RADIO
Jared Jones Should be Rostered in More Fantasy Baseball Leagues
Pittsburgh Pirates right-hander Jared Jones got a late start to the 2026 season while recovering from Tommy John surgery that knocked him out for the entire 2025 campaign. The 24-year-old former second-round pick in 2020 made his season debut on May 29 and was a bit rusty, allowing five earned runs on seven hits (two homers) in 4 1/3 innings, but he also had six strikeouts against the Minnesota Twins. Jones has made only three starts so far and has yet to get into the sixth inning, posting a 4.73 ERA (4.08 FIP) and 1.42 WHIP with 14 strikeouts and five walks in 13 1/3 innings pitched. He is still getting stretched out in his return from elbow reconstruction, but the good news is that his control has been solid. In his rookie season for the Bucs in 2024, Jones impressed with a 4.14 ERA (4.00 FIP), 1.19 WHIP, and 132:39 K:BB in 121 2/3 innings over 22 starts. Fantasy managers are going to need to be patient here, but the upside is absolutely worth taking a flier on for starting rotation depth for the second half of the season. Jones is widely available on the waiver wire, too, as he's rostered in 43% of Yahoo leagues at the moment.
Source: Baseball Reference
Source: Baseball Reference
Paul Skenes Fans 10 on Sunday in Loss to Marlins
Pittsburgh Pirates right-hander Paul Skenes was mowing hitters down in Sunday's series finale at PNC Park against the visiting Miami Marlins, but he still managed to take his sixth loss of the season in a 4-2 defeat. Skenes allowed only two earned runs on four hits (two home runs) while walking one and striking out 10 in six innings of work. The 24-year-old was hurt by two solo home runs by the Fish, but all in all, it was a pretty dominant showing, as the former first overall pick out of LSU generated 23 swings and misses. The 24-year-old National League Cy Young winner and former NL Rookie of the Year has now reached double-digit strikeouts in three of his 15 starts in 2026, and Sunday's outing was also his seventh quality start. Skenes is now sporting a 2.85 ERA, 0.93 WHIP, and 99:16 K:BB in 82 innings over 15 starts as he stays in the running for his second straight NL Cy Young. Although his next scheduled start at hitter-friendly Coors Field against the Colorado Rockies isn't ideal, he should be started in all traditional fantasy leagues. In his first outing against the Rockies at home on May 12, Skenes dominated with eight shutout innings, only two hits allowed, no walks, and 10 strikeouts.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
Rockies Promote Sean Sullivan, Worth an Add Ahead of Debut?
Colorado Rockies pitching prospect Sean Sullivan is set to make his MLB debut on Friday night as his team's starter against the Athletics, per Kevin Henry of The Denver Gazette. The 23-year-old has largely struggled with Triple-A Albuquerque so far this season, recording a 5-3 record with a 5.60 ERA, 1.55 ERA, and 50 strikeouts across 54 2/3 innings (11 starts). However, he's been victimized by an abnormally high 14.7% HR/fly ball rate while pitching in the extremely hitter-friendly Pacific Coast League. Sullivan was much more productive across 97 1/3 innings (18 starts) with Double-A Hartford in 2025, logging a 3.14 ERA and 1.09 WHIP with a 24.2% strikeout rate. Sullivan will pitch in a hitter-friendly environment in Colorado, which lowers his fantasy appeal. Still, the young left-hander could be worth adding off the waiver wire in deeper league formats.
Source: The Denver Gazette - Kevin Henry
Source: The Denver Gazette - Kevin Henry
Pirates Promoting No. 7-Ranked Prospect Antwone Kelly to the Majors
The Pittsburgh Pirates are promoting right-handed pitching prospect Antwone Kelly to the big leagues on Friday, sources told Francys Romero. The 22-year-old was born in Aruba and represented the Netherlands in the 2026 World Baseball Classic. In 54 innings this year with Triple-A Indianapolis, he has struck out 47 batters, and his fastball has reached 101 mph. Per MLB Pipeline, Kelly is considered the team's No. 7 prospect. The 5-foot-10, 238-pounder went 3-4 for Indy with a 4.50 ERA, 1.48 WHIP, and 47:24 K:BB in 54 innings over his 13 appearances (10 starts) on the farm before earning his first MLB call-up. With an electric right arm, there is obvious strikeout upside with Kelly, but he's initially expected to work out of Pittsburgh's bullpen, so fantasy managers shouldn't be looking to spend a grip on him off the waiver wire. Although Kelly throws plenty of strikes, he could be featured in a bullpen role long term, depending on whether he can develop his slider into a true putaway pitch.
Source: Francys Romero
Source: Francys Romero
Is Seth Hernandez the Top Pitching Prospect in Baseball?
Pittsburgh Pirates right-handed pitching prospect Seth Hernandez has been nothing short of dominant during his first taste of professional action. The Pirates selected the right-hander with the sixth overall pick in the 2025 MLB Draft out of Corona HS. To begin his professional career, the Pirates sent their future ace to Low-A, where he logged 28 innings across six starts before moving up to High-A. With Low-A, Hernandez posted an elite 0.96 ERA, 0.71 WHIP, with a 50:7 K:BB. Since joining High-A Greensboro, Hernandez has continued to showcase just as much strikeout upside, totaling 33 over his first 21 2/3 innings. However, Hernandez has allowed at least two runs in each of his last four games and seen his walk rate climb, serving up 15 free passes over this stretch. Despite this, the 19-year-old is progressing through the system at an impressive rate for his age and could even earn a taste of Double-A later in the second half. While a 2026 debut is not in the cards, he is positioning himself to compete for a 2027 debut and emerge as potentially the No. 1 prospect in all of baseball.
Source: MiLB.com
Source: MiLB.com
Khristian Curtis Earns the Call to Triple-A, Will he Debut in 2026?
The Pittsburgh Pirates are promoting right-handed pitching prospect Khristian Curtis to the Triple-A Indianapolis Indians on Monday, according to Chase Ford of Milb Central. Curtis, a 12th-round selection back in 2023 out of Arizona State University, earned the promotion to the top level in the minors despite going 0-7 with a 4.73 ERA, 1.27 WHIP, and 67:25 K:BB in 53 1/3 innings pitched across his 12 starts for Double-A Altoona this year. The 24-year-old is the club's No. 21 prospect, per MLB Pipeline. Despite his near-5.00 ERA and winless showing at Altoona, Curtis is one of Pittsburgh's top pitching prospects and could realistically make a push for a spot on the major-league roster at some point next year. He has good size at 6-foot-5, 215 pounds, and some of the best stuff among all of the Bucs' pitching prospects. Curtis gets plenty of swings and misses with his fastball, cutter, slider, and changeup. Control has been an issue for him on the farm, but stuff-wise, Curtis should be on the stash radar of fantasy managers in deeper keeper leagues going into the second half of the 2026 season.
Source: Milb Central
Source: Milb Central
Bubba Chandler to Pitch in Bulk Relief on Sunday
Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Mason Montgomery will presumably serve as the opener in front of right-hander Bubba Chandler for Sunday's series finale against the Atlanta Braves, according to Pirates insider Jason Mackey. It's the first time this year that Chandler won't be used as a traditional starter. The 23-year-old has been inconsistent this year and has lacked length in his outings, going 2-6 for the Bucs with a 5.05 ERA (5.05 FIP) and 1.53 WHIP with 55 strikeouts and a league-high 38 walks in 57 innings pitched. Chandler hasn't gone more than five innings in one of his starts since back on April 17 against the Tampa Bay Rays. He has only given fantasy managers one quality start so far in 2026 in his 12 starts, and he won't be eligible for one on Sunday as he works as the bulk reliever. Chandler is still worth holding in most fantasy leagues for his strikeout upside, but the youngster just hasn't been consistent enough to trust in this matchup against the first-place Braves.
Source: Jason Mackey
Source: Jason Mackey
Jared Jones Becoming a Must-Add After Solid Start
Pittsburgh Pirates right-hander Jared Jones allowed four hits and two walks while striking out four over five scoreless innings to earn the win in Thursday's 5-1 victory over the Houston Astros. He is back in the majors after missing the 2025 season following internal brace surgery on his elbow, and he remains a high-upside speculative add in most leagues. Jones has made a couple of starts since returning in late May and has shown flashes of the plus stuff that made him one of the Pirates' top prospects. He owns a 4.82 ERA, 1.61 WHIP, and 10 strikeouts through 9 1/3 innings in 2026. While his early results have been mixed in a small sample, the 24-year-old has the kind of swing-and-miss ability and strikeout upside that can pay off quickly if he can stay healthy and build up his workload. With the Pirates' rotation still taking shape and Jones getting a chance to prove he's ready, he's worth a look as a stash in deeper formats or for managers willing to be patient with a young arm coming off injury. If he can regain the form he showed in 2024, when he had an 18.5 K-BB% across 121 2/3 innings. The payoff could be significant for fantasy managers looking to take a chance.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Bubba Chandler Sees Struggles Persist on Tuesday, Should Managers Cut Ties?
Pirates right-hander Bubba Chandler turned in another disappointing outing on Tuesday, allowing three earned runs on five hits, two walks, and a home run against the Astros. The rookie's season ERA now sits at 4.89 to go along with a 1.51 WHIP, and he has reached the six-inning mark just once this season. Command remains a major concern for Chandler, whose 14.7 percent walk rate ranks in the sixth percentile among qualified pitchers. The talent is still evident, and his arsenal continues to generate intrigue, but the results have not followed consistently at the major league level. Until Chandler begins limiting free passes and working deeper into games, fantasy managers may be better served looking elsewhere for rotation help.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
Is Jared Jones a Must-Add off the Waiver-Wire Ahead of his Season Debut?
Jared Jones (elbow), a 24-year-old former second-round pick in 2024 for the Pittsburgh Pirates, will make his season debut Friday at home against the Minnesota Twins, which will be Jones' first start at the big-league level since he underwent UCL surgery last May. Through five rehab starts this season, Jones has dominated the MiLB with a 2.89 ERA and 1.02 WHIP in 18 2/3 innings pitched. He also had an outstanding 32.9 percent strikeout rate and a 15.5 percent SwStr rate. Jones has demonstrated elite bat-missing upside in the past. During his first turn with the Pirates back in 2024, he started 22 games and posted a 4.14 ERA and 1.19 WHIP with 132 strikeouts over 121 2/3 innings. His arsenal is led by an elite four-seamer that averages 97.3 mph and a great slider that generated a 37.3 percent whiff rate in 2024. Jones, if available on your waiver wire, is a must-add starting pitcher in leagues of 12 teams or more, simply based on his swing and miss upside alone. He has the ability to be a strong contributor in all the important starting pitcher categories.
Source: Baseball Savant
Source: Baseball Savant
Carmen Mlodzinski Being Moved to the Bullpen
Pittsburgh Pirates manager Don Kelly said that right-hander Carmen Mlodzinski will move to the bullpen this weekend with right-hander Jared Jones (elbow) returning from the 60-day injured list on Friday to make his season debut against the Minnesota Twins, according to Pirates insider Jason Mackey. Mlodzinski hasn't been bad this year, but he'll provide the Pirates with a valuable multi-inning arm out of the bullpen now that Jones is back. The 27-year-old former first-rounder in 2020 out of the University of South Carolina has gone 4-3 in 2026 with a decent 3.76 ERA (3.30 FIP) and 1.42 WHIP with 46 strikeouts and 20 walks in 55 innings across his 11 appearances (nine starts) for the Bucs in his fourth year in the league. Mlodzinski will now lose whatever little fantasy appeal he had in NL-only leagues with the move to the Pirates' bullpen. He's rostered in only 12% of Yahoo leagues, and that number will now most likely dip below 10% with the news of his demotion to the 'pen.
Source: Jason Mackey
Source: Jason Mackey
Jared Jones Making Season Debut on Friday, a Must-Add Waiver-Wire Target?
The Pittsburgh Pirates announced on Thursday that right-hander Jared Jones (elbow) will come off the 60-day injured list to make his 2026 season debut on Friday against the visiting Minnesota Twins at PNC Park. Jones missed the entire 2025 campaign after undergoing UCL surgery on his right elbow last May, but he had a nice 2.89 ERA, 1.02 WHIP, and 24:6 K:BB in 18 2/3 innings over his five minor-league rehab starts and is definitely worth a pickup off the waiver wire in mixed leagues now that he's on the cusp of his season debut for Pittsburgh. In his final rehab tune-up on the farm, Jones went 4 1/3 innings and got up to 76 pitches, so he might not have any restrictions on Friday from a pitch-count perspective. However, the Pirates will most likely be looking to limit the 24-year-old's overall workload the rest of the way in 2026 after he missed all of last year. The former second-rounder in 2020 went 6-8 in his rookie season in 2024 with a 4.14 ERA (4.00 FIP) and 1.19 WHIP with 132 K's and 39 walks across 22 starts and 121 2/3 innings pitched. Jones' return is a big boost for the Pirates' rotation going forward.
Source: Pittsburgh Pirates
Source: Pittsburgh Pirates
Jared Jones an Elite Injury Stash Target for Upside
Pittsburgh Pirates right-hander Jared Jones (elbow) is an elite injury stash target for upside, even though he's still on the 60-day injured list. According to general manager Ben Cherington, Jones will meet with the team back in Pittsburgh and throw a bullpen session on Tuesday before "making a determination" on his next outing/activation, per Colin Beazley of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Cherington did not clarify whether Jones will be a starter or a reliever. He's under consideration for a return from the IL, but the Pirates want to make sure his recovery continues to go well. The 24-year-old former second-rounder in 2020 threw 76 pitches and allowed three runs while walking three and striking out six in 4 1/3 innings in his latest minor-league rehab outing on Saturday at Triple-A Indianapolis. Jones has a 2.89 ERA, 1.02 WHIP, and 24:6 K:BB in 18 2/3 frames over his five rehab starts with Single-A Bradenton, Double-A Altoona, and Indy, and is on the cusp of returning after he missed all of 2025 due to UCL surgery on his right elbow. He's currently rostered in only 21% of Yahoo leagues and is one of the best pitching stashes in fantasy right now.
Source: Pittsburgh Post-Gazette - Colin Beazley
Source: Pittsburgh Post-Gazette - Colin Beazley
Bubba Chandler Shows his Strikeout Upside With Career-High 11 Strikeouts
Pittsburgh Pirates young right-hander Bubba Chandler had his best start of the season on Friday night in Toronto against the Blue Jays, but he still picked up his sixth loss of the season. Chandler, who has had issues with his control in his first full season in the big leagues in 2026 with the Bucs, was outstanding on Friday night in Canada, allowing three runs (one earned) on just two hits while walking three and striking out a career-high 11 in five innings of work to lower his season ERA to 4.79. The 23-year-old former third-rounder in 2021 threw 99 pitches and generated 22 swings and misses. It was definitely a nice rebound outing for Chandler, who allowed five runs (four earned) with four walks and only two strikeouts in a season-low three innings in his last appearance on May 16 against the Philadelphia Phillies. His strikeout upside makes him intriguing, but he does not have an ideal upcoming matchup against the division-rival Chicago Cubs at home next week. In his first start against Chicago on April 12, Chandler allowed three earned runs on five hits (two homers) while walking two and fanning four in 5 1/3 frames for a no-decision.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
Jared Jones Carries Elite Stash Upside Ahead of Looming Activation
Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher Jared Jones (elbow) holds must-stash upside in all standard leagues ahead of his looming return from the 60-day injured list. Jones has not been on an MLB mound since his 2024 rookie season after undergoing an internal brace procedure last season. However, Jones has recently moved his rehab assignment up to Triple-A Indianapolis, which puts him on the verge of returning to the big leagues. Jones began his rehab assignment in the lower levels, where he tossed 10 innings with a near-perfect 0.90 ERA and an 11:1 K:BB. In his first rehab outing with the top club in the system, Jones tossed 4 1/3 innings while striking out seven hitters. Jones is set to make his fifth rehab outing on Saturday, which could set him up to return to the big leagues as early as next week. He should be viewed as a must-stash candidate in all formats ahead of Week 9.
Source: MiLB.com
Source: MiLB.com
