Pittsburgh Pirates news

Pirates clinch their first winning season since 2018, finish 82-80

Pittsburgh improved 11 wins over 2025 despite being eliminated Sept. 18 after seven straight losing series, holding off St. Louis for third place.

Pirates send eight prospects to the Arizona Fall League

Shortstop Wyatt Sanford and catcher Easton Carmichael, the system's top two position-player breakouts of 2026, headline the group headed to Glendale.

A down year gives Pirates a window to discuss a Paul Skenes extension, per outlet analysis

Skenes' 3.91 ERA this season, down from consecutive sub-2.00 campaigns, is framed by one outlet as a chance to extend him below what his peak-form seasons would command; no formal talks are confirmed.

Pirates fans want change; rival evaluators see a contender taking shape

Some fans have called for changes to the manager and front office after an 11th straight season without October baseball, while an unnamed rival manager praised the young talent on the roster.

The Pirates finished 82-80, their first winning season since 2018.

Eight Pirates prospects, led by Wyatt Sanford, are headed to the Arizona Fall League.

Pirates finish 82-80, first winning season since 2018

Pittsburgh closed the year with a 4-2 win at Detroit to finish 82-80, its first winning record in eight years, even though it missed the Wild Card by six games.

Pirates not expected to make front-office or managerial changes

GM Ben Cherington and manager Don Kelly are both expected to return for 2027, with the organization planning to fill its long-vacant scouting-director post this offseason.

Pirates farmhand Murf Gray finishes as minor-league home run leader

Gray, a Double-A Altoona outfielder, led all of minor league baseball with 32 home runs in 2026.

Pirates post first winning season since 2018

Pirates Must Win Finale for First Winning Season Since 2018

A walk-off homer allowed by closer Mason Montgomery snapped Pittsburgh's scoreless and save streaks in a 4-3 loss at Detroit, leaving the Pirates at 81-80 with today's finale deciding whether the club finishes above .500 for the first time in eight years.

Pirates Lock Up Third Place Over Cardinals

Pittsburgh's Sept. 24 win over St. Louis, in which Paul Skenes recorded his 200th strikeout of the season, mathematically secured a non-losing season and a better final record than the Cardinals.

Oneil Cruz Exits With Knee Injury, MRI Ordered

Cruz left Saturday's loss at Detroit after sliding for a catch; the team called the exit precautionary. With no postseason implications, he may sit out the finale regardless of the MRI result.

Skenes Reflects on Missed Playoffs: Pirates 'In a Good Position for Next Year'

Following his final start of the season, Skenes acknowledged the standard the club has set and pointed to areas to improve over the offseason.

Pirates need a win in the finale to secure their first winning season since 2018, closing out an otherwise out-of-contention year.

Pirates fall 8-7 in Detroit as defense miscues spoil comeback bid, closes Chandler's 2026 season

Pittsburgh's late comeback bid came up short in a game the local beat attributed to sloppy defense; the loss also marked the final outing of Bubba Chandler's 2026 season.

At "bittersweet" PNC Park home finale, Pirates fans reflect on 2027 outlook

The season's last home game prompted reflection from the fan base after a third straight non-contending finish, with the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette centering a longtime fan's perspective from Section 333.

Pirates fall 8-7 in Detroit as defense miscues spoil comeback bid, closes Chandler's 2026 season

At "bittersweet" PNC Park home finale, Pirates fans reflect on 2027 outlook

Jared Jones flirts with perfect game in Pirates shutout of Cardinals

Jared Jones took a perfect-game bid into the sixth inning before Nathan Church broke it up with a double, as Pittsburgh blanked St. Louis 2-0.

Pirates hold cushion over Cardinals for third place

Pittsburgh entered the week's series with a multi-game lead over St. Louis for third place in the NL Central, with the season series and the resulting tiebreaker still in play depending on the final results.

Jared Jones takes a perfect-game bid into the sixth in a Pirates shutout win.

Pirates hold their cushion over St. Louis for third place in the NL Central.

Pirates DFA Camilo Doval, Activate Kirby Yates Off Injured List

Pittsburgh cut loose a reliever it traded two prospects for at the Aug. 1 deadline less than two months after getting him -- a concrete marker of how the front office is managing the final week of a lost season, reopening whether Ben Cherington's bullpen additions (Doval, Yates, Weaver) were properly evaluated at the deadline. - Doval, 29, acquired Aug. 1 from Yankees for catching prospect Omar Alfonzo (Pirates' No. 17 prospect) and DSL outfielder Luis Cruz. - With Pittsburgh: 3.79 ERA, 23 K/14 BB in 19 IP over 20 games, 0.4 bWAR; blew his final outing Saturday vs. Kansas City. - Pirate

Oneil Cruz Joins Bonds, McCutchen With Third Straight 20-20 Season

Cruz's Sunday homer gives Pittsburgh a rare bright spot in a season ending without a playoff berth -- a homegrown, 27-year-old talent hitting a power/speed mark only two other Pirates have reached three years running, relevant locally as extension chatter builds into the offseason. - Solo HR off Michael Wacha Sunday vs. Kansas City gave Cruz 20 HR/20 SB for a third consecutive season. - Only the third player in Pirates franchise history to do it three straight years, joining Barry Bonds and Andrew McCutchen. - Cruz missed more than two months this season on the IL yet still reached the

Mason Montgomery's New Two-Seamer Has Fueled a Franchise-Record Scoreless Streak

A homegrown pitch-design story -- Pirates' player-development group adding a sinker mid-season turned a hard-throwing reliever into a shutdown closer -- matters locally because the front office has leaned on internal development rather than star free agency, and this is one of the clearest wins of that approach in 2026. - Montgomery has 24 consecutive scoreless appearances (23 2/3 IP) -- longest single-season scoreless streak by a Pirates pitcher since at least 1901. - 34 K against 7 BB over that stretch. - New two-seam fastball thrown ~23% of the time; opponents hitting .146/.244 slug

Flores' go-ahead home run completes Royals sweep; Cruz joins rare 20/20 club

Rafael Flores Jr.'s eighth-inning blast capped Pittsburgh's sixth sweep of the season, and Oneil Cruz's 20th home run put him in a third straight 20/20 season, joining Barry Bonds and Andrew McCutchen as the only Pirates to do it three years running.

Ronny Simon hits first career home run in Saturday's win

Simon, the 2026 Triple-A Indianapolis MVP, has hit .313 in 15 games since his September recall.

Pirates rally past Royals 6-5 behind Skenes

Paul Skenes worked six efficient innings and Pittsburgh's bullpen held on for the win over Kansas City.

Ashcraft, Yates and Valdez all sidelined for Pirates

All-Star RHP Braxton Ashcraft went on the IL with arm discomfort. Kirby Yates (shoulder) and Esmerlyn Valdez (hamstring, out for the season) are also on the injured list.

Top prospects Hernandez and Florentino shine as Greensboro makes playoff run

Seth Hernandez remains Pittsburgh's top prospect, with 19-year-old outfielder Edward Florentino close behind, as the farm system continues to graduate talent after Konnor Griffin, Bubba Chandler and others reached the majors this year.

Pittsburgh's season is about player development now, with Paul Skenes and a deep farm system the focus down the stretch.

Pirates beat Royals 8-5 as Konnor Griffin has a big day and Brandon Lowe hits his 32nd homer

Pittsburgh improved to 77-77; rookie shortstop Konnor Griffin had a four-hit game and Brandon Lowe's 32nd home run (105.6 mph exit velocity) extended his power surge.

Altoona's Murf Gray (32 HR) matches Brandon Lowe's team home run pace as Indianapolis falls to Gwinnett

Double-A third baseman Murf Gray leads the entire Pirates organization, majors included, with 32 home runs, hitting .305/.401/.567; Triple-A Indianapolis is 43-30 in the second half, first in the International League West, despite the loss.

Pirates lose Esmerlyn Valdez for the season, add Isaac Mattson and Kirby Yates to the IL down the stretch

Outfielder Valdez suffered a season-ending hamstring strain Sept. 11; relievers Mattson (hip impingement) and Yates (shoulder impingement) both landed on the IL earlier this month, while shortstop Konnor Griffin returned from a two-month absence Sept. 4.

Rookie shortstop Konnor Griffin's strong September and Double-A slugger Murf Gray's power surge are the clearest building blocks for a Pirates club long eliminated from contention.

Pirates rout Brewers 7-4, snap a five-game skid against Milwaukee

Henry Davis hit a two-run homer and Konnor Griffin and Oneil Cruz each drove in two; closer Mason Montgomery extended a streak of 21.2 consecutive scoreless innings.

Pirates' injury list swells in September

RHPs Kirby Yates, Braxton Ashcraft and Isaac Mattson all went on the IL, while OF Esmerlyn Valdez and C Endy Rodríguez are both out for the season.

Indianapolis' top prospect wave has already graduated to Pittsburgh

SS Konnor Griffin, RHP Antwone Kelly and INF Wilber Dotel were all promoted to the majors earlier in 2026, leaving Triple-A thinner for the stretch run.

A win over the newly-clinched Brewers was a season highlight for a non-contending Pirates club

September IL churn continues to test organizational pitching depth

Pirates fall 5-4 to Brewers at PNC Park as bullpen surrenders late lead

Jared Jones struck out nine over five solid innings before reliever Carmen Mlodzinski allowed the go-ahead runs; Oneil Cruz and rookie catcher Rafael Flores Jr. both homered in the loss.

Pirates fall 5-4 to Brewers at PNC Park as bullpen surrenders late lead

Pirates fall 5-1 to Brewers on Clemente Day as Milwaukee clinches

Milwaukee's Jacob Misiorowski struck out seven over five shutout innings against Pittsburgh Sept. 15. Jared Jones starts today's finale opposite Logan Henderson.

Full Pirates roster wore No. 21 for Clemente Day series opener

All Pittsburgh players, managers and coaches wore Roberto Clemente's No. 21 for the Sept. 15 opener; Clemente family members joined pregame ceremonies, the Clemente Bridge was closed for a block party, and the first 21,000 fans received a bobblehead marking Clemente's 3,000th career hit.

Konnor Griffin reinstated as Pirates navigate late-season roster churn

Top prospect Griffin was reinstated from the 60-day IL Sept. 4 after two months out. RHP Kirby Yates (shoulder impingement), RHP Braxton Ashcraft (arm discomfort) and OF Esmerlyn Valdez (hamstring strain) have all gone on the IL in September under first-year manager Don Kelly.

Greensboro advances to South Atlantic League Championship; Altoona's season ends

Greensboro rallied from a 0-1 series deficit to beat Frederick and advance to face Winston-Salem for the league title. Altoona finished 61-77, while Indianapolis remains alive for an International League playoff spot.

Pittsburgh's Clemente Day tribute was the emotional centerpiece of a series in which Milwaukee clinched the division.

ProPublica investigation examines 2020 fatal crash involving Oneil Cruz, alleges payments to victims' families

ProPublica reported that Pirates shortstop Oneil Cruz was involved in a September 2020 crash in the Dominican Republic that killed three people, and alleged that a fixer distributed roughly $66,000 to the victims' families in exchange for withdrawing legal claims. The criminal case against Cruz was formally dismissed in August 2021. Cruz's attorney, Amauris Vasquez Disla, called it "a profound tragedy for all parties involved, especially the victims' families," and a Pirates spokesperson said the club addressed the matter more than six years ago.

Top overall prospect Konnor Griffin now an everyday piece in Pittsburgh's lineup

Griffin, ranked MLB's No. 1 overall prospect, has been starting at shortstop for the Pirates in mid-September after a promotion from Triple-A Indianapolis.

Pirates' pitching staff piles up IL moves in the season's final weeks

Kirby Yates (shoulder), Braxton Ashcraft (arm discomfort) and Isaac Mattson (hip impingement) are all on the 15-day IL, along with outfielder Esmerlyn Valdez (hamstring), as Pittsburgh manages its roster through the end of the season.

Brandon Lowe's go-ahead single lifts Pirates past Cubs, avoiding a sweep

Pittsburgh closed a 4-2 road trip with the win, denying Chicago a statement sweep in its own wild-card push.

Indianapolis still fighting for a Triple-A playoff spot

The Pirates' top affiliate, featuring Konnor Griffin and Termarr Johnson, remains alive for the International League's second postseason bid.

Farm system pushing for a Triple-A playoff spot as the big-league club winds down

Pirates place rookie OF Esmerlyn Valdez on IL with hamstring strain, recall Ronny Simon

Valdez, a surprise offensive contributor during Pittsburgh's recent surge, went on the 10-day IL Sept. 12 with a left hamstring strain in what one outlet describes as likely a season-ending issue. Ronny Simon, hitting .306 with 24 steals at Triple-A Indianapolis, was recalled the same day.

Skenes on the mound as Pirates try to salvage a split at Wrigley

Jared Jones carries no-hit bid into 7th as Pirates complete sweep of White Sox

Jones didn't allow a hit until the 7th inning of a 2-0 series-clinching win, completing a 3-game road sweep that trimmed Chicago's AL Central lead to 1.5 games and returned Pittsburgh to .500 for the first time in years. A benches-clearing incident during the series (White Sox 2B Sam Antonacci's elbow hitting Pirates 2B Brandon Lowe on a slide) drew warnings but no ejections. Separately, RHP Isaac Mattson was placed on the 15-day IL with a hip impingement and Ryan O'Hearn began a rehab assignment, with a possible Sept. 11 activation.

74-73, 17.0 games back after returning to .500.

Pirates beat White Sox to reach .500

Pittsburgh improved to 73-73. RHP Isaac Mattson was placed on the 15-day IL with a right hip impingement (retroactive to 9/6) and Brandon Eisert was recalled from Indianapolis; Ryan O'Hearn began a rehab assignment at Indianapolis.

Beat the White Sox 4-1 Tuesday to reach .500 for the first time in years; 17.5 games back.

Pirates pound White Sox 9-3, win seventh in nine tries

Bubba Chandler struck out eight over six innings for the win and all nine Pirates starters recorded a hit in an 18-hit attack, keeping alive a long-shot push for the third NL wild-card spot.

Pirates place reliever Isaac Mattson on IL, recall Brandon Eisert

Mattson went on the 15-day IL (right hip impingement, retro to Sept. 6); Eisert, who posted a 2.08 ERA over 10 Triple-A appearances at Indianapolis, was recalled to cover the bullpen.

Pirates off day after 1-0 shutout win; Rodríguez's season ends in hip surgery

Pittsburgh did not play Sept. 7, resting after a 1-0 win over the Angels. Catcher Endy Rodríguez was moved to the 60-day IL following season-ending hip surgery; prospect Konnor Griffin was reinstated from the 60-day IL in the corresponding move.

Pirates are 17.5 GB; farm system is being rebuilt around top prospect Seth Hernandez following several 2026 graduations.

Skenes snaps winless skid, Pirates blank Angels 1-0

Paul Skenes threw 5.1 scoreless innings for his first win since July 19; Henry Davis's solo homer was the only run, and Mason Montgomery closed for his 10th save.

Endy Rodríguez to 60-day IL after hip surgery; Konnor Griffin reinstated

The catcher had surgery to repair a torn labrum in his left hip and is expected out 7-9 months. Infielder Griffin returned from a finger injury; Ryan O'Hearn (quad strain) is targeting a mid-September return.

Cherington's job security tied to a winning finish, per national reporting

GM Ben Cherington is 343-479 since taking over in 2019-20; a finish over .500 would be Pittsburgh's first winning season since 2018 and would bolster his case heading into 2027.

Kikuchi shuts down Pirates as Angels roll 6-1

Braxton Ashcraft pitched well (9 K over 5 innings) but Isaac Mattson, in his first outing since being recalled, allowed the game to get away in the 7th; Bryan Reynolds homered for Pittsburgh's only run.

Top prospect Konnor Griffin's return from injury opens with a rough night

Griffin, signed to the largest contract in franchise history, was reinstated from the 60-day IL after nearly two months out with a torn finger tendon and went 0-for-4 in his first game back at shortstop; shortstops combined for a .597 OPS in his absence.

Pittsburgh (70-73) sits fourth in the NL Central, a long shot for the final wild card at 5.0 games back.

Jared Jones ends 8-start winless skid with 6 strong innings in 1-0 win over Angels

Jones struck out 9 over 6 innings for his first win since July 18. Jake Mangum's RBI double scored Konnor Griffin, who had just been activated, for the game's only run. It was Pittsburgh's 9th shutout of the season; the Pirates have won 5 of 6.

Top prospect Konnor Griffin activated from 60-day IL, contributes immediately

Griffin, 20, had not played since early July with a left ring-finger knuckle issue. He started at shortstop and scored the game's only run in his return.

Jones snaps a personal winless skid as Pirates win 5 of 6

Top prospect Griffin back and contributing immediately

Bullpen day, small-ball execution power Pirates past Giants 5-2

Six Pittsburgh pitchers combined to hold San Francisco to two hits as the Pirates moved within 5.0 games of the final NL Wild Card spot.

Top prospect Konnor Griffin nearing activation after finger injury

Griffin, out roughly eight weeks with a torn sagittal band, is hitting well at Triple-A Indianapolis and is eligible to return as soon as the September 4 series opener.

Paul Skenes extension talks: nothing formal yet

General manager Ben Cherington said the club has respected Skenes' preference not to discuss a contract in-season, calling him "someone we would want to have for as long as possible." Skenes has one more pre-arbitration season before three years of arbitration eligibility.

Within 5 games of a Wild Card spot

Konnor Griffin nearing a return

Skenes extension question looms over the offseason

Giants end Pirates' three-game win streak in extra innings, 5-4

San Francisco scored the go-ahead and insurance runs in the 10th via a bunt, an intentional walk and an RBI double, snapping Pittsburgh's rare three-game winning streak.

Pirates lose top prospect Hernandez for season, Rodriguez needs hip surgery

Right-hander Seth Hernandez, the organization's No. 1 prospect, suffered a left oblique injury slipping off a wet mound and is expected out 6-8 weeks, likely ending his season; catcher Endy Rodriguez was transferred to the 60-day IL for season-ending hip labrum surgery. Pittsburgh recalled catcher Christian Bethancourt and reliever Brandon Eisert from Triple-A Indianapolis to fill the gaps.

Pirates make franchise history with 9-run inning, walk off Giants 13-12

Pittsburgh scored 9 of its 13 runs in the third inning — the first Pirates team to record three separate 9-run innings in a season since 1944 — with Oneil Cruz going 4-for-6 with 4 RBI. Paul Skenes blew a six-run lead before the bullpen and a walk-off on a Giants error secured the win, Pittsburgh's third straight.

Pirates call up Christian Bethancourt, Brandon Eisert; move Konnor Griffin's rehab to Triple-A

Bethancourt, acquired for cash in August, hit .270 with 14 homers across two Triple-A affiliates this season. Top shortstop prospect Konnor Griffin's rehab assignment advanced from Double-A Altoona to Triple-A Indianapolis.

5 games back of the final NL wild-card spot after a historic offensive outburst.

Endy Rodriguez's season ends with hip surgery, his third major surgery in three years

Rodriguez was in the middle of a breakout year (.267/.373/.467, 7 HR) before hip inflammation forced season-ending labrum surgery with a 7-9 month recovery.

Pirates farm system restocks after a wave of 2026 graduations

Six new names entered Pittsburgh's top 30 following the graduations of Konnor Griffin, Bubba Chandler, Esmerlyn Valdez and Wilber Dotel, with 2025 first-rounder Seth Hernandez still the system's top prospect.

Pirates shuffle roster for expansion, eyeing 82 wins to snap losing-season streak

Pittsburgh optioned RHP Khristian Curtis and recalled RHP Noah Murdock as active rosters expanded; reaching 82 wins would end a run of seven straight losing seasons.

Endy Rodriguez's season ends with hip surgery, his third major surgery in three years

Pirates farm system restocks after a wave of 2026 graduations

Pirates shuffle roster for expansion, eyeing 82 wins to snap losing-season streak

'Albert Pujols-esque': Triolo, Valdez power Pirates to series win in St. Louis

A rare bright note in a lost Pittsburgh season -- the Pirates won the series finale in St. Louis on home runs from Jared Triolo and Esmerlyn Valdez, with manager Don Kelly comparing Triolo's blast to one of the best hitters ever, giving Pirates fans a story to savor on an off day.

Pirates weigh September call-up options from a four-affiliate farm system

With Pittsburgh out of contention and idle on an off day, the Post-Gazette's weekly farm notebook turns to which prospects the Pirates could add for September roster expansion, a natural angle given the organization's reputation for one of the deepest farm-coverage beats in baseball.

Pittsburgh Pirates (67-71, NL Central rank 4): 'Albert Pujols-esque': Triolo, Valdez power Pirates to series win in St. Louis

Top prospect Konnor Griffin begins rehab assignment at Altoona

Griffin, 20, has been out since July with a finger injury; the rehab assignment at Double-A is one of the most anticipated developments in Pittsburgh's rebuild, with a potential return eligible Sept. 5.

Pirates recall lefty Evan Sisk, option Noah Murdock to Indianapolis

The bullpen swap Aug. 28 reflects Pittsburgh's ongoing search for reliable relief innings down the stretch of a non-contending season.

The system's top prospect begins a much-anticipated rehab assignment.

Pirates' bats go cold again in 4-1 loss to Cardinals

Pittsburgh managed four singles and struck out 11 times; Jared Triolo's fifth-inning RBI single was the lone run. Evan Sisk was recalled from Indianapolis to add a left-handed reliever, with Noah Murdock optioned in the corresponding move. Triple-A Indianapolis beat Columbus 6-5 for its fourth straight win.

Pittsburgh's second-half offense has produced one of the majors' worst strikeout rates since the All-Star break.

Catcher Endy Rodriguez undergoes season-ending hip labrum surgery, out 7-9 months

It's Rodriguez's second IL stint of the season and could push back the start of his 2027 season as well; he finishes the year at .267/.373/.467 with 7 homers.

Pirates system goes 3-1: Indianapolis wins fourth straight, Double-A sluggers Murf Gray and Lonnie White Jr. near 25-30 homers

Pittsburgh's farm system remains a bright spot for a fan base watching a rebuild well out of contention.

Lost season deepened by a significant injury to catching prospect Endy Rodriguez

Pirates' offense goes cold again in 3-0 loss to Padres

Pittsburgh stranded runners in both the fourth and sixth innings of a series-finale shutout loss, extending a season-long pattern of offensive struggles.

Griffin, O'Hearn progressing as Pirates' IL list stays crowded

SS Konnor Griffin (finger) and 1B/OF Ryan O'Hearn (quad) are both tracking toward early/mid-September returns, while C Endy Rodriguez continues to weigh treatment options for a hip issue.

Insiders pour cold water on Paul Skenes extension talks

Reporting indicates the Pirates see a long-term deal near $50M AAV as too costly under the current economics; Skenes has said contract talks are a non-topic until the team wins.

Indianapolis leads INT West as Plaz's power surge continues

Triple-A Indianapolis (33-20) is on a three-game winning streak, and No. 6 prospect Axiel Plaz has homered multiple times recently.

Last-place club banking on returning talent and prospect depth for 2027

Skenes rebounds, Cruz's homer off Miller beats Padres 1-0

Paul Skenes threw six shutout innings and Oneil Cruz snapped Mason Miller's homerless season with a ninth-inning shot.

Pirates affiliates go 3-1 across the system

Indianapolis and Altoona led a strong day on the farm, with several individual prospect home runs.

Skenes rebounds, Cruz's homer off Miller beats Padres 1-0

Pirates affiliates go 3-1 across the system

Pirates beat Padres 3-2 behind Ashcraft, Valdez homer

Braxton Ashcraft worked scoreless into the sixth and Esmerlyn Valdez hit his 15th homer as Pittsburgh topped a playoff-contending San Diego club on the road.

Khristian Curtis recalled, extends scoreless MLB streak to eight innings

The No. 21 prospect in baseball has been clean over his first two big-league outings, the latest example of Pittsburgh's deep farm pipeline reaching the roster.

Nick Gonzales' bat is breaking out, but his defense clouds his long-term spot

Gonzales is hitting .311 with a 115 wRC+ but grades as one of MLB's worst defensive third basemen, complicating his fit as prospect Konnor Griffin and Murf Gray approach the roster.

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Dodgers shut out Pirates 4-0

Pittsburgh continues its second-half fade before opening a series at San Diego tonight.

Oneil Cruz rehabbing at Altoona after hand fractures

Cruz, Pittsburgh's marquee everyday player, suffered non-displaced fractures to his left hand's 4th/5th metacarpals and is rehabbing at Double-A; Nick Gonzalez (facial contusion) and Endy Rodriguez (hip inflammation) are also managing injuries.

Dodgers shut out Pirates 4-0

Oneil Cruz rehabbing at Altoona after hand fractures

Pirates open crucial road trip with extra-inning walk-off loss, then get shut down by Skubal in Dodgers' series-clinching win

This is Pittsburgh's start to what the Post-Gazette itself framed as a 'crucial road trip,' with Oneil Cruz central to Friday's near-miss and the roster already thinned by Garcia's IL placement -- context that goes beyond the bare 3-4 final score already in the spine facts. Friday's series opener was a walk-off, extra-innings loss to the Dodgers (Pirates Prospects box score confirms a 5-4 final) with Oneil Cruz putting Pittsburgh 'in position for what would have been a momentous win' before the club couldn't finish it, per the Post-Gazette. OF Garcia was placed on the 7-day injured list Thursday with an undisclosed injury, and Joey Valdez was out of Friday's starting lineup, with Jake Mangum starting in right field instead. Saturday's game -- the one reflected in the spine's 3-4 final -- was a series-clinching win for Los Angeles behind a dominant start from lefty Tarik Skubal.

Tony Blanco Jr.'s two home runs power Greensboro past Bowling Green; Indianapolis, Altoona both lose

Blanco's power night is a genuine developmental data point for Pirates Prospects followers -- the deepest single-team farm site in the sport, per the brief -- on a day when the top two full-season affiliates both lost, giving a fuller picture of system performance than the big-league score alone. Greensboro beat Bowling Green 7-2; Tony Blanco Jr. hit his 20th and 21st home runs of the season and drove in three, and Shalin Polanco added a three-run homer, his 10th. Carlson Reed earned the win in relief for Greensboro. Indianapolis fell to Louisville 5-4. Altoona was shut out 4-0 by Binghamton.

Pirates open crucial road trip with extra-inning walk-off loss, then get shut down by Skubal in Dodgers' series-clinching win

Tony Blanco Jr.'s two home runs power Greensboro past Bowling Green; Indianapolis, Altoona both lose

Pirates fall 4-5 to Dodgers on Edman walk-off single as Cherington nears 1,000 games

The extra-innings loss came the same week the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette marked Ben Cherington's 1,000th game overseeing baseball operations across seven losing seasons.

Termarr Johnson's knee injury confirmed as season-ending ACL tear

Pittsburgh's top hitting prospect was hitting .199 with 8 homers at Triple-A before the injury.

Endy Rodriguez's recurring hip issue lands him back on the injured list

It's the same hip inflammation that sidelined the young catcher earlier this season, following a July stint for a left glute strain.

Pirates are 6.5 games back of the final NL wild-card spot.

Rafael Flores Jr. becomes first Pirates player to homer twice off the bench, caps 4-3 walk-off win over Tigers

Pirates acquire catcher Christian Bethancourt from Yankees for cash, insurance behind injured Endy Rodríguez

Oneil Cruz homers in first game back from broken hand, powers Pirates past Tigers 4-1

Cruz's two-run homer was his first since June 2, ending a 72-day power drought, while Braxton Ashcraft worked an efficient 8 innings.

Pirates option Isaac Mattson, recall Antwone Kelly as taxed bullpen churns

The move is a same-week companion to other roster moves as Pittsburgh manages bullpen strain through mid-August.

Indianapolis' Nick Yorke keeps hitting as Cruz wrapped his rehab stint at Altoona

Yorke homered twice in a recent stretch against Milwaukee's Triple-A affiliate.

Oneil Cruz's return from injury headlines stretch run

Pirates Beat Red Sox 8-3, Take Series Finale

Pittsburgh (61-65, W1) is well back in both the NL Central (16.5 GB) and wild card (6.5 GB) races, but a series win over a contending Red Sox club is a positive marker for a second-half team trying to build momentum into next season.

Pirates Recall Barco, Yorke; Option Dotel and Brannigan Back to Indianapolis

The latest swap continues a week of near-daily roster churn between Pittsburgh and Triple-A Indianapolis as the Pirates manage bullpen and bench needs down the stretch of a non-contending season.

Pirates Place Catcher Endy Rodriguez on IL with Hip Inflammation

Rodriguez's absence behind the plate is a fresh injury subtraction for a Pirates lineup already picking through a long injury list (Cruz, O'Hearn, Griffin, Keller) as the club evaluates its young core.

Nick Gonzales Cleared for Baseball Activities After HBP, Still Not in Starting Lineup

An update on Gonzales' status is a genuine step in the recovery timeline this desk has already been tracking, relevant to Pittsburgh's infield alignment over the season's final weeks.

Oneil Cruz Continues Altoona Rehab, Notches RBI Single

Cruz's rehab progress at Double-A Altoona is a meaningful update for this desk's ongoing tracking of his return from a hand fracture, given his importance to Pittsburgh's outfield/infield mix going forward.

Pirates shut out 0-4 by Red Sox; 13th shutout of the season for Pittsburgh's offense

Post-Gazette's local framing beyond the bare score, crediting Sonny Gray's outing.

Pirates push Paul Skenes' next start from Sunday to Wednesday

Reporting cites a velocity decline and mechanical concerns; debate continues over a possible shutdown.

Pirates recalled Billy Cook and Wilber Dotel, optioned Jhostynxon Garcia, and placed Yohan Ramirez on the paternity list.

Nick Gonzales exits win over Red Sox after pitch to the helmet, day-to-day

Gonzales, third in the NL in batting average, was hit by a 94.3 mph fastball and diagnosed with a facial contusion; officially day-to-day.

Rookie Rafael Flores Jr. homers in third straight at-bat, sparks Pirates' win over Red Sox

Flores, acquired in the David Bednar trade, became the first Pirate to homer in three straight at-bats since Jack Suwinski in 2023, going 3-for-4 in the win.

Termarr Johnson's 2026 season is over -- torn ACL/LCL, surgery set for next week

The Pirates' No. 4 overall 2022 pick tore his ACL and LCL lunging for first base at Triple-A Indianapolis; surgery is scheduled for next week.

Bryan Reynolds quietly chasing a 162-game season, rare territory in Pirates history

Reynolds has appeared in all 123 Pirates games this season and would be just the 7th Pirate since 1961 to play every team game if he reaches 162.

Lonnie White Jr. homers and swipes a bag for Altoona; Triple-A Indianapolis stumbles despite holding first

White is slashing .299/.403/.577 with 24 homers and 20 steals at Double-A; Triple-A Indianapolis lost 9-1 to Nashville but remains atop its division.

Nick Gonzales exits win over Red Sox after pitch to the helmet, day-to-day

Rookie Rafael Flores Jr. homers in third straight at-bat, sparks Pirates' win over Red Sox

Termarr Johnson's 2026 season is over -- torn ACL/LCL, surgery set for next week

Bryan Reynolds quietly chasing a 162-game season, rare territory in Pirates history

Lonnie White Jr. homers and swipes a bag for Altoona; Triple-A Indianapolis stumbles despite holding first

Braxton Ashcraft throws first career complete game in rout of Marlins

Ashcraft struck out 10 and needed only 85 pitches — the fewest in any MLB complete game this season — as Pittsburgh beat Miami 13-1; Rafael Flores hit two three-run homers.

Pirates place C Endy Rodríguez on IL, recall Mattson and Brannigan

Rodríguez goes on the 10-day IL with left hip inflammation, retroactive to Aug 10; RHP Isaac Mattson and INF Jack Brannigan were recalled from Indianapolis and LHP Evan Sisk was optioned down.

Pirates fall to Marlins in series finale; final score disputed between sources

Pittsburgh's own reporting has the Pirates losing 4-2 on home runs from Heriberto Hernández and J. Mack; Miami's own reporting has the final at 8-2 — see CONFLICTS in the publish package. Either way, the loss extends Pittsburgh's skid and pushes an already-fading Wild Card chase further out of reach.

Paul Skenes' velocity decline deepens across his last nine starts

Pittsburgh's ace, the centerpiece of the club's rebuild, has gone 3-4 with a 5.79 ERA over his last nine outings amid a continued velocity dip.

Oneil Cruz's rehab assignment shifts to Double-A Altoona after Triple-A stint

Pirates Prospects' transaction log shows Cruz moved from a rehab debut at Triple-A Indianapolis (Aug. 7) to Double-A Altoona (Aug. 11); no explanatory reporting on whether it's a planned reset was found this window.

Top prospect Termarr Johnson likely done for the season after knee injury

Johnson's knee appeared to twist on an infield-single attempt over the weekend; he was carted off and placed on the IL in an air cast, with Pirates Prospects assessing it as likely season-ending.

Catching prospect Axiel Plaz flashes elite raw power with second multi-homer game

The 20-year-old High-A catcher hit two home runs Aug. 11 at Greensboro, including a 116 mph, 346-foot line drive, his second multi-homer game of the season.

Top prospect Termarr Johnson likely lost for the season

Paul Skenes to start series opener at Miami seeking to snap out of career-worst ERA season

Skenes carries a 3.96 ERA through 24 starts, more than double his ERA in his first two seasons, but has a 2.60 career mark against the Marlins.

Reliever Mason Montgomery adds new two-seam fastball, emerges as bullpen weapon

Acquired from Tampa Bay in an offseason trade, Montgomery has a 37.1% strikeout rate and has touched 101.6 mph as recently as Aug. 3.

Pirates Prospects names Connor Wietgrefe, Jack Brannigan top farm performers

Triple-A lefty Wietgrefe has a 2.61 ERA since a late-June promotion and is being framed as a future rotation option.

Top prospect Termarr Johnson suffers knee injury at Triple-A Indianapolis

Johnson, Rule 5-eligible this offseason, was carted off after falling awkwardly running out a grounder; further testing is planned.

Fan voice: Pirates' modeled playoff odds have crashed from 47.6% to 7.7% since the trade deadline

The slide coincides with a six-series losing streak despite general manager Ben Cherington choosing to buy bullpen help rather than sell.

Pirates' playoff odds have collapsed since the trade deadline despite bullpen additions.

Pirates routed 11-1 by Mets, drop sixth straight series

Starter Jared Jones was unable to escape the third inning as Pittsburgh was outhit 15-4; the loss extends a difficult stretch for a club already 17 games back in the NL Central.

Endy Rodríguez remains out with recurring hip discomfort

The catcher was scratched for a second straight day with the same left hip issue that cost him earlier IL time this season; an IL decision had not been made as of the most recent report.

Oneil Cruz logs seven innings in first rehab game at Triple-A

Cruz, out since early June with a non-displaced left-hand fracture, played a full game in center field at Indianapolis, with reporting suggesting he could rejoin the Pirates as soon as next week barring a setback.

Endy Rodriguez scratched with left hip discomfort

Same issue that shelved him last month; Henry Davis starts in his place.

Oneil Cruz logs 7 innings in Indianapolis rehab debut

Played a full game in center field going 0-for-1 with two walks; activation possible as soon as next week.

Mitch Keller details teres major injury that ended his 2026 season

First arm injury of his 12-year pro career; finishes 6-8 with a 5.29 ERA, on 60-day IL.

Endy Rodriguez scratched with left hip discomfort

Oneil Cruz logs 7 innings in Indianapolis rehab debut

Mitch Keller details teres major injury that ended his 2026 season

Oneil Cruz begins rehab assignment with Triple-A Indianapolis

Eligible off the 60-day IL the same day the assignment began; 7th Pirate rehabber sent to Indianapolis this season.

Pirates lose reliever Ron Marinaccio on waivers to Cincinnati

Three weeks after acquiring him from San Diego; part of an aggressive post-deadline bullpen reshuffle.

Fading playoff hopes (16 back) but active roster churn and a marquee rehab assignment.