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Marcell Ozuna Marcell Ozuna Tallies fifth homer
Sat, May 16, 2026, 9:24 AM
Ozuna went 1-for-4 with a two-run home run Friday against the Phillies.
Analysis: Ozuna took Aaron Nola deep in the fifth inning to record his fifth home run of the season. While his season-long numbers are still lagging, Ozuna has hit .244 with three homers, eight RBI and eight runs scored across 12 games since the start of May. |
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Dennis Santana Dennis Santana Ugly showing in extra-inning loss
Sat, May 16, 2026, 9:21 AM
Santana (2-3) allowed three runs (two earned) on four hits without recording an out to take the loss Friday against the Phillies.
Analysis: Santana worked the 10th inning, following Gregory Soto, who blew a three-run lead one frame prior. Santana allowed a leadoff double and three consecutive singles before being pulled, and he's now allowed multiple earned runs in three of his last seven appearances. He also hasn't logged a save since April 15 and isn't likely to see many chances in the near future given his current form. |
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Gregory Soto Gregory Soto Blows second save
Sat, May 16, 2026, 8:36 AM
Soto was charged with his second blown save of the season Friday in an 11-9 extra-inning loss to the Phillies, giving up three runs (two earned) on two hits and two walks in the ninth inning.
Analysis: With the Pirates holding an 8-5 lead, the southpaw was called in to get them across the finish line, but a Konnor Griffin error put the first batter aboard and things unraveled from there. It was the first time since April 10 that Soto has issued multiple walks, but he's been scored upon in back-to-back appearances, inflating his ERA on the season from 1.33 to 2.42 to go along with a 0.85 WHIP and 26:9 K:BB through 22.1 innings. His job security as the team's primary closing option likely didn't slip, however, as Dennis Santana failed to record an out while taking the loss in the 10th. |
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Brandon Lowe Brandon Lowe Two homers not enough Friday
Sat, May 16, 2026, 8:31 AM
Lowe went 2-for-5 with two home runs and three RBI in Friday's 11-9 extra-inning loss to the Phillies.
Analysis: The second baseman launched a two-run homer off Aaron Nola in the third inning before adding a solo shot off Tim Mayza in the fifth, but Kyle Schwarber and the Phillies' offense took control from there. It was Lowe's third multi-homer game of the season, and through his first 39 contests with Pittsburgh he's slashing .252/.352/.563 with 12 long balls, 26 runs and 31 RBI. |
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Braxton Ashcraft Braxton Ashcraft Settles for no-decision Friday
Sat, May 16, 2026, 8:28 AM
Ashcraft didn't factor into the decision in Friday's 11-9 extra-inning loss to the Phillies, giving up four runs on seven hits over 6.2 innings. He struck out five without walking a batter.
Analysis: The 26-year-old righty had a quality start through six innings with the Pirates holding a 6-3 lead, but manager Don Kelly tried to coax one more frame out of Ashcraft. He got two outs after a leadoff single, but then got lifted after 100 pitches (76 strikes) and had to watch Mason Montgomery serve up a two-run shot to Kyle Schwarber, with the rest of the bullpen ultimately costing Ashcraft his third win of the year. Ashcraft will take a 3.09 ERA, 1.05 WHIP and 56:14 K:BB through 55.1 innings into his next start, which is set to come on the road next week in St. Louis. |
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Henry Davis Henry Davis Absent from lineup again Friday
Fri, May 15, 2026, 2:33 PM
Davis is not in the lineup for Friday's contest versus the Phillies.
Analysis: Davis had appeared set for nearly every day catching reps after Joey Bart (foot) went on the injured list earlier this week, but Endy Rodriguez is drawing a second start in a row behind the dish Friday. The two catchers could split starts fairly evenly while Bart is out unless someone distinguishes themselves. |
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Nick Gonzales Nick Gonzales Taking seat Friday
Fri, May 15, 2026, 2:29 PM
Gonzales is absent from the lineup for Friday's game against the Phillies.
Analysis: After starting 21 games in a 22-game stretch, Gonzales has now been on the bench for two straight for the first time since mid-April. It will be Jared Triolo handling the hot corner again for the Pirates. |
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Carmen Mlodzinski Carmen Mlodzinski Earns win in bulk role
Thu, May 14, 2026, 2:46 PM
Mlodzinski (3-3) earned the win Thursday over the Rockies, allowing two runs on four hits and three walks over five innings. He struck out two.
Analysis: After Mason Montgomery and Evan Sisk combined to blank Colorado through two innings, Mlodzinski entered in the third with the Pirates already ahead 3-0. The 27-year-old Mlodzinski has had an up-and-down year overall, though he has flashed some potential -- Thursday's win was his second in his last three outings. The right-hander's ERA now sits at 4.40 with a 1.44 WHIP and 43:16 K:BB across 45 innings this season. |
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Ryan O'Hearn Ryan O'Hearn Homers again Thursday
Thu, May 14, 2026, 2:33 PM
O'Hearn went 3-for-4 with a two-run homer and an additional run scored in Thursday's 7-2 win over the Rockies.
Analysis: O'Hearn extended Pittsburgh's lead to 3-0 in the first inning with his two-run shot off Chase Dollander, his seventh homer this year. The veteran O'Hearn went 5-for-8 with a pair of home runs in his last two games after going just 9-for-47 (.191) with no homers and one extra-base hit in his previous 12 contests. Overall, O'Hearn's slashing .299/.375/.474 with 29 RBI and 26 runs scored across 176 plate appearances this season. |
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Carmen Mlodzinski Carmen Mlodzinski Bulk-relief outing on tap
Thu, May 14, 2026, 9:57 AM
Mlodzinski is slated to pitch in bulk relief behind opening pitcher Mason Montgomery in Thursday's game against the Rockies in Pittsburgh, Colin Beazley of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.
Analysis: Mlodzinski will work behind an opener for the second time this season, with the right-hander having previously followed Montgomery in an April 15 game against the Nationals. The arrangement didn't end up suppressing Mlodzinski's workload; in fact, the 27-year-old covered six innings in that game against Washington, matching his longest appearance of the season. Montgomery is likely to work just an inning or two before handing the ball over to Mlodzinski, who takes a 4.50 ERA and 1.45 WHIP into Thursday's contest. |
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Mason Montgomery Mason Montgomery Opening Thursday
Wed, May 13, 2026, 10:14 PM
Montgomery will work as the opening pitcher during Thursday's game against the Rockies, Colin Beazley of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.
Analysis: It will be the third time this season that Montgomery has served as an opener after delivering shutout innings in each of his first two assignments. The 25-year-old southpaw has thrown 11 consecutive shutout innings, allowing just five hits and four walks while striking out 13 batters during that stretch. Carmen Mlodzinski is expected to follow Montgomery out of the bullpen. |
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Mitch Keller Mitch Keller Falls to Colorado
Wed, May 13, 2026, 9:59 PM
Keller (4-2) took the loss Wednesday against the Rockies, allowing six runs on seven hits and a walk across 5.2 innings. He struck out three.
Analysis: Keller cruised through his first four innings, holding Colorado without a hit. However, it was a different story in the fifth -- Keller would give up five straight hits to open the frame, allowing the Rockies to tie the game 3-3, before allowing a three-run homer to Mickey Moniak with two outs to cap a six-run frame. It's the first loss in Keller's last five starts -- he'd held opponents to three runs or fewer in four straight outings coming into Wednesday. His ERA now sits at 3.59 with a 1.08 WHIP and 38:15 K:BB across nine starts (52.2 innings) this year. Keller will look to rebound his next time out, tentatively scheduled for next week on the road in St. Louis. |
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Spencer Horwitz Spencer Horwitz Idle against southpaw
Wed, May 13, 2026, 2:50 PM
Horwitz is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Rockies.
Analysis: As is usually the case, the left-handed-hitting Horwitz will be left out of the starting nine while the Pirates face a lefty starter (Jose Quintana). Jared Triolo will step in at first base in place of Horwitz, who has gone 3-for-13 (.231 average) with four walks against lefties this season. |
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Henry Davis Henry Davis Steps in for injured Bart
Wed, May 13, 2026, 2:48 PM
Davis will start at catcher and bat ninth in Wednesday's game against the Rockies.
Analysis: He had slipped to second on the Pirates' catching depth chart to begin May, but Davis appears to have at least temporarily taken over as the team's No. 1 backstop after Joey Bart (foot) was forced to the injured list Tuesday. Davis will start a third consecutive game behind the dish Wednesday after going 1-for-6 with three walks between the prior two contests. |
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Konnor Griffin Konnor Griffin Elevated to two hole versus lefty
Wed, May 13, 2026, 2:31 PM
Griffin will start at shortstop and bat second in Wednesday's contest against the Rockies.
Analysis: It's the first time in his young major-league career that Griffin has batted higher than sixth. Brandon Lowe has been the Pirates' regular No. 2 hitter versus righties and that will likely continue to be the case, but the right-handed-hitting Griffin is getting a chance in the two-hole Wednesday against southpaw Jose Quintana. After getting off to a slow start, Griffin is slashing .317/.380/.540 with three home runs and five stolen bases across his last 17 contests. |
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Spencer Horwitz Spencer Horwitz Two more hits Tuesday
Tue, May 12, 2026, 10:26 PM
Horwitz went 2-for-3 with a walk in Tuesday's 3-1 win over the Rockies.
Analysis: With a second straight two-hit game, Horwitz now has his average up to a season-high .272, and he's currently riding a six-game hitting streak. In nine games this month, Horwitz is 10-for-30 (.333) with four doubles, one triple, nine RBI, two runs scored and an 8:3 BB:K. On the year, Horwitz has an impressive .393 on-base percentage and has walked more times (23) than he's struck out (18) across 140 trips to the plate. |
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Nick Gonzales Nick Gonzales Double, RBI in win Tuesday
Tue, May 12, 2026, 10:20 PM
Gonzales went 2-for-4 with a double and an RBI in Tuesday's 3-1 win over the Rockies.
Analysis: Gonzales drove home Oneil Cruz with an RBI single in the bottom of the first inning and later hit a ground-rule double in the eighth. He continues to swing a hot bat for the Pirates and has seven hits in 16 at-bats over the last three games. Gonzales now has four multi-hit games in nine contests this month and is slashing .321/.383/.371 with seven doubles, zero homers, 19 RBI, 17 runs scored, three stolen bases and an 11:27 BB:K across 154 plate appearances this season. |
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Oneil Cruz Oneil Cruz Three-hit night in win Tuesday
Tue, May 12, 2026, 10:14 PM
Cruz went 3-for-4 with two doubles and two runs scored in Tuesday's 3-1 win over the Rockies.
Analysis: Cruz doubled and scored in both the first and fifth innings, accounting for most of the offense for Pittsburgh in this low-scoring affair. It marked Cruz's second three-hit game in the last three contests, and he's now on a four-game hitting streak, having gone 8-for-18 during that span. On the year, the center fielder is slashing .266/.330/.491 with 10 home runs, 29 RBI, 33 runs scored, 15 stolen bases and a 14:62 BB:K across 185 plate appearances. Cruz has one of the most prolific batted-ball profiles in the sport, as he's in the 95th percentile or better in average exit velocity, barrel rate, hard-hit rate and bat speed. |
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Gregory Soto Gregory Soto Picks up fourth save
Tue, May 12, 2026, 10:06 PM
Soto earned the save in Tuesday's 3-1 win over the Rockies, allowing one run on two hits in the ninth inning.
Analysis: After Paul Skenes breezed through eight shutout innings, allowing just two hits with 10 strikeouts, Soto came on and recorded two quick outs before surrendering back-to-back doubles before getting T.J. Rumfield to ground out to preserve Skenes' win and earn Soto his fourth save. It was Soto's third save in his last four outings, as it appears he's again passed Dennis Santana in the pecking order for saves in Pittsburgh. Soto owns a 1.69 ERA and 26:7 K:BB across 21.1 innings this season. |
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Paul Skenes Paul Skenes Strikes out 10 in win over Rockies
Tue, May 12, 2026, 10:00 PM
Skenes (6-2) earned the win Tuesday against the Rockies, allowing just two hits and no walks with 10 strikeouts across eight shutout innings.
Analysis: Skenes struck out the first six batters he faced and retired the first 14 Rockies before hitting Troy Johnston with a pitch in the fifth. Skenes lost his no-hitter with one out in the seventh, and he's taken a no-hitter deep into games multiple times in recent starts. The right-hander generated 19 whiffs on 98 pitches against Colorado but wasn't allowed to go out for the ninth inning in a 3-0 game. He's thrown 100 pitches in a game just once in nine starts but has now posted back-to-back eight-inning, two-hit shutouts in wins over the Diamondbacks and Rockies. Since allowing five runs over 0.2 innings on Opening Day against the Mets, Skenes has yielded just six runs over 49.1 frames. On the season, the Pirates' ace has a microscopic 1.98 ERA and 56:7 K:BB across 50 innings. He's lined up to face the Phillies at home Sunday. |
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