Pirates/MLB category, Page 14
Tim Benz: For Paul Skenes, playing the ‘stopper’ role means something a little different in Pittsburgh these days
After Paul Skenes’ six innings of shutout pitching Monday, Major League Baseball posted a photo of the Pittsburgh Pirates ace with a note about his 1.38 ERA over his past 13 starts. Whoever it was from MLB’s social media department that put the graphic together, I’m sure they were well-intended....
‘It’s unbelievable’: Andrew McCutchen passes Pirates great Willie Stargell on MLB hits leaders
Andrew McCutchen didn’t windmill his bat or launch a blast into the upper deck but his base hit Monday night against the Detroit Tigers conjured memories of Willie Stargell anyway. When McCutchen dropped a bloop single to shallow center field in the fourth inning, he passed the Pittsburgh Pirates great...
Pirates beat Tigers, help Paul Skenes to 1st win since May 28
If Pittsburgh Pirates ace Paul Skenes has felt individual frustration because of his club rarely offering him run support this season, he’s kept those sentiments close to the vest. After a lopsided post-All-Star break sweep at home to the woeful Chicago White Sox, Skenes, winless for nearly two months, looked...
‘My body feels amazing’: Pirates righty Johan Oviedo progressing with rehab assignment
Pittsburgh Pirates right-hander Johan Oviedo continues to navigate what’s turned into an extra lengthy recovery after undergoing Tommy John surgery in mid-February 2024. Oviedo, 27, began this past spring training as a candidate to earn a starting rotation spot, but a lat strain paused his return. However, Oviedo is about...
Pirates sign trio of picks from draft class in 3B Murf Gray, RHP Jack Anker, SS Matt King
The Pittsburgh Pirates signed their first wave of draft picks Monday, adding three college players to their minor-league system. Third baseman Murf Gray and right-handed pitcher Jack Anker of Fresno State and shortstop Matt King of Arizona State became the first players from their draft class to sign with the...
Mark Madden: Bob Nutting’s Pirates are permanently broken
The Pittsburgh Pirates have lost 11 of 12 after being swept at PNC Park by the Chicago White Sox. The White Sox have MLB’s second-worst record this season, lost 121 games last season. But the White Sox outscored the Pirates, 27-7. Owner Bob Nutting doesn’t care. The Pirates drew more...
Dealing with distraction of trade deadline rumors ‘not an easy time’ for last-place Pirates
The Pittsburgh Pirates are well aware of the type of talk that surrounds a team sitting in last place in the National League Central in late July, knowing they will be sellers at the MLB trade deadline. The difference this year is the trade chips aren’t limited to just the...
On Sports: Steelers to reveal throwback uniforms; Pirates welcome Tigers to PNC ParkVideo
Monday’s “On Sports,” pinch-hitting for “First Call,” has a look at a big reveal for the Pittsburgh Steelers, Kenny Pickett gets his ring, and the Pirates are hoping to rebound from a forgettable series against the lowly White Sox. Throwbacks to drop The Steelers will reveal their throwback uniforms Monday...
Madden Monday: As long as the Pirates have this ownership, ‘nothing can be fixed’
To start the second half of the season, the Pittsburgh Pirates (39-61) were swept at home by the worst team in the American League. The Chicago White Sox (35-65) won all three games at PNC Park over the weekend by a combined score of 27-7. Here are some numbers to...
Pirates farm report for July 20, 2025: 3 hits from Billy Cook, Nick Solak help Indy to victory
INDIANAPOLIS (Triple-A, 56-39) defeated Nashville (Brewers), 7-3. LF Billy Cook (.250) had three hits, including a solo home run. 1B Nick Solak (.366) was 3 for 5 with an RBI and run scored. 2B Nick Yorke (.270) was 2 for 5 with two RBIs. CF Ji Hwan Bae (.279) tripled...
Pirates hit rock bottom in another lopsided loss, as AL-worst White Sox sweep 3-game series
Before the Pittsburgh Pirates could put an end to their most embarrassing series, there were dark clouds hovering over PNC Park. If ever there was a symbolic moment for the Pirates’ season, it came just as they were being swept at home by the worst team in the American League...
GM Ben Cherington treating trade deadline as way to improve Pirates in 2026 ‘and beyond’
The MLB Draft was winding down, the Home Run Derby hadn’t started and trade-deadline talk already was heating up, Pittsburgh Pirates general manager Ben Cherington said on his weekly radio show. Cherington said the calls started Monday night and expects them to continue until baseball’s trade deadline July 31. “Every...
Pirates farm report for July 19, 2025: Altoona wins on Duce Gourson walk-off double
INDIANAPOLIS (Triple-A, 54-39) lost 7-4 to Nashville (Brewers). RHP Colin Holderman (0-1, 9.00) gave up two runs on one hit and one walk in the seventh to take the loss. LHP Hunter Barco (3.94) started and allowed four runs on four hits and two walks in 2⅔ innings. RHY Ryder...
White Sox spoil sellout, score in double digits again as Pirates’ bullpen blows early lead
The Pittsburgh Pirates had the perfect recipe for a breakout game: a sellout crowd, a starting pitcher who didn’t allow a hit through four-plus innings and the cushion of an early three-run lead. That they found a way to blow it is the story of this season. The Chicago White...
Pirates hoping Oneil Cruz turns Home Run Derby success into superstardom
Andrew McCutchen watched Oneil Cruz crush majestic moonshots in the Home Run Derby, absolutely stealing the show at the All-Star Game festivities in Atlanta, and allowed his mind to drift. If the Pittsburgh Pirates icon has one wish, it’s that the mercurial 6-foot-7, 240-pound center fielder can learn to tap...
Bucs Beat Q&A: Pitching to Oneil Cruz in Home Run Derby a ‘privilege’ for Stephen Morales
What was it like to pitch to Oneil Cruz in the Home Run Derby? It was amazing. First of all, it’s a privilege for me just to have the opportunity to be picked by him to have the opportunity to be the one throwing to him and help him out...
Pirates prospect watch: Jhonny Severino hopes to find way at plate with Bradenton
Jhonny Severino Position: Infielder Height: 6-foot-2 Weight: 185 pounds Level: Low-A Bradenton Notable: In late July 2023, it was perfectly reasonable for Pittsburgh Pirates fans to wonder what the club was getting in teenage infield prospect Jhonny Severino, acquired from the Milwaukee Brewers in exchange for first baseman Carlos Santana....
The week ahead: Pirates host Tigers, Diamondbacks
Here’s a look at next week’s Pittsburgh Pirates schedule: vs. Tigers 6:40 p.m. Monday (SN PIT) 6:40 p.m. Tuesday (SN PIT) 12:35 p.m. Wednesday (SN PIT) • After wrapping their first post-All-Star break action over the weekend vs. the White Sox, the Pirates continue a nine-game homestand starting Monday with...
Pirates farm report for July 18, 2025: Bubba Chandler knocked around in Indy loss
INDIANAPOLIS (Triple-A, 54-38) lost 6-1 to Nashville (Brewers) in a game shortened to six innings by rain. RHP Bubba Chandler (4-3, 3.27) started and was knocked around, giving up five runs on eight hits, including two homers, with two walks and four strikeouts. 1B Nick Solak (.361) went 1 for...
White Sox pound Pirates, who open 2nd half with 1 of most lopsided losses of the season
If there was optimism for the Pittsburgh Pirates to put a disappointing first half behind them, it was because they opened the second half against one of baseball’s worst teams: the Chicago White Sox. That didn’t prevent the Pirates from continuing their misery against American League opponents. They suffered one...
Pirates notebook: Liover Peguero returns with versatility; starting rotation resets after break
Liover Peguero has bounced back and forth between Triple-A Indianapolis and the Pittsburgh Pirates. Now that he’s back in the major leagues, look for him to bounce around the infield. Once a top-10 prospect, the 24-year-old has made 28 starts at shortstop, 22 appearances at third base, nine starts at...
As bad as it has been for the Pirates, the Chicago White Sox are forsaken
It’s bad being the Pittsburgh Pirates. It’s worse being the Chicago White Sox. Yes, Yinzers, there are baseball fan bases that are dealing with tougher times than you. Well, a few anyway. The Colorado Rockies are 22-74. By comparison, the Pirates (39-58) have 17 more wins than the Rockies. Did...
Tim Benz: With the Pirates, we’ll see Adam Frazier again — or at least someone that looks just like him
What do you think the Pittsburgh Pirates will get for Adam Frazier when they trade him a third time? We all know he’s coming back again after being dealt to Kansas City on Wednesday, right? I mean, he’s got the potential to be the Pirates version of what Mark Recchi...
U mad, bro?: Midsummer cynicism from Pirates fans, preseason sass from Steelers fans
This is the slowest week in sports. The NFL hasn’t started training camps yet. It’s All-Star break time for Major League Baseball. The NHL and NBA are in an offseason lull. You’d think that would lead to a lull in angst from Pittsburgh sports fans too. You’d be wrong. Here’s...
Kevin Gorman’s Take 5: Why the Pirates should ‘stay open-minded’ leading up to trade deadline
Ben Cherington wasted no time to address the Pittsburgh Pirates after a failure of a first half in which they fired the manager, tied a dubious major-league record and endured the pendulum swing of successive sweeps that involved back-to-back series with shutout wins and losses. On what is generally considered...
