Pirates/MLB category, Page 17
Pirates’ Tommy Pham continues turnaround with homer, strong plays in fieldVideo
Leading into the final week of June, much of the 2025 season to that point could have been considered an exercise in futility for veteran Pittsburgh Pirates outfielder Tommy Pham. Pham struggled immensely to get things going at the plate early, batting .118 in March and .182 in April. In...
Pirates end scoreless streak, still lose at Kansas City for 4th straight defeatVideo
The Pittsburgh Pirates averaged more than seven runs during their recent streak of six consecutive victories, only to be swept in Seattle via three shutouts in a row. That marked an inauspicious beginning to a nine-game road trip, with the Pirates arriving in Kansas City on Monday looking to begin...
After completing rehab assignment, Pirates’ Colin Holderman optioned to Triple-A
Pittsburgh Pirates right-handed reliever Colin Holderman had his rehab assignment ended Monday, was activated from the 15-day injured list (right thumb inflammation) and optioned to Triple-A Indianapolis. The 29-year-old’s last big-league appearance came May 19. The 2025 campaign has been one of injuries and struggles for Holderman, who has a...
Mark Madden: What are Pirates saving Paul Skenes for?
Paul Skenes is pitching great: He’s got an ERA of 1.94, second-best in MLB. But he isn’t pitching much. What are the Pittsburgh Pirates saving Skenes for? In his past three starts, he’s thrown just 14 innings. He’s averaged only 81 pitches. Is that what Skenes and his agent want?...
Tim Benz: The Pirates keep trying to tell us who they are. We should just listen
If you ever forget who the Pittsburgh Pirates really are, give them five minutes. They’ll remind you right away. Just three days after completing a sweep of St. Louis in which the Bucs shut out the Cards in all three contests (7-0, 1-0, 5-0), manager Don Kelly’s team countered that...
Randy Arozarena homer lifts Mariners to 3rd shutout of Pirates despite Paul Skenes’ 10Ks
The Pittsburgh Pirates went scoreless in Seattle. In a sobering series for a red-hot team coming off three consecutive shutouts of the St. Louis Cardinals, the Pirates went ice cold and failed to score a run in three consecutive games against the Mariners. Mariners righty George Kirby matched Paul Skenes...
Pirates farm report for July 6, 2025: Konnor Griffin collects 3 hits, steals 40th base of season
INDIANAPOLIS (Triple-A, 50-36) outslugged Louisville (Reds), 13-11. LF Jack Suwinski (.280) went 4 for 4 with his 12th homer, a double, walk, two runs scored and three RBIs. 2B Nick Yorke (.278) went 2 for 5 with a double, two runs scored and three RBIs. 3B Liover Peguero (.247) went...
Paul Skenes becomes 1st Pirates pitcher to be selected to All-Star Game in 1st 2 seasons
Paul Skenes wasn’t “super surprised” to be selected to the All-Star Game for the second consecutive season, even if he became the first Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher to be chosen in each of his first two seasons. “Pretty cool. I’m looking forward to it,” Skenes said Sunday on the SportsNet Pittsburgh...
Pirates CF Oneil Cruz makes perfectly placed throw clocked at 105.2 mph on play at plate
It’s almost impossible for the Pittsburgh Pirates to overshadow Paul Skenes when he’s pitching, but a throw by center fielder Oneil Cruz against the Seattle Mariners on Sunday earned a salute from Skenes. Cruz made a perfectly placed one-hop throw to get J.P. Crawford out at home plate that was...
Luis Castillo tosses 7 scoreless innings as Mariners hand Pirates 2nd consecutive shutout
The offense that propelled the Pittsburgh Pirates to score 47 runs in a six-game homestand has gone scoreless in Seattle. Mariners starter Luis Castillo recorded eight strikeouts in seven shutout innings, as the Pirates failed to advance a runner past first base for the first time in four seasons. Jorge...
Pirates farm report for July 5, 2025: Hunter Barco throws 6 1-hit innings for Indianapolis
INDIANAPOLIS (Triple-A, 49-36) allowed only four hits but lost 3-1 to Louisville (Reds). LHP Hunter Barco (3.11) started and threw six scoreless innings, allowing one hit and three walks and striking out seven. RHP Cam Sanders (1.80) pitched 1⅔ scoreless innings and RHP Tanner Rainey (3.18) worked a scoreless ninth....
The week ahead: Pirates travel to Kansas City, Minnesota
Here’s a look at next week’s Pirates schedule: at Royals 7:40 p.m. Monday (SN PIT) 7:40 p.m. Tuesday (SN PIT) 7:40 p.m. Wednesday (SN PIT) • Kansas City is looking to get on track after recent struggles, especially at the plate. The Royals endured an 8-18 slide in June in...
Bucs Beat Q&A: 3rd base coach Mike Rabelo aggressive ‘trying to score runs for the Pirates’
How much has your role changed since Don Kelly became manager? It’s really not that much different. Prior to the series, I’ll go in and talk to Donnie about what the (opponent) will do, what they have done, what to be on the lookout for, what do you think about...
Pirates prospect watch: Omar Alfonzo gets promotion to Double-A Altoona
Omar Alfonzo Position: Catcher Height: 6-foot-1 Weight: 235 pounds Level: Double-A Altoona Notable: Alfonzo packed his bats and gear and headed off to Altoona this week after being promoted from High-A Greensboro to Double-A. The 21-year-old left-handed hitting catcher entered this week hitting .357 (10 for 28) with three doubles...
Full Count: Why does Paul Skenes want to chat with Tigers ace Tarik Skubal at All-Star Game?
Forgive Paul Skenes for being presumptive when he wasn’t worried about missing Aaron Judge in the opening homestand because he expected to face the New York Yankees slugger in the All-Star Game. The Pittsburgh Pirates right-hander gave the same treatment toward missing a meeting with 2024 American League Cy Young...
Pirates farm report for July 4, 2025: Bubba Chandler throws 6 scoreless for Indianapolis
INDIANAPOLIS (Triple-A, 49-35) knocked around Louisville (Reds), 8-1. RHP Bubba Chandler (3-2, 3.07) got back on track with his best start since the end of May, throwing six scoreless innings, allowing five hits and two walks with six strikeouts. RHP Colin Holderman (12.00), on a rehab assignment for a thumb...
3 pitchers combine on perfect game for Pirates’ Class A affiliate in Greensboro
Three pitchers combined on a perfect game as the Greensboro Grasshoppers, the High-A affiliate of the Pittsburgh Pirates, defeated the Aberdeen IronBirds, 2-0, on Friday night. Khristian Curtis started and went six innings, striking out 10. Jake Shirk followed with two perfect frames, fanning four. Michael Walsh wrapped it up...
Cal Raleigh goes deep twice as Mariners hit 4 homers to shut out Pirates, end winning streak
The Pittsburgh Pirates arrived in Seattle as the hottest team in baseball, riding a six-game winning streak that included three consecutive shutouts in a historic homestand. They ran into the game’s hottest home run hitter. Cal Raleigh crushed two homers to increase his major-league-leading total to a career-best 35, as...
Armed with belief, ‘electric’ fastball, Isaac Mattson making impact on Pirates bullpen
When the Pittsburgh Pirates talk about Isaac Mattson, the first thing they mention is his electric fastball. The 29-year-old right-handed reliever throws his four-seamer on 72.2% of his pitches, leaving batters befuddled as the ball disappears. Mitch Keller marveled over Mattson’s heater after he recorded three strikeouts — all swinging...
Mark Madden: Pirates’ winning streak just fool’s gold
The Pirates’ six-game winning streak has the citizens wetting their pants with glee. Don Kelly’s winning percentage as manager (.520) gets projected over a 162-game season, and that puts the Pirates in the playoff hunt, and wait ‘til Jared Jones gets back, and ‘til Bubba Chandler and Konnor Griffin get...
Pirates farm report for July 3, 2025: Konnor Griffin blasts 3-run homer for Greensboro
INDIANAPOLIS (Triple-A, 48-35) obliterated Louisville (Reds), 11-3. LF Ronny Simon (.309) went 1 for 3 with his sixth homer and two walks. 2B Nick Solak (.372) went 3 for 6 with two runs scored. DH Jack Suwinski (.264) went 2 for 3 with three walks and three runs scored. 1B...
Pirates closer David Bednar named NL reliever of the month for June
David Bednar started April in the minor leagues. He ended June as the National League reliever of the month. The Pittsburgh Pirates closer earned the honors after recording five saves and not allowing an earned run in 10 appearances last month. Bednar had 16 strikeouts against three walks and gave...
Kevin Gorman’s Take 5: Riding a 6-game winning streak, Pirates are reversing their curse
For the first two months of the season, the Pittsburgh Pirates appeared to be cursed. Now they are the hottest team in baseball, riding a six-game winning streak and capping an historic homestand with three consecutive shutouts against the NL Central-rival St. Louis Cardinals. The Pirates outscored the New York...
Pirates farm report for July 2, 2025: Ronny Simon, Nick Yorke homer to lift Indy to victory
INDIANAPOLIS (Triple-A, 47-35) edged Louisville (Reds), 3-2. DH Ronny Simon (.308) hit his third leadoff homer of the season and went 2 for 4 with a walk. 2B Nick Yorke (.280) also homered, a two-run shot for his sixth of the season. 1B Billy Cook (.272) doubled. LF Jack Suwinski...
Mitch Keller breaks PNC Park strikeouts record as Pirates shut out Cardinals to sweep series
When it comes to pitching at PNC Park, Mitch Keller now has more Ks than anyone in stadium history. Not only did the 29-year-old right-hander break the stadium’s strikeouts record, but Keller delivered his best performance of the season as the Pittsburgh Pirates capped an historic homestand with another sweep....
