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Brandon Lowe Brandon Lowe Walks off Tigers
Wed, Aug 19, 2026, 10:05 PM
Lowe went 1-for-3 with a solo home run, two walks and two runs scored Wednesday against the Tigers.
Analysis: Lowe capped a dramatic win for Pittsburgh on Wednesday, blasting a walk-off home run against Kenley Jansen in the ninth inning. That marked his fourth long ball of August, though he's also struck out at a 38.2 percent clip while hitting just .229 across 18 games. Lowe now has 27 homers on the season and has also reached 80 RBI for the second consecutive campaign. |
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Rafael Flores Jr. Rafael Flores Jr. Comes up big off bench Wednesday
Wed, Aug 19, 2026, 4:59 PM
Flores went 2-for-2 with two solo home runs in Wednesday's 4-3 win over the Tigers.
Analysis: The Pirates tried to give the red-hot Flores a breather by keeping him out of the lineup Wednesday, but the 25-year-old was summoned off the bench to pinch hit for Henry Davis in the seventh inning and took Jacob Waguespack deep to make it a 3-2 game. Two frames later, Flores homered again to tie it, this time off Detroit closer Kenley Jansen, setting the stage for Brandon Lowe's walk-off blast. Flores has gone yard five times in the last seven games, a sizzling stretch in which he's batting .435 (10-for-23) with 10 RBI. |
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Mason Montgomery Mason Montgomery Nabs fifth win Wednesday
Wed, Aug 19, 2026, 4:55 PM
Montgomery (5-3) picked up the win Wednesday against the Tigers, giving up two hits and striking out two in a scoreless ninth inning.
Analysis: The southpaw reliever worked a clean top of the ninth with the Pirates down 3-2, and got rewarded when Rafael Flores and Brandon Lowe both took Detroit closer Kenley Jansen deep for a walk-off win. Montgomery has reeled off nine straight scoreless appearances, picking up two wins and three saves in that stretch with a 0.63 WHIP and an eye-popping 17:2 K:BB over eight innings as Pittsburgh's top high-leverage option. |
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Paul Skenes Paul Skenes Another early exit Wednesday
Wed, Aug 19, 2026, 4:51 PM
Skenes didn't factor into the decision in Wednesday's 4-3 win over the Tigers, giving up three runs on four hits and four walks over 4.1 innings. He struck out five.
Analysis: The 24-year-old right-hander was on the hook for his 12th loss of the season until the Pirates rallied to walk it off in the ninth. Skenes has failed to last longer than five frames in four straight starts, and he's failed to complete six frames in six of his last seven trips to the mound, a stretch in which he's stumbled to a 5.00 ERA and 1.44 WHIP despite a 48:18 K:BB over 36 innings. Skenes will try to turn things around in his next outing, which is set to come on the road early next week in San Diego. |
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Christian Bethancourt Christian Bethancourt Shipped to Bucs
Wed, Aug 19, 2026, 1:51 PM
The Pirates acquired Bethancourt from the Yankees on Wednesday in exchange for cash considerations.
Analysis: The acquisition of Bethancourt bolsters the Pirates' organizational catching depth and could be an indication that Endy Rodriguez (hip) is headed for a longer-term absence. The 34-year-old Bethancourt saw big-league action over parts of eight seasons from 2013 through 2024, but he's played exclusively at the Triple-A level between stops with the Cubs and Yankees organizations in 2026. Over 249 plate appearances at Triple-A, Bethancourt has slashed .270/.320/.491 with 14 home runs and five stolen bases. |
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Rafael Flores Jr. Rafael Flores Jr. Hitting bench after six straight starts
Wed, Aug 19, 2026, 10:24 AM
Flores is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Tigers.
Analysis: Flores will hit the bench after he started in each of the last six games -- three at catcher, three at first base -- while going 8-for-21 with three home runs, one double, two walks, eight RBI and six runs. He should continue to see regular reps at first base against left-handed pitching as part of a platoon with the left-handed-hitting Spencer Horwitz, and Flores has performed well enough lately to earn more playing time behind the plate at the expense of Henry Davis, who has generated a lowly .426 OPS since the All-Star break. |
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Jake Mangum Jake Mangum Retreating to bench Wednesday
Wed, Aug 19, 2026, 10:21 AM
Mangum is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Tigers.
Analysis: Mangum will take a seat for the first time since July 29 while the Pirates go with Bryan Reynolds, Oneil Cruz and Esmerlyn Valdez as their starting outfield trio from left to right. Though Cruz's recent return from the 60-day injured list leaves one fewer spot in the outfield, the Pirates could deploy Reynolds as a designated hitter more frequently to open up regular playing time for Mangum, who has produced a .771 OPS thus far in August. |
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Mason Montgomery Mason Montgomery Fans two for fifth save of 2026
Tue, Aug 18, 2026, 8:06 PM
Montgomery earned the save in Tuesday's 4-1 win over the Tigers, striking out two batters in a scoreless ninth inning.
Analysis: Braxton Ashcraft took care of business through the first eight innings on just 80 pitches, but the Pirates turned to Montgomery to keep the team's lead safe. The first batter reached base safely on a throwing error, but Montgomery proceeded to strike out the next two hitters he faced before closing the game with a groundout. He's earned the save in three of his last five outings and has not yielded a run over his last eight appearances. Montgomery has a 3.47 ERA and 1.11 WHIP across 49.1 innings this season. |
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Oneil Cruz Oneil Cruz Belts two-run homer in return
Tue, Aug 18, 2026, 8:00 PM
Cruz went 1-for-3 with a two-run home run during the Pirates' 4-1 win over the Tigers on Tuesday.
Analysis: Cruz was activated from the 60-day injured list Monday, but he had to wait until Tuesday to make his return to the lineup. He made an immediate impact in his return with a two-run long ball in the fifth to put the Pirates up for good. It's a great sign for Cruz, who had been working his way back from a fractured left hand that he suffered in early June. His return is a significant boost for a Pirates team attempting to make a late surge to reach the postseason. |
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Braxton Ashcraft Braxton Ashcraft Cruises to 13th win
Tue, Aug 18, 2026, 7:49 PM
Ashcraft (13-5) came away with the win against the Tigers on Tuesday, allowing one run on five hits while striking out four across eight innings. He did not issue a walk.
Analysis: Ashcraft set the tone Tuesday by retiring the first 10 batters he faced. He gave up a solo homer to Brett Callahan in the fifth, but that was the only blemish to Ashcraft's excellent night, with the latter tossing only 80 pitches (61 strikes) through eight innings while generating seven whiffs and 12 groundouts. It was a spectacular encore to his complete game this past Thursday against the Marlins, and Ashcraft sits at a 3.68 ERA and 1.08 WHIP over 149.1 innings this season. He's lined up to face the Padres on the road next week in what projects to be a two-start week for the 27-year-old right-hander. |
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Nick Gonzales Nick Gonzales On bench Tuesday
Tue, Aug 18, 2026, 5:16 PM
Gonzales is out of the lineup for Tuesday's game against the Tigers.
Analysis: Gonzales went 1-for-2 with two walks, a double and a run Monday after missing the previous two contests due to a facial contusion, which he sustained Friday on a hit-by-pitch. The 27-year-old will head to the bench Tuesday while Jared Triolo picks up a start at the hot corner while batting ninth. |
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Isaac Mattson Isaac Mattson Sent to Indianapolis
Tue, Aug 18, 2026, 1:28 PM
The Pirates optioned Mattson to Triple-A Indianapolis on Tuesday, Jason Mackey of MLB.com reports.
Analysis: Mattson was needed for two innings and 41 pitches in Monday's loss to the Tigers, so he wasn't going to be available for a day or two. Antwone Kelly will absorb Mattson's spot on the roster and in the bullpen. |
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Antwone Kelly Antwone Kelly Rejoins big club
Tue, Aug 18, 2026, 1:25 PM
The Pirates recalled Kelly from Triple-A Indianapolis on Tuesday, Danny Demilio of PittsburghBaseballNow.com reports.
Analysis: It's the fourth stint in the majors this season for Kelly, with his three prior stays all lasting two days or fewer. The right-hander has struggled in his first three MLB appearances, surrendering five earned runs with a 4:4 K:BB over 7.1 innings. |
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Nick Yorke Nick Yorke Providing offensive spark
Mon, Aug 17, 2026, 11:16 PM
Yorke went 2-for-4 with a double, three RBI and a run scored Monday against the Tigers.
Analysis: Yorke was recalled from the minors Sunday and has made consecutive starts at third base since. He's taken advantage of that opportunity, going 4-for-8 with six RBI in the two contests. Nevertheless, Yorke is likely to settle into a utility role now that Oneil Cruz has been activated from the injured list. |
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Carmen Mlodzinski Carmen Mlodzinski Mauled by Tigers in sixth loss
Mon, Aug 17, 2026, 9:52 PM
Mlodzinski (6-6) took the loss against the Tigers on Monday, allowing four runs on eight hits and one walk in three innings. He struck out three.
Analysis: The Tigers pounced on Mlodzinski right away, tagging the right-hander for each of his four runs allowed in the first two innings. He's fared poorly since returning to Pittsburgh's rotation, giving up at least four runs while working three innings or fewer in three consecutive starts. Provided he keeps his rotation spot, Mlodzinski won't be a recommended fantasy streamer against the Dodgers his next time out. He has a career-worst 4.03 ERA, 1.45 WHIP and 81:36 K:BB over 102.2 innings. |
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Johnathan Rodriguez Johnathan Rodriguez Loses spot on 40-man roster
Mon, Aug 17, 2026, 5:12 PM
The Pirates designated Rodriguez for assignment Monday.
Analysis: A spot on the 40-man roster was needed for Oneil Cruz's return from the 60-day injured list. Rodriguez was acquired via trade three weeks ago and has yet to appear in a game for the Pirates. He's hit just .177/.288/.301 over parts of three major-league seasons. |
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Slated for knee surgery Thursday
Mon, Aug 17, 2026, 4:41 PM
Pirates director of sports medicine Todd Tomczyk said that Johnson will undergo left knee surgery Thursday, Colin Beazley of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.
Analysis: According to Danny Demilio of PittsburghBaseballNow.com, Johnson will require an ACL reconstruction plus an LCL procedure on the knee, which he injured during an Aug. 8 game with Triple-A Indianapolis. Tomczyk said that a timeline for Johnson's return will be established once surgery is completed, but given that the operation will address damage to multiple ligaments, the 22-year-old will likely remain out well into the 2027 season. Johnson hit .198/.332/.319 with eight home runs and 24 stolen bases over 95 games with Indianapolis before the knee injury ended his season. |
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Endy Rodriguez Endy Rodriguez Seeking second opinion on hip injury
Mon, Aug 17, 2026, 4:36 PM
Pirates director of sports medicine Todd Tomczyk said Monday that Rodriguez is gathering a second opinion on his left hip injury, Colin Beazley of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.
Analysis: Pittsburgh listed Rodriguez's injury as left hip inflammation when he was placed on the shelf Thursday, but the organization may be concerned that the 26-year-old catcher might be dealing with something more significant. While Tomczyk relayed that the Pirates are expected to have more information on Rodriguez's condition later this week, it's reasonable to expect Rodriguez to spend more than the minimum 10 days on the injured list. Henry Davis and Rafael Flores will continue to share playing time behind the dish while Rodriguez is on the mend. |
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Henry Davis Henry Davis Serving as primary backstop
Mon, Aug 17, 2026, 4:28 PM
Davis will start at catcher and bat ninth in Monday's game against the Tigers.
Analysis: With fellow backstop Endy Rodriguez (hip) recently returning to the injured list, Davis has re-emerged as the Pirates' top option behind the dish. He'll pick up his seventh start in nine games while the Pirates open up a three-game set versus the Tigers. Davis is slashing just .143/.219/.143 with no extra-base hits, two RBI and two runs since the start of August, so he's not doing much to take advantage of his larger share of playing time. |
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Nick Yorke Nick Yorke Drawing second straight start
Mon, Aug 17, 2026, 4:24 PM
Yorke will start at third base and bat eighth in Monday's game against the Tigers.
Analysis: Yorke will be awarded a second straight start at the hot corner after he shined in Sunday's 8-3 win over the Red Sox upon being called from Triple-A Indianapolis earlier in the day. While batting out of the No. 7 spot, Yorke went 2-for-4 with a stolen base and three RBI. Yorke will likely handle a utility role while he's up with the Pirates and should get most of his playing time against left-handed pitching. |
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