| News |
|---|
|
Braxton Ashcraft Braxton Ashcraft Yields six runs in loss
Tue, Apr 28, 2026, 9:51 PM
Ashcraft (1-2) took the loss against the Cardinals on Tuesday, allowing six runs on six hits and three walks while striking out seven across 4.1 innings.
Analysis: Ashcraft entered Tuesday's game having given up two earned runs or less in each of his last five starts, but it was a different story against St. Louis. He gave up three runs through the first three frames (including solo homers from Victor Scott and Nolan Gorman) before yielding another three runs in the fifth. Tuesday's performance ballooned Ashcraft's numbers up to a 3.71 ERA and 1.15 WHIP over 34 innings, along with a 39:12 K:BB. He'll look to bounce back in his next start, tentatively slated for this weekend at home against the Reds. |
|
Wilber Dotel Wilber Dotel Sent to Triple-A
Tue, Apr 28, 2026, 5:24 PM
The Pirates optioned Dotel to Triple-A Indianapolis on Tuesday, Jason Mackey of MLB.com reports.
Analysis: Dotel threw 44 pitches in long relief Monday against the Cardinals, so the Pirates are bringing in a fresh arm in Hunter Barco as the corresponding move. Dotel has thrown 6.2 innings for Pittsburgh this season, turning in a 1.35 ERA and 4:3 K:BB. He'll likely be back with the big club at some point. |
|
Hunter Barco Hunter Barco Recalled from Triple-A
Tue, Apr 28, 2026, 5:21 PM
The Pirates recalled Barco from Triple-A Indianapolis on Tuesday, Jason Mackey of MLB.com reports.
Analysis: In a corresponding move, the Pirates optioned Wilber Dotel to Triple-A Indianapolis. Barco made Pittsburgh's Opening Day roster this season and appeared in four games out of the bullpen, registering a 6.43 ERA, 2.14 WHIP and 5:7 K:BB across seven innings before he was sent down two weeks ago. |
|
Oneil Cruz Oneil Cruz Back in action Tuesday
Tue, Apr 28, 2026, 4:23 PM
Cruz (illness) is starting in center field and batting leadoff Tuesday against the Cardinals.
Analysis: The 27-year-old was scratched from the lineup for Monday's series opener due to an illness but is good to go for Tuesday's contest. Cruz has gone 0-for-10 with five strikeouts in his past two games but overall has been productive during the first month of the campaign with eight home runs, 10 steals, 24 RBI, 19 runs and an .838 OPS in 27 games. |
|
Cam Sanders Cam Sanders Optioned to Triple-A
Tue, Apr 28, 2026, 2:30 PM
The Pirates optioned Sanders to Triple-A Indianapolis on Tuesday, Jason Mackey of MLB.com reports.
Analysis: He's clearing out to make room on the roster for Braxton Ashcraft (personal), who will start Tuesday's game versus the Cardinals. Sanders' most recent stint with the Pirates resulted in a pair of scoreless appearances. |
|
Braxton Ashcraft Braxton Ashcraft Reinstated ahead of Tuesday's start
Tue, Apr 28, 2026, 2:28 PM
The Pirates activated Ashcraft from the bereavement list Tuesday, Jason Mackey of MLB.com reports.
Analysis: Ashcraft will start Tuesday's contest at home against the Cardinals after being away from the club the last few days. The right-hander is off to a dynamite start this season, having collected a 2.43 ERA and 32:9 K:BB over his first 29.2 innings. |
|
Justin Lawrence Justin Lawrence Scoreless inning in loss
Tue, Apr 28, 2026, 1:48 PM
Lawrence tossed a scoreless inning with one strikeout Monday in the 4-2 loss to the Cardinals.
Analysis: Lawrence was limited to just 17 appearances last season due to an elbow injury, but Monday's outing marked his 14th already in 2026. The sinker-sweeper pitcher has missed bats consistently, ringing up 16 strikeouts over his first 14 frames. Lawrence is pitching primarily in low-leverage situations for the time being, but that could change if he continues to consistently shut batters down (zero runs allowed in last six appearances). |
|
Braxton Ashcraft Braxton Ashcraft Expected back for Tuesday's start
Tue, Apr 28, 2026, 11:33 AM
Ashcraft (personal) is expected to be activated from the bereavement list in time to start Tuesday's game versus the Cardinals, Jose Negron of DK Pittsburgh Sports reports.
Analysis: Ashcraft was placed on the bereavement list Saturday, but he will not have to miss a start, only getting his turn pushed back one day. The young right-hander is sitting on a 2.43 ERA and 32:9 K:BB over his first 29.2 innings this season and is a must-start against a lackluster Cardinals lineup. |
|
Jared Jones Jared Jones Beginning rehab assignment
Tue, Apr 28, 2026, 9:39 AM
Pirates GM Ben Cherington said that Jones (elbow) will begin a rehab assignment Wednesday with Single-A Bradenton, Jason Mackey of MLB.com reports.
Analysis: The 24-year-old has been throwing to live batters for a while and has now been cleared to pitch in games for the first time since undergoing an internal brace procedure to repair the UCL in his right elbow last May. Jones' rehab assignment will be a lengthy one, but he won't be eligible to be reinstated from the 60-day injured list until late May anyway, so there's no rush for him to build up his workload. |
|
Dennis Santana Dennis Santana Collapses in loss, blown save
Mon, Apr 27, 2026, 11:01 PM
Santana (2-2) was charged with the loss and a blown save Monday against the Cardinals, allowing four runs on four hits and two walks in two-thirds of an inning.
Analysis: Brought on to protect a 2-0 lead in the ninth inning, Santana served up a pair of home runs Monday en route to coughing up a season-high four runs. The right-hander has converted just two of his four save chances so far, but he still has a quality 3.29 ERA and 1.24 WHIP over 13.2 innings in spite of Monday's meltdown. That said, the door is open for Gregory Soto to claim more ninth-inning work in Pittsburgh's closer committee. |
|
Wilber Dotel Wilber Dotel Impressive in long relief
Mon, Apr 27, 2026, 10:54 PM
Dotel took a no-decision Monday against the Cardinals, throwing four clean innings of relief. He struck out three.
Analysis: The absence of Braxton Garrett (personal) forced the Pirates into a bullpen game Monday, and Dotel filled in admirably as a bulk reliever. The right-hander flooded the zone for 32 strikes among his 44 pitches, picking up his first hold of the year in the process. Through 6.1 frames in 2026, Dotel sports a 1.35 ERA, 0.75 WHIP and 4:3 K:BB. |
|
Oneil Cruz Oneil Cruz Scratched due to illness
Mon, Apr 27, 2026, 5:49 PM
Cruz was scratched from the Pirates' starting lineup against the Cardinals on Monday due to an illness.
Analysis: Cruz evidently fell ill prior to Monday's game, which prompted the Pirates to replace him with Jake Mangum in center field and shift Spencer Horwitz to the leadoff spot in the batting order. Cruz will continue to receive treatment in the hopes of being cleared to return for Tuesday's contest against St. Louis. |
|
Jake Mangum Jake Mangum Lade addition to Monday's lineup
Mon, Apr 27, 2026, 5:36 PM
Mangum is starting in center field and batting eighth against the Cardinals on Monday.
Analysis: Mangum was initially slated to open Monday's series opener on the bench, but he will get the start in center field instead after the Pirates scratched Oneil Cruz (undisclosed) from the lineup. Mangum is slashing .254/.313/.288 with three steals and two RBI over 65 plate appearances this season. |
|
Oneil Cruz Oneil Cruz Scratched from Monday's lineup
Mon, Apr 27, 2026, 5:35 PM
Cruz (undisclosed) has been scratched from Monday's lineup against the Cardinals.
Analysis: It's unclear why Cruz was removed, but he has been replaced by Jake Mangum in center field. The Pirates should have an update on Cruz's status during or shortly after Monday's contest. |
|
Nick Yorke Nick Yorke Playing time trending down
Mon, Apr 27, 2026, 2:47 PM
Yorke is out of the lineup for Monday's game against the Cardinals.
Analysis: On the bench for the fifth time in six games, Yorke appears to have ceded primary duties at third base to Nick Gonzales. Yorke's limited opportunities at the hot corner are likely to dwindle further upon the return of Jared Triolo (knee), who remains on the 10-day injured list but is in the midst of a rehab assignment and could be activated within the next week. |
|
Carmen Mlodzinski Carmen Mlodzinski Struggles again in short outing
Sun, Apr 26, 2026, 5:33 PM
Mlodzinski (1-2) took the loss Sunday against the Brewers, allowing five runs (four earned) on five hits and one walk in 3.2 innings. He struck out four.
Analysis: Following a pair of scoreless outings in his April 10 and April 15 appearances, Mlodzinski has faltered in each of his past two starts. The right-hander has now coughed up at least four runs in back-to-back outings, failing to work at least five frames in both. While Mlodzinski sports a strong 30:11 K:BB through 28.1 frames so far, his 4.13 ERA and 1.45 WHIP make him tough to trust in his next scheduled start versus the division-rival Reds. |
|
Wilber Dotel Wilber Dotel Handling bulk role Monday
Sun, Apr 26, 2026, 4:20 PM
Pirates manager Don Kelly said that Dotel will be utilized as a bulk reliever behind opening pitcher Mason Montgomery in Monday's home game against the Cardinals, Kevin Gorman of TribLive.com reports.
Analysis: Monday had been Braxton Ashcraft's (personal) turn in the rotation, but he won't be eligible to rejoin the Pirates until Tuesday after recently getting placed on the bereavement/medical emergency list. The Pirates will thus turn to Dotel to cover extended innings in Monday's series opener. Dotel has appeared in two contests since being called up from Triple-A Indianapolis on April 19, giving up one run on two hits and three walks while striking out one batter over 2.2 innings. He had previously gotten stretched out to 5.2 innings over his three starts at Triple-A Indianapolis this season prior to being promoted earlier this month. |
|
Mason Montgomery Mason Montgomery Set to open Monday's contest
Sun, Apr 26, 2026, 4:16 PM
Montgomery will operate as the Pirates' opening pitcher in Monday's series opener against the Cardinals, Colin Beazley of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.
Analysis: Montgomery will serve as Pittsburgh's opener for the second time this season, having tossed a scoreless first inning in the team's 2-0 win over Washington on April 15. The southpaw has recorded seven straight scoreless appearances, allowing four hits and two walks while striking out 11 over 6.2 innings during that stretch. Wilber Dotel is expected to follow Montgomery on the mound, handling the bulk role against St. Louis on Monday. |
|
Brandon Lowe Brandon Lowe Not in Sunday's lineup
Sun, Apr 26, 2026, 12:47 PM
Lowe is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Brewers
Analysis: Lowe went 2-for-9 with a double, a run and three strikeouts in the first two games of the series and will hit the bench for the finale. It's likely just a maintenance day for Lowe with a lefty starter (Kyle Harrison) taking the mound for Milwaukee. |
|
Oneil Cruz Oneil Cruz Receiving Sunday off
Sun, Apr 26, 2026, 12:43 PM
Cruz is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Brewers.
Analysis: It's the first day off for Cruz since the second contest of the season, and it comes after he went 0-for-10 with five strikeouts and an RBI across the first two games of the series in Milwaukee. Billy Cook is picking up a start in center field Sunday. |
Connect With Us:
