30 PM
Ozuna isn't in the Pirates' starting lineup Saturday versus Milwaukee.
Analysis: Ozuna will take a seat after starting each of Pittsburgh's previous 10 games and batting .262 with two home runs and eight RBI over that span. The veteran slugger may be beginning to perk up, but he still has a poor .487 OPS and 26.1 strikeout rate through 21 games on the campaign. Ryan O'Hearn is getting a day off his feet as the DH in Ozuna's stead Saturday. |
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Cam Sanders Cam Sanders Brought back up to majors
Sat, Apr 25, 2026, 3:00 PM
Pittsburgh recalled Sanders from Triple-A Indianapolis on Saturday.
Analysis: Sanders had a very brief stint with the big-league club in mid-April, getting into one game and allowing four runs over two-thirds of an inning. His call back to the majors Saturday corresponds to starter Braxton Ashcraft (personal) being placed on the bereavement/family medical emergency list. Sanders could be in for another short stint with the Pirates if Ashcraft isn't out beyond the seven-day maximum. |
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Braxton Ashcraft Braxton Ashcraft Placed on bereavement list
Sat, Apr 25, 2026, 2:50 PM
The Pirates placed Ashcraft (personal) on the bereavement/family medical emergency list Saturday.
Analysis: Ashcraft had been scheduled to make his next start Monday versus St. Louis, but he'll miss that outing since he's required to sit out at least three (and no more than seven) games while on the bereavement list. Pittsburgh called up reliever Cam Sanders from Triple-A Indianapolis to temporarily fill Ashcraft's spot on the 26-man roster. It's unclear who will slide into Ashcraft's rotation spot for what will likely be a spot start Monday. |
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Ryan O'Hearn Ryan O'Hearn Scores twice in win
Fri, Apr 24, 2026, 11:27 PM
O'Hearn went 2-for-4 with a double and two runs scored Friday against the Brewers.
Analysis: O'Hearn tallied hits in the sixth and eighth innings -- the first of which was a double down the right field line -- and he came around to score on each occasion. The effort extended his hitting streak to five games, during which he's gone 7-for-17 with three RBI and four runs scored. O'Hearn has been an excellent contributor overall to begin his first season in Pittsburgh, maintaining a .413 wOBA and .190 ISO across 100 plate appearances. |
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Konnor Griffin Konnor Griffin Clubs first homer on 20th birthday
Fri, Apr 24, 2026, 11:15 PM
Griffin went 3-for-4 with a solo home run, two additional RBI and a steal in Friday's win over Milwaukee.
Analysis: Griffin, who turned 20 years old Friday, bookended the scoring with his first big-league homer during the third inning and a two-run single in the eighth. The long ball ended an 0-for-11 skid, while the three-hit game is also the first of his MLB career. Griffin has yet to find his footing through his first 20 big-league games with a .214/.273/.314 slash line and 28.6 percent strikeout rate, but he's shown flashes of his upside and should continue to get an extended look after inking a nine-year, $140 million extension earlier this month. |
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Paul Skenes Paul Skenes Flirts with perfect game
Fri, Apr 24, 2026, 10:48 PM
Skenes (4-1) earned the win Friday against the Brewers, striking out seven and allowing one hit and no walks over seven scoreless innings.
Analysis: Skenes carried a perfect game into the seventh inning, but Jake Bauers' two-out single ended that bid and prompted manager Don Kelly to go to the bullpen after the completion of the frame. Despite completely shutting down Milwaukee's offense, it still wasn't the right-hander's most dominant performance, as he generated just 10 whiffs on 93 total pitches. After surrendering five runs over two-thirds of an inning Opening Day, Skenes has responded with a 0.95 ERA, 0.53 WHIP and 29:5 K:BB across 28.1 frames in his past five starts. |
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Jared Triolo Jared Triolo Starting rehab assignment
Fri, Apr 24, 2026, 3:16 PM
Triolo (knee) will begin a rehab assignment with Single-A Bradenton on Friday, Kevin Gorman of TribLive.com reports.
Analysis: Triolo has been sidelined for nearly three weeks with a knee issue, but he's ready to test things out in a game setting. The infielder could be ready to return at some point next week and will be in the mix for starts at third base when he is activated. |
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Henry Davis Henry Davis Resting Thursday
Thu, Apr 23, 2026, 4:58 PM
Davis is not in the lineup Thursday versus the Rangers.
Analysis: Davis went 0-for-5 with a walk across the first two games of the series against the Rangers, but he will get a routine breather for the final game of the series. Joey Bart has the start behind the plate Thursday and is batting ninth. |
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Gregory Soto Gregory Soto Picks up win in relief
Thu, Apr 23, 2026, 9:01 AM
Soto (1-0) earned the win in relief Wednesday against the Rangers despite allowing two runs on three hits over an inning while striking out three.
Analysis: Soto entered the game in the bottom of the eighth inning when the Pirates had a 4-2 lead, but he surrendered that advantage after allowing a two-RBI single to Jake Burger, scoring Andrew McCutchen and Brandon Nimmo. However, the Pirates responded with four runs in the top of the ninth -- headlined by a three-run homer from Oneil Cruz -- which allowed Soto to walk away with the win. That said, this was far from his finest outing. It also ended a streak of seven scoreless appearances for the veteran, who nonetheless should continue to have an important role in the Pirates' bullpen going forward. |
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Braxton Ashcraft Braxton Ashcraft Strong showing in no-decision
Thu, Apr 23, 2026, 8:57 AM
Ashcroft didn't factor into the decision Wednesday against the Rangers after tossing seven innings of two-run ball, allowing four hits and two walks while striking out five.
Analysis: Had Ashcraft received a little more support from an offense that woke up to score four runs in the top of the ninth inning, he could've easily earned the win after a solid outing. Ashcraft continued his strong start to the campaign with a fifth straight start in which he allowed two or fewer earned runs, and he's pitched at least six innings three times in that stretch. The right-hander will take his 2.43 ERA and 1.01 WHIP across 29.2 innings into his next start, which is tentatively scheduled for next week at home against the Cardinals. |
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Spencer Horwitz Spencer Horwitz Returning to action Wednesday
Wed, Apr 22, 2026, 5:10 PM
Horwitz (neck) is in Pittsburgh's starting lineup against Texas on Wednesday.
Analysis: Horwitz was scratched from Tuesday's lineup due to neck discomfort, but he has been cleared to return for Wednesday's bout. The 28-year-old first baseman is slashing .255/.382/.400 with two home runs and five RBI over 68 plate appearances this season. |
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Brandon Lowe Brandon Lowe Back in lineup Wednesday
Wed, Apr 22, 2026, 5:07 PM
Lowe (knee) is starting at second base and batting second in Wednesday's game against the Rangers.
Analysis: Lowe was held out of Tuesday's lineup while managing left knee discomfort, but the veteran has been given the green light to return for Wednesday's contest. He is slashing .267/.375/.600 with seven home runs, 18 RBI and 12 runs scored over 88 plate appearances this season. |
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Ryan O'Hearn Ryan O'Hearn Drives in team's lone run
Tue, Apr 21, 2026, 10:04 PM
O'Hearn went 1-for-4 with an RBI single during the Pirates' 5-1 loss to the Rangers on Tuesday.
Analysis: O'Hearn was responsible for the Pirates' lone run scored Tuesday, when his single to center field brought home Oneil Cruz. O'Hearn is up to 16 RBI on the season, which is third most on the team behind Cruz (19) and Brandon Lowe (18). O'Hearn is also sporting a .324 batting average (over 88 plate appearances), which is tied with Liam Hicks for sixth best in the majors. |
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Oneil Cruz Oneil Cruz Collects 10th steal
Tue, Apr 21, 2026, 10:01 PM
Cruz went 1-for-4 with a steal and a run scored during the Pirates' 5-1 loss to the Rangers on Tuesday.
Analysis: Cruz showed off his speed early by stealing second base in the first inning, and after moving to third on a Danny Jansen throwing error, the former was brought home by an Ryan O'Hearn single to center field. Cruz is up to 10 steals (on 11 attempts) this season, which is tied with Nasim Nunez for second most in the majors behind Jose Ramirez (11). Cruz is off to a strong start to the 2026 season with a .897 OPS with six home runs and 19 RBI over 103 plate appearances. |
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Carmen Mlodzinski Carmen Mlodzinski Yields five runs in Tuesday's loss
Tue, Apr 21, 2026, 9:56 PM
Mlodzinski (1-1) took the loss against the Rangers on Tuesday. He allowed five runs on six hits and two walks while striking out six across 4.1 innings.
Analysis: Mlodzinski worked in a long-relief role in his last outing Wednesday against the Nationals behind opener Mason Montgomery, but the former was on the mound from the get-go in Tuesday's contest. He appeared to settle in after giving up two runs in the second inning, but Mlodzinski was unable to escape the fifth, giving up three runs in the frame while recording just one out. It was the first time this season that he gave up more than two runs in a game, and through five outings this season, he sits at a 3.28 ERA, 1.42 WHIP and 26:10 K:BB across 24.2 innings. Mlodzinski will look to bounce back in his next start, which is tentatively slated for this weekend on the road against the Brewers. |
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