| News |
|---|
|
Carmen Mlodzinski Carmen Mlodzinski Strikes out eight in no-decision
Sun, Mar 29, 2026, 5:44 PM
Mlodzinski did not factor into the decision in Sunday's 4-3 extra-inning win over the Mets, allowing two runs on six hits and no walks with eight strikeouts over 4.1 innings.
Analysis: Mlodzinski threw 55 of 85 pitches for strikes and generated just eight whiffs while mostly keeping the Mets in check. The 27-year-old posted a career-high 99 innings last season working as both a starter and reliever, so he likely won't go deep into games often early in 2026. He's slated for a home matchup against the Orioles next weekend. |
|
Brandon Lowe Brandon Lowe Homers in win
Sun, Mar 29, 2026, 5:19 PM
Lowe went 2-for-3 with a solo home run and two walks in Sunday's 4-3 extra-inning win over the Mets.
Analysis: Lowe reached base four times, highlighted by a solo shot that put the Pirates up 2-1 in the third inning. The 31-year-old has now homered three times in as many games to open the campaign, reaching base in seven of his 14 plate appearances. He should see near-everyday run in the heart of the order and has topped the 20-homer mark in each of the four seasons in which he's played over 100 games. |
|
Spencer Horwitz Spencer Horwitz Settling in as primary first baseman
Sun, Mar 29, 2026, 11:52 AM
Horwitz will start at first base and bat sixth in Sunday's game against the Mets.
Analysis: Heading into spring training, Horwitz's role was somewhat muddled following the offseason additions of Marcell Ozuna, Ryan O'Hearn and Brandon Lowe, but Horwitz looks to have settled into a regular role at first base. The left-handed-hitting Horwitz has occupied the position in each of the Pirates' first two games against right-handed starters, though O'Hearn spelled him at first base Saturday, when the Mets sent lefty David Peterson to the hill. |
|
Marcell Ozuna Marcell Ozuna Receiving breather Sunday
Sun, Mar 29, 2026, 11:50 AM
Ozuna is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Mets.
Analysis: Ozuna will receive the afternoon off after he started in both of the Pirates' first two games of the season and went 1-for-9 with a walk. With Ozuna on the bench, Bryan Reynolds will cede left field to Jake Mangum and step into Ozuna's usual spot at designated hitter. |
|
Mitch Keller Mitch Keller Goes six scoreless in no-decision
Sat, Mar 28, 2026, 9:33 PM
Keller did not factor into the decision in Saturday's 4-2 extra-innings loss to the Mets, allowing three hits and no walks with three strikeouts over six scoreless innings.
Analysis: Keller was extremely efficient, needing just 77 pitches to blank the Mets over six innings. It was an encouraging outing for the 29-year-old, who has logged 175-plus frames in each of his past three seasons. He lines up for a home matchup against the Orioles next weekend. |
|
Oneil Cruz Oneil Cruz Taking seat Saturday
Sat, Mar 28, 2026, 11:34 AM
Cruz isn't in the lineup for Saturday's game against the Mets.
Analysis: A couple of defensive miscues from Cruz allowed the Mets to take an early 5-2 lead in the first inning of Thursday's contest, so the Pirates will keep the 27-year-old on the bench to begin Saturday's game while Jake Mangum patrols center field. |
|
Henry Davis Henry Davis Out of Saturday's lineup
Sat, Mar 28, 2026, 11:32 AM
Davis isn't in the lineup for Saturday's game against the Mets.
Analysis: Davis went 1-for-4 with a double and drove in a run during Pittsburgh's Opening Day loss, and he'll now get a chance to rest Saturday. Joey Bart will catch for Mitch Keller instead while batting eighth. |
|
Brandon Lowe Brandon Lowe Shows out in Pirates debut
Thu, Mar 26, 2026, 6:23 PM
Lowe went 2-for-4 with two home runs and three RBI in Thursday's 11-7 loss against the Mets.
Analysis: Lowe made an immediate impact in his Pirates debut, launching a pair of homers in his first two at-bats, a two-run bomb in the first inning and solo shot in the third. It marked the ninth multi-homer game of the 31-year-old's career. If he can stay healthy, Lowe's power should remain a key asset for Pittsburgh after he hit .256 with 31 home runs and 83 RBI a season ago. |
|
Paul Skenes Paul Skenes Records only two outs during opener
Thu, Mar 26, 2026, 5:36 PM
Skenes (0-1) took the loss Thursday against the Mets, allowing five runs on four hits and two walks while striking out one over two-thirds of an inning.
Analysis: It was a nightmare opener for the 23-year-old ace, who struggled heavily with command and was chased before the end of the first inning for the first time in his young career. The rough frame started off with a quick walk to Francisco Lindor and was propelled by a bases-clearing triple from Brett Baty that gave New York a lead it never relinquished. While the result is alarming on the surface, it's likely just a blip given Skenes' track record, as the right-hander recorded a 1.97 ERA, 0.95 WHIP and 216 strikeouts, winning the NL Cy Young unanimously in 2025. Skenes will look to return to his normal dominance in his next scheduled outing. |
|
Joe La Sorsa Joe La Sorsa Reporting to Triple-A Indianapolis
Wed, Mar 25, 2026, 3:35 PM
La Sorsa will remain in the Pittsburgh organization and will accept an assignment to Triple-A Indianapolis after going unclaimed off waivers Wednesday, Ari Alexander of 7 News Boston reports.
Analysis: La Sorsa, who had attended Pirates camp on a minor-league deal, had an upward-mobility clause in his contract that allowed him to move on from the Pirates if another organization had claimed him off waivers and placed him on its Opening Day roster. However, after finding no suitors on the waiver wire, La Sorsa will stick around with the Pirates and likely serve as a high-leverage arm in the Indianapolis bullpen to begin the season. |
|
Gregory Soto Gregory Soto Could see save chances
Mon, Mar 23, 2026, 11:25 AM
Pirates manager Don Kelly indicated Monday that Soto is in the mix to see save opportunities this season, Jose Negron of DK Pittsburgh Sports reports.
Analysis: Dennis Santana will enter the season as the favorite to see most of the save chances for Pittsburgh. However, Kelly noted that he could use Santana in leverage spots earlier in games at times, and the skipper also pointed out Soto's closing experience. The left-handed Soto has held lefty bats to a .211/.306/.294 batting line in his career, making him a candidate to see some save chances when the opposition has lefties due up in the ninth inning. |
|
Dennis Santana Dennis Santana Will not be full-time closer
Mon, Mar 23, 2026, 11:16 AM
Pirates manager Don Kelly indicated Monday that Santana will not be the only reliever he uses for save opportunities, Jose Negron of DK Pittsburgh Sports reports.
Analysis: Santana notched 16 saves for Pittsburgh last season, with 10 of those coming in the final two months after David Bednar was traded. The 29-year-old is the heavy favorite to lead the Pirates in saves in 2026, but Kelly noted that he could use Santana earlier in games at times if the situation calls for it. Gregory Soto looks to be next in the pecking order and could be used to close when the opposition has lefty bats due up. |
|
Jared Triolo Jared Triolo In line for everyday shortstop role
Mon, Mar 23, 2026, 10:08 AM
Pirates manager Don Kelly said Sunday that he plans to use Triolo as the team's everyday shortstop to begin the season, Colin Beazley of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports. "Just feel like he's been so good at short in his limited time last year," Kelly said of Triolo. "He's good anywhere you put him. But just felt like being a shortstop, having him there when he's on the field is really important."
Analysis: A Gold Glove Award winner as a utility man in 2024, Triolo continued to provide strong defense at multiple infield spots in 2025, logging 44 starts at shortstop, 30 at third base, 12 at first base and 10 at second base. He'll carry eligibility at the former two positions in most fantasy leagues heading into 2026, but the Pirates seemingly want to deploy Triolo on more of a full-time basis at shortstop rather than shifting him all over the infield as needs arise. Triolo has already proved that he belongs in the big leagues defensively, but the jury is still out as to whether he's worthy of a regular spot in the everyday lineup. The 28-year-old owns a mediocre 87 wRC+ over parts of three seasons in the big leagues, but he took a major step forward in the second half of 2025, slashing .276/.353/.422 (117 wRC+) with four home runs and eight stolen bases across 216 plate appearances. |
|
Nick Gonzales Nick Gonzales Set to see most starts at 3B
Mon, Mar 23, 2026, 9:53 AM
Pirates manager Don Kelly said Sunday that Gonzales is slated to see most of his playing time at third base to begin the season, Colin Beazley of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.
Analysis: Gonzales entered spring training poised to take over as the Pirates' primary shortstop in 2026 after making his 11 of his final 13 starts at that position last season once Isiah Kiner-Falefa was out of the picture upon being claimed off waivers by Toronto. In a somewhat surprising decision, however, Kelly has opted to move Jared Triolo -- who secured a Gold Glove as a utility man in 2024 -- off of third base with the plan to use him at shortstop on an everyday basis. Gonzales should still be comfortable at third base after logging four starts at that spot in spring training, and he's expected to quickly gain eligibility at that position in most fantasy leagues while also carrying over eligibility at second base from 2025. He'll likely take longer to attain eligibility at shortstop, unless Triolo misses time with an injury early in the season. |
|
Jose Urquidy Jose Urquidy Makes roster
Mon, Mar 23, 2026, 8:09 AM
The Pirates informed Urquidy on Monday that he'll be included on the Opening Day roster, Colin Beazley of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.
Analysis: Urquidy didn't have a good spring, logging a 9.28 ERA, 1.69 WHIP and eight strikeouts in 10.2 innings. However, he'll break camp with the big club as a long reliever after signing a $1.5 million contract in the offseason. |
|
Hunter Barco Hunter Barco Makes Opening Day roster
Mon, Mar 23, 2026, 8:06 AM
The Pirates informed Barco on Monday that he'll be included on the Opening Day roster, Colin Beazley of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.
Analysis: Barco has been trending up, making his big-league debut at the end of last season and following that up with a strong spring training. The 25-year-old lefty had a 2.89 ERA, 1.18 WHIP and 12:6 K:BB in 9.1 innings in Grapefruit League play. Carmen Mlodzinski won the fifth starter spot, but Barco and Jose Urquidy also made the club in long-relief roles. The Pirates could look to have Barco piggyback another starter during the first turn through the five-man rotation. |
|
Mike Clevinger Mike Clevinger Headed to Triple-A
Mon, Mar 23, 2026, 8:00 AM
The Pirates reassigned Clevinger to Triple-A Indianapolis on Monday.
Analysis: He was in camp as a non-roster invitee and logged a 5.02 ERA, 1.40 WHIP and 15:10 K:BB in 14.1 innings this spring. Jose Urquidy beat out Clevinger for the final long-relief spot in the Pirates' Opening Day bullpen. |
|
Nick Yorke Nick Yorke Set for utility role
Sun, Mar 22, 2026, 11:26 PM
Yorke has earned a roster spot with the Pirates to begin the 2026 season, Jason Mackey of MLB.com reports.
Analysis: Yorke had a contact-heavy approach at the plate this spring, as he struck out only four times across 49 plate appearances. However, he also had only two extra-base hits and a .370 slugging percentage. Yorke's primary value to the Pirates will be his versatility, as he played across the infield and both corner outfield spots this spring. He should operate primarily as a bench bat. |
|
Billy Cook Billy Cook Secures roster spot
Sun, Mar 22, 2026, 11:21 PM
Cook will begin the season on the major-league roster, Jason Mackey of MLB.com reports.
Analysis: Cook doesn't figure to draw starts often, but he'll serve as the fifth outfielder and should also be an emergency option at first base. Cook has had a solid spring, slugging two homers with seven RBI and seven runs scored in 19 games while reaching base at a .347 clip across 48 plate appearances. |
|
Carmen Mlodzinski Carmen Mlodzinski Clinches rotation spot
Sun, Mar 22, 2026, 1:46 PM
The Pirates announced that Mlodzinski will start the team's third game of the season next Sunday against the Mets at Citi Field, Kevin Gorman of TribLive.com reports.
Analysis: Mlodzinski has emerged from spring training with the fifth starter's role after he was involved in a wide-open competition that included Jose Urquidy, Hunter Barco and non-roster invitee Mike Clevinger. Urquidy and/or Clevinger should be in good position to break camp as members of the bullpen, and the Pirates could look to deploy either pitcher in tandem with Mlodzinski, who built up to five innings and 64 pitches in his most recent Grapefruit League outing back on March 14. Mlodzinski made 12 starts for Pittsburgh in 2025 but never reached six innings in any of those outings. The right-hander pitched effectively both as a starter and out of the bullpen, finishing last season with a 3.55 ERA, 1.30 WHIP and 89:27 K:BB across 99 frames. |
Connect With Us:
