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Paul Skenes Paul Skenes Fans 10 but takes loss
Fri, May 29, 2026, 8:42 AM
Skenes (6-5) was charged with the loss Thursday against the Cubs after allowing three runs (one earned) on four hits and three walks across 5.1 innings. He struck out 10.
Analysis: Skenes tossed 62 of his 103 pitches for strikes and struck out double-digit batters for the second time in his last four starts, but he was the victim of subpar defense once again. The star hurler has been struggling of late, as Skenes has taken the loss his last three starts -- a stretch in which he's posted a 5.87 ERA and 1.57 WHIP across 15.1 innings, albeit with an elite 19:5 K:BB. Skenes will aim to bounce back in his next start, scheduled for next week on the road against the Astros. |
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Nick Gonzales Nick Gonzales Dealing with knee discomfort
Thu, May 28, 2026, 7:03 PM
Gonzales was removed from Thursday's contest against the Cubs due to left knee discomfort.
Analysis: Gonzales had a limp running out of the box in the second inning, and it is now understood to have been due to residual pain in his left knee from a ball he fouled off his leg in Wednesday's loss to Chicago. He is considered day-to-day for the time being, and Tyler Callihan has entered the contest, making his Pirates debut at third base in place of Gonzales. |
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Nick Gonzales Nick Gonzales Exits early Thursday
Thu, May 28, 2026, 6:38 PM
Gonzales (undisclosed) exited Thursday's contest against the Cubs in the fourth inning, Danny Demilio of PittsburghBaseballNow.com reports.
Analysis: Gonzales was spotted limped out of the box on a fly out in the bottom of the second inning, and he was ultimately removed from the game a little over one inning later when the Pirates took the field defensively in the top of the fourth. Tyler Callihan replaced him at third base, batting seventh against Chicago. More information on the status of Gonzales will likely be provided in the near future. |
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Marcell Ozuna Marcell Ozuna Resting during series finale
Thu, May 28, 2026, 5:59 PM
Ozuna isn't in the lineup for Thursday's game against the Cubs.
Analysis: Ozuna will retreat to the bench Thursday after going just 2-for-13 with an RBI and six strikeouts through the first three games of the series. Bryan Reynolds will serve as the Pirates' designated hitter in Ozuna's stead, opening up left field for Jhostynxon Garcia. |
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Konnor Griffin Konnor Griffin Managing forearm issue
Thu, May 28, 2026, 5:27 PM
Griffin is dealing with soreness in his right forearm, Danny Demilio of PittsburghBaseballNow.com reports.
Analysis: Griffin won't be in the starting lineup for Thursday's game against the Cubs, but he will be available off the bench, so it doesn't seem like his forearm issue is anything serious. Jared Triolo will pick up a start at shortstop while Griffin sits. |
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Esmerlyn Valdez Esmerlyn Valdez Demoted to Indianapolis
Thu, May 28, 2026, 5:21 PM
The Pirates optioned Valdez to Triple-A Indianapolis on Thursday.
Analysis: Valdez appeared in five games for the Pirates during his first career stint in the majors, going 2-for-16 with a pair of homers, five total RBI and nine strikeouts. Pittsburgh presumably wasn't satisfied with the 22-year-old's poor strikeout rate, so he'll return to Triple-A while the team brings up utility man Tyler Callihan to fill the open spot on the bench. |
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Tyler Callihan Tyler Callihan Recalled from Indy
Thu, May 28, 2026, 5:14 PM
The Pirates recalled Callihan from Triple-A Indianapolis on Thursday.
Analysis: Callihan has spent the entire season at Indianapolis up to this point, slashing .223/.305/.346 with five home runs, 16 RBI, 30 runs scored and eight steals through 49 games. Although he hasn't been a very efficient producer at the plate, he'll give the Pirates value as a defender capable of covering all three bases as well as the corner outfield positions. Esmerlyn Valdez was optioned to Triple-A in a corresponding move. |
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Carmen Mlodzinski Carmen Mlodzinski Shifted to bullpen
Thu, May 28, 2026, 2:29 PM
Pirates manager Don Kelly said Thursday that Mlodzinski has been moved to the bullpen, Jason Mackey of MLB.com reports.
Analysis: Mlodzinski has held his own as a member of the Pirates' rotation this season, collecting a 3.76 ERA, 1.42 WHIP and 46:20 K:BB over 55 innings. However, with the right-hander having significant relief experience and the Pirates needing bullpen help from the right side, it makes sense to shift Mlodzinski to a relief role to accommodate the return of Jared Jones (elbow). |
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Jared Jones Jared Jones Set for season debut Friday
Thu, May 28, 2026, 2:25 PM
Pirates manager Don Kelly said Thursday that Jones (elbow) will make his season debut Friday at home against the Twins, Jason Mackey of MLB.com reports.
Analysis: It will be Jones' first start at the big-league level since he underwent UCL surgery last May. Jones looked sharp in five rehab starts, logging a 2.89 ERA, 1.02 WHIP and 24:6 K:BB across 18.2 innings. He went 4.1 frames and threw 76 pitches in his last outing, so Jones will not be available for a full workload versus the Twins. Expect the Pirates to manage Jones' innings after he missed all of the 2025 campaign. |
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Brandon Lowe Brandon Lowe Excellent campaign continues
Wed, May 27, 2026, 9:42 PM
Lowe went 1-for-3 with a three-run home run in Wednesday's 10-4 loss to the Cubs.
Analysis: Lowe extended his hitting streak to four games courtesy of a third-inning three-run shot off Cubs right-hander Jameson Taillon on Wednesday. The slugging second baseman has hit safely in 15 of his 23 outings during the month of May, racking up multiple knocks in four of his past seven games. Lowe is flourishing during his first year with Pittsburgh, slashing .269/.355/.560 with 14 long balls, 12 doubles, 36 RBI and 33 runs scored over 220 plate appearances. |
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Bubba Chandler Bubba Chandler Plenty of traffic in no-decision
Wed, May 27, 2026, 9:36 PM
Chandler took a no-decision Wednesday against the Cubs, allowing four runs on eight hits and two walks in five innings. He struck out five.
Analysis: Chandler faced constant pressure from the Chicago bats, tossing a lone clean inning on the evening, but he at least managed to settle down a bit after the Cubs ambushed him for a pair of runs in the opening frame. The 23-year-old right-hander has consistently struggled to work deep into outings, throwing at least six innings on just one occasion so far while walking multiple hitters in nine of his 11 appearances. Chandler will carry a disappointing 4.85 ERA, 1.52 WHIP and 52:36 K:BB across 52 innings into his next scheduled start in Houston against the Astros. |
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Henry Davis Henry Davis Taking seat Wednesday
Wed, May 27, 2026, 3:11 PM
Davis is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Cubs.
Analysis: Davis will be given a break after he started at catcher in the first two games of the series. Endy Rodriguez will fill in for Davis behind the dish Wednesday, forming a battery with starting pitcher Bubba Chandler. |
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Jake Mangum Jake Mangum Sitting in third straight game
Wed, May 27, 2026, 3:06 PM
Mangum is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Cubs.
Analysis: Upon returning from the injured list May 17, Mangum started in five of the Pirates' ensuing seven games, but he'll be relegated to the bench Wednesday for the third consecutive contest. Unless the Pirates are willing to pull the plug on the struggling Marcell Ozuna as their primary designated hitter, Mangum likely won't have a path to steady at-bats in the outfield while Bryan Reynolds and Oneil Cruz are available and while rookie Esmerlyn Valdez is getting prioritized ahead of him. |
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Jhostynxon Garcia Jhostynxon Garcia Sitting for third time in four games
Wed, May 27, 2026, 3:02 PM
Garcia is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Cubs.
Analysis: Garcia will head to the bench for the third time in four games and could have to settle for more of a part-time role in the outfield while the Pirates continue to open up room in the lineup for Marcell Ozuna, who will draw a third straight start. With Ozuna occupying the designated-hitter spot, Oneil Cruz will cover center field and will be flanked by Bryan Reynolds and Esmerlyn Valdez in the corner spots. |
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Spencer Horwitz Spencer Horwitz Stays hot with another homer
Tue, May 26, 2026, 10:03 PM
Horwitz went 2-for-3 with a solo homer, two RBI and one run scored in Tuesday's 12-1 win over the Cubs.
Analysis: Horwitz drove home the Pirates' eighth run of the game with a sac fly in the fifth and later took Daniel Palencia deep for a solo shot in the seventh to make it a 10-1 contest. It was Horwitz's sixth homer of the season and third in his last seven games. The first baseman has hit safely in 17 of 21 games this month and has raised his average 39 points during that span. Horwitz is slashing .289/.391/.467 with the six round-trippers, 25 RBI, 20 runs scored, one stolen base and a 26:24 BB:K across 184 plate appearances this season. While he doesn't hit for much power, Horwitz doesn't strike out and has a high walk rate. |
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Oneil Cruz Oneil Cruz Reaches four times, steals base
Tue, May 26, 2026, 9:55 PM
Cruz went 3-for-3 with three singles, an RBI, a hit-by-pitch, one stolen base and a run scored in Tuesday's 12-1 win over the Cubs.
Analysis: Cruz singled, stole his 17th base of the season and scored in the bottom of the first inning. It was just the third game this month that Cruz didn't record a strikeout after he entered play Tuesday leading the majors with 84 of them, six more than Kyle Schwarber. When Cruz does hit the ball, it typically results in something good happening, as he's in the 100th percentile in average exit velocity (96.1 mph), 95th percentile in barrel rate (16.9 percent), 100th percentile in hard-hit rate (61.4 percent) and 99th percentile in bat speed (78.5 mph). On the season, Cruz is slashing .265/.329/.461 with 11 homers, 35 RBI, 38 runs scored, 17 steals and an 18:84 BB:K across 240 plate appearances. He just needs to cut down on the swings and misses. |
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Bryan Reynolds Bryan Reynolds Pair of doubles, two RBI in win
Tue, May 26, 2026, 9:46 PM
Reynolds went 2-for-4 with two doubles, two RBI and two runs scored in Tuesday's 12-1 win over the Cubs.
Analysis: After Konnor Griffin walked and Brandon Lowe singled to lead off the bottom of the first inning, Reynolds drove home both with a two-run double. He later doubled again in the fifth and scored. Reynolds now has hits in four straight games and has four multi-hit efforts in his last 11 contests, with five doubles in that span. Reynolds is still in a power outage, as he hasn't homered since May 1, spanning 22 games. On the year, he's slashing .256/.379/.390 with four long balls, 34 RBI, 33 runs scored, four stolen bases and a 36:53 BB:K across 235 plate appearances. |
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Braxton Ashcraft Braxton Ashcraft Cruises through 6.1 IP for win
Tue, May 26, 2026, 9:40 PM
Ashcraft (4-2) earned the win Tuesday against the Cubs, allowing one run on seven hits and one walk with five strikeouts across 6.1 innings.
Analysis: The Pittsburgh offense gave Ashcraft plenty of run support, hammering Cubs starter Jordan Wicks for eight runs over 4.1 frames, and Ashcraft held up his end of things to pick up his fourth victory. The right-hander has gone at least six innings in all five starts this month and generated 14 swinging strikes on 95 pitches Tuesday. Ashcraft has plus stuff with an upper 90s fastball and one of the better cutters in the sport. He's in the 89th percentile in chase rate and lowered his ERA to 2.75 with a 70:17 K:BB across 68.2 innings this season. |
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Jhostynxon Garcia Jhostynxon Garcia Shifting to bench Tuesday
Tue, May 26, 2026, 4:29 PM
Garcia is out of the lineup for Tuesday's game against the Cubs.
Analysis: Garcia started in left field in Monday's 2-1 win in the series opener, going 0-for-3 with a strikeout. Since being called up from Triple-A Indianapolis last week, Garcia is slashing .250/.286/.250 over six games and may have to settle for a part-time role until he raises his production and earns steadier playing time. |
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Konnor Griffin Konnor Griffin Batting leadoff versus lefty
Tue, May 26, 2026, 2:46 PM
Griffin will start at shortstop and bat leadoff in Tuesday's game against the Cubs.
Analysis: The right-handed-hitting Griffin has hit second a few times versus lefties, but this will be his first-ever start in the leadoff spot. Griffin enters play Tuesday in a mini slump, having picked up only one hit across his last four contests. |
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