| News |
|---|
|
Paul Skenes Paul Skenes Fans 10 in tough-luck loss
Sun, Jun 14, 2026, 6:29 PM
Skenes (6-6) took the loss Sunday against the Marlins, allowing two runs on four hits and one walk in six innings. He struck out 10.
Analysis: Skenes was mostly dominant Sunday, recording a staggering 23 whiffs, but Miami did manage to tag him for a pair of solo home runs. The All-Star right-hander fanned double-digit hitters for the third time this year, and it was the seventh time that he spun six innings while yielding two runs or fewer. Skenes has a superb 2.85 ERA, 0.93 WHIP and 99:16 K:BB across 82 innings, but he's set to face a tough test in Colorado his next time out. |
|
Oneil Cruz Oneil Cruz Facing 4-to-6-week timeline
Sun, Jun 14, 2026, 10:35 AM
Pirates general manager Ben Cherington said Sunday that Cruz (hand) is facing an estimated recovery timeline of 4-to-6 weeks, Danny Demilio of PittsburghBaseballNow.com reports.
Analysis: Pittsburgh moved Cruz to the 10-day injured list Wednesday after he was diagnosed with non-displaced fourth and fifth metacarpal fractures in his left hand, with the injury stemming from a hard slide in Atlanta last weekend. While Cruz appears likely to avoid surgery on his hand, he'll still need to wait for the fractured bones to heal before he resumes baseball activities. Given the timeline laid out by Cherington, it wouldn't be surprising if the Pirates opted to hold Cruz out through the All-Star break in mid-July with the hope that the 27-year-old outfielder is ready to go for the start of their second-half schedule. |
|
Tyler Callihan Tyler Callihan Solidifying regular role
Sun, Jun 14, 2026, 10:27 AM
Callihan will start in right field and bat sixth in Sunday's game against the Marlins.
Analysis: The left-handed-hitting Callihan will stick in the lineup for the sixth time in eight games, with both of his absences during that stretch coming against left-handed pitchers. While Oneil Cruz (hand) is on the shelf, the Pirates should have a strong-side platoon role available in the outfield for Callihan so long as he continues to perform well. Callihan has been sizzling at the dish since his May 28 call-up from Triple-A Indianapolis, going 7-for-20 (.350 average) with five extra-base hits, a stolen base and a 6:6 BB:K over 10 games. |
|
Endy Rodriguez Endy Rodriguez Resting for series finale
Sun, Jun 14, 2026, 10:22 AM
Rodriguez is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Marlins.
Analysis: Rodriguez will take a seat for Sunday's matinee game after he started behind the plate in three of the Bucs' previous four contests. Henry Davis will handle catching duties in the series finale. |
|
Konnor Griffin Konnor Griffin Continuing rehab in Florida
Sun, Jun 14, 2026, 8:57 AM
Griffin will report to the Pirates' facility in Bradenton, Fla. during the upcoming week to continue rehab for his right forearm strain, Aidan Stepansky of MLB.com reports.
Analysis: Griffin began playing catch out to 90 feet Wednesday and is expected to gradually increase the distance and intensity of his throwing while he's out in Florida. The standout rookie has been on the shelf since May 31 but could have a realistic shot at returning to action for the Pirates before the end of June, depending on how quickly he's able to resume full baseball activities. |
|
Bryan Reynolds Bryan Reynolds Five-game hitting streak
Sun, Jun 14, 2026, 8:43 AM
Reynolds went 1-for-4 with a double and an RBI on Saturday against the Marlins.
Analysis: Reynolds delivered an RBI double in the third inning to give the Pirates the lead and extend his hitting streak to five games. He has two doubles and a home run in that span, continuing a resurgent season. Reynolds remains only a mediocre source of power -- he has a .158 ISO across 306 plate appearances -- but he is on pace to top both 80 RBI and 80 runs scored thanks to a .265 batting average and .386 on-base percentage across 306 plate appearances. |
|
Gregory Soto Gregory Soto Nails down 10th save
Sat, Jun 13, 2026, 9:37 PM
Soto secured the save Saturday against the Marlins, allowing no runs on one hit and no walks in the ninth inning. He struck out one.
Analysis: After giving up five runs over his previous two outings, Soto bounced back nicely Saturday. Dennis Santana opened the year as Pittsburgh's closer but has since dropped into a setup role, leaving Soto as the Pirates' favorite for saves going forward. Through 30.1 innings, Soto has a strong 3.26 ERA, 0.92 WHIP and 35:12 K:BB while converting 10 of his 13 save chances. |
|
Bubba Chandler Bubba Chandler Six Ks in no-decision
Sat, Jun 13, 2026, 8:59 PM
Chandler took a no-decision Saturday against the Marlins, allowing two runs on three hits and one walk in 5.2 innings. He struck out six.
Analysis: Chandler was one out away from qualifying for what could have been just his second quality start of the season, but he still delivered a strong showing overall. The 23-year-old right-hander has pitched at least five innings in five consecutive outings, though he remains without a single appearance with zero walks this year. Chandler will be tough to trust during his next scheduled start in Colorado, where he'll bring a shaky 4.76 ERA, 1.38 WHIP and 68:41 K:BB over 68 frames. |
|
Wilber Dotel Wilber Dotel Dealing with lat strain
Sat, Jun 13, 2026, 2:01 PM
The Pirates placed Dotel on the 15-day injured list Saturday with a right lat strain.
Analysis: Dotel gave up four earned runs in just 1.2 innings during his appearance Friday, and his strained lat may have been a factor in his poor performance. He'll now remain out until at least June 28, and the Pirates will bring up Brandan Bidois from Triple-A Indianapolis to fill the void in their bullpen. |
|
Brandan Bidois Brandan Bidois Back in majors
Sat, Jun 13, 2026, 1:56 PM
The Pirates recalled Bidois from Triple-A Indianapolis on Saturday.
Analysis: Bidois was sent down to Triple-A on Friday, but he'll turn around and head right back to Pittsburgh following Wilber Dotel's (lat) move to the injured list Saturday. Bidois has turned in a 4.05 ERA and 1.65 WHIP through 13.1 innings with the Pirates this season, but a 7.08 FIP will likely ensure he remains far away from high-leverage opportunities. |
|
Antwone Kelly Antwone Kelly Sent back to Triple-A
Sat, Jun 13, 2026, 11:33 AM
The Pirates optioned Kelly to Triple-A Indianapolis on Saturday, Danny Demilio of PittsburghBaseballNow.com reports.
Analysis: Kelly will head back to the minors after giving up two earned runs in 2.1 innings during his MLB debut Friday. The 22-year-old owns a 4.50 ERA and 1.48 WHIP through 54 frames at Indianapolis while working primarily as a starter and could be called upon to make additional appearances for the Pirates later in the season -- likely as a long reliever. Isaac Mattson was recalled from Triple-A to fill the open spot in Pittsburgh's bullpen. |
|
Isaac Mattson Isaac Mattson Back with Buccos
Sat, Jun 13, 2026, 11:28 AM
The Pirates recalled Mattson from Triple-A Indianapolis on Saturday, Danny Demilio of PittsburghBaseballNow.com reports.
Analysis: Mattson will rejoin the Pirates' bullpen after posting a 1.86 ERA and 1.45 WHIP with 11 strikeouts in 9.2 innings since being optioned to Triple-A on May 20. Antwone Kelly was optioned to Indianapolis in a corresponding move. |
|
Rafael Flores Jr. Rafael Flores Jr. Sent back to Indy
Sat, Jun 13, 2026, 11:23 AM
The Pirates optioned Flores to Triple-A Indianapolis on Saturday, Danny Demilio of PittsburghBaseballNow.com reports.
Analysis: Flores went 2-for-5 and notched his first MLB home run during his brief run with the Pirates, but he'll head back to Triple-A now that Henry Davis has returned from paternity leave. Flores could return to Pittsburgh later in the season if the big club's catcher depth is tested again, though most of his time will likely be spent in the minors. |
|
Henry Davis Henry Davis Back from paternity leave
Sat, Jun 13, 2026, 11:19 AM
The Pirates reinstated Davis from the paternity list Saturday, Danny Demilio of PittsburghBaseballNow.com reports.
Analysis: Davis returns to the active roster after spending the past three days away from the team to welcome the birth of his first child. Rafael Flores was optioned to Triple-A Indianapolis in a corresponding move. |
|
Brandon Lowe Brandon Lowe Tallies 17th homer
Sat, Jun 13, 2026, 8:56 AM
Lowe went 1-for-4 with a solo home run Friday against the Mariners.
Analysis: Lowe popped a home run in the eighth inning, his 17th of the season and second in as many games. He's had an all-or-nothing approach at the plate across his first 10 games of June, hitting only .189 with a 26.2 percent strikeout rate. However, three of his seven hits in that span have cleared the fence. |
|
Endy Rodriguez Endy Rodriguez Flashes power in Friday's loss
Sat, Jun 13, 2026, 8:25 AM
Rodriguez went 2-for-4 with a double, a solo home run and a second run scored in Friday's 8-3 loss to the Marlins.
Analysis: After sitting out Thursday's game due to a minor hip issue, Rodriguez looked plenty healthy in his return as he took Sandy Alcantara deep in the fifth inning. The 26-year-old catcher is slashing .240/.387/.420 in 19 games since joining the big-league roster in mid-May with two homers, two steals, six RBI and nine runs, making a solid case to remain part of the picture behind the plate when Joey Bart (foot) is activated from the IL. |
|
Braxton Ashcraft Braxton Ashcraft Settles for no-decision Friday
Sat, Jun 13, 2026, 8:21 AM
Ashcraft didn't factor into the decision in Friday's 8-3 loss to the Marlins, giving up two runs on five hits and two walks over five innings. He struck out four.
Analysis: The right-hander didn't have his best stuff, tossing 56 of 90 pitches for strikes with just nine swinging strikes, but Ashcraft limited the damage and left the mound with the score tied 2-2. He's now failed to last longer than five innings in back-to-back starts to begin June after completing at least six frames in all six of his May outings, and fatigue may be creeping up on Ashcraft -- he's already thrown 84.2 innings in 2026 after working a career-high 118 between Triple-A and the majors last season. He'll take a 3.30 ERA, 1.10 WHIP and 90:19 K:BB into his next start, which is set to come on the road next week against the A's. |
|
Endy Rodriguez Endy Rodriguez Back in action Friday
Fri, Jun 12, 2026, 4:58 PM
Rodriguez (hip) is starting behind the plate and batting seventh Friday against the Marlins.
Analysis: The 26-year-old exited Wednesday's game against the Dodgers due to left hip discomfort but is ready to rejoin the lineup for Friday's series opener versus the Marlins. Since going 2-for-4 with a double and a homer June 2, Rodriguez has just one hit in 16 at-bats over his past seven contests. |
|
Antwone Kelly Antwone Kelly Up with big club
Fri, Jun 12, 2026, 9:47 AM
The Pirates recalled Kelly from Triple-A Indianapolis on Friday, Colin Beazley of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.
Analysis: Kelly has logged a 4.50 ERA, 1.48 WHIP and 47:24 K:BB across 54 innings with Indianapolis this season. He's been used mostly as a starting pitcher with Indianapolis, but the Pirates will break him in at the major-league level as a reliever. |
|
Brandan Bidois Brandan Bidois Optioned to Triple-A
Fri, Jun 12, 2026, 9:44 AM
The Pirates optioned Bidois to Triple-A Indianapolis on Friday, Colin Beazley of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.
Analysis: Bidois has had a rough week, yielding five runs (one earned) on three hits and four walks over two innings in two appearances. His spot in the bullpen will be filled by Antwone Kelly. |
Connect With Us:
