RADIO
Paul Skenes to Have Start Pushed Back Due to Recovery Concerns
Pittsburgh Pirates ace Paul Skenes will have his scheduled start on Sunday pushed back to Wednesday, according to Jason Mackey of SportsNet Pittsburgh. Per Mackey, this move is due to concerns about his recovery and is not injury-related. The team is looking to provide the former top prospect with additional time to recover between starts. This is quite noteworthy as Skenes has endured some struggles over the past month of action. In his most recent outing, he tossed just five innings and threw only 65 pitches. The most notable concern of this start was that his fastball averaged a career-low of 95.7 MPH in this game. This season, Skenes has posted a 3.88 ERA and a 1.12 WHIP, a massive jump from last season's 1.97 ERA. Managers should continue to monitor his status in case Skenes faces further workload limitations down the stretch.
Source: Jason Mackey
Source: Jason Mackey
Mason Montgomery Is Worth Chasing for Saves
Pittsburgh Pirates relief pitcher Mason Montgomery picked up his fourth save of the season Friday, getting the final out of an 8-4 win over the Boston Red Sox. Kirby Yates opened the ninth with no save opportunity but gave up three straight two-out singles, bringing Montgomery in with two runners aboard and the tying run on deck. The left-hander struck out Adley Rutschman to finish it. Three of Montgomery's four saves have now come over his last seven appearances. Montgomery has been rolling lately, posting a 1.32 ERA, 0.66 WHIP, and 27 strikeouts across his last 13 2/3 innings. Pittsburgh still hasn't settled on one closer, with Gregory Soto and Luke Weaver also getting late-inning looks. Montgomery keeps finding his way into save chances, though, and the strikeouts give him something to offer even when the ninth goes elsewhere. At 10% rostered on Yahoo, he's worth chasing in deeper leagues for managers who need saves.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Termarr Johnson Suffers Torn ACL and LCL
According to Colin Beazley, Pittsburgh Pirates infield prospect Termarr Johnson (knee) has suffered a torn ACL and LCL in his left knee. Johnson suffered a knee injury on August 8 when he landed awkwardly after stumbling over first base. He's scheduled to be examined by Dr. Dan Cooper next week, but it sounds like bad news for Johnson. This season, Johnson was slashing .199/.336/.319 with eight home runs, 37 RBI, and 24 stolen bases across 96 games with Triple-A Indianapolis. The former first-round pick is going to miss the rest of this season, and it's unclear when he'll be ready to play again.
Source: Colin Beazley
Source: Colin Beazley
Oneil Cruz Won't Rejoin the Pirates on Friday Night
Pittsburgh Pirates outfielder Oneil Cruz (hand) is expected to continue his minor-league rehab assignment with Double-A Altoona on Friday night, according to Colin Beazley of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Cruz will not be joining the Pirates for their series opener against the Boston Red Sox. It's unclear if the Pirates will consider activating Cruz from the 60-day injured list for the remainder of the weekend series against the BoSox. Through four rehab games so far at Altoona and Triple-A Indianapolis, the left-handed slugger has gone 2-for-13 at the plate with six strikeouts and three walks. He probably won't return to the big-league roster until he plays in back-to-back games in center field, so fantasy managers should probably not expect him back in Pittsburgh until at least early next week. The five-category contributor has been sidelined since the middle of June with a fractured hand, but he should remain stashed in all fantasy baseball leagues with the potential to be a difference-maker in the final month of the regular season. The 27-year-old Dominican was hitting .264/.350/.472 with an .822 OPS, 14 homers, 44 RBI, 21 stolen bases, and 45 runs in 250 at-bats before his hand injury in 2026.
Source: Pittsburgh Post-Gazette - Colin Beazley
Source: Pittsburgh Post-Gazette - Colin Beazley
Luke Weaver Could Lead Pirates in Saves To Close Out the Season
The Pittsburgh Pirates acquired veteran right-handed reliever Luke Weaver from the New York Mets at this year's trade deadline earlier in the month, and although he has yet to pick up a save with his new club, he should be considered a favorite to lead the team in saves to close out the 2026 campaign. Before the trade, Weaver was 2-1 with the Mets with a sharp 1.84 ERA, 0.82 WHIP, one save, and a 45:11 K:BB in 44 innings pitched. The 32-year-old has only appeared once with the Bucs since being acquired, but he pitched a clean ninth inning with a hit allowed and a walk in a 6-4 loss to his former team, the Mets. The Pirates are expected to go with a closer-by-committee with Weaver, Gregory Soto, and Mason Montgomery, but among the trio, Weaver has been the best relief arm in 2026. The downside is that he doesn't have a whole lot of closing experience in his career, picking up just 13 saves in his 11-year MLB career. Fantasy managers in deeper leagues speculating on saves should give Weaver a look, and he's rostered in only 28% of Yahoo leagues.
Source: Baseball Reference
Source: Baseball Reference
Braxton Ashcraft Dominates Miami in Complete Game on Thursday
Pittsburgh Pirates right-hander Braxton Ashcraft had a much-needed dominant performance over the hosting Miami Marlins on Thursday, throwing a complete game with one earned run allowed on three hits (one homer) while walking one and striking out 10 for his 12th win of the season. Ashcraft lowered his ERA on the season to 3.88 in the process. The only run he allowed in the contest was a solo home run to Owen Caissie in the bottom of the ninth inning. Coming into Thursday's outing in Miami, Ashcraft had posted a 7.88 ERA in his last five starts over 24 innings, so his fantasy managers have to be pretty happy he was able to turn it around in such a dominant way against Miami. In addition to his 3.88 ERA on the year, Ashcraft now sports a 1.11 WHIP with 155 strikeouts and 33 walks in his second full season in the big leagues. He'll look to make it two strong starts in a row his next time out in a difficult matchup against the Detroit Tigers, who have the 11th-best team OPS in the majors in 2026.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
Rookie Catcher Rafael Flores Jr. Breaks Out With Two Homers, Six RBI
Pittsburgh Pirates rookie catcher/first baseman Rafael Flores Jr. had a game to remember in the team's 13-1 beatdown of the hosting Miami Marlins on Thursday. Flores, batting out of the nine-hole for Pittsburgh, went 2-for-5 at the plate with two three-run home runs and two strikeouts. It was just Flores' 20th game in the big leagues after debuting in 2025 in Pittsburgh by playing seven games. The 25-year-old right-handed-hitting backstop came into Thursday's contest in Miami with a .200 average (5-for-25) with a homer, two RBI, six walks, and seven strikeouts in 12 games with the Bucs in 2026. Flores came into the game with just one hit in his last 15 at-bats in his previous eight games, and although his performance on Thursday was a big one, it's unlikely to boost his playing time dramatically as the primary backup to Henry Davis with Endy Rodriguez (hip) currently on the 10-day injured list. Per MLB Pipeline, Flores is the Pirates' No. 21-ranked prospect.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
Edward Florentino Producing At Very Young Age in Minors
Pittsburgh Pirates first base/outfield prospect Edward Florentino has put up good numbers this season between two minor-league levels this season at age 19. Currently at High-A Greensboro, Florentino has 16 homers and 50 RBI in 73 games for the Grasshoppers while hitting .216 with 58 runs scored. The outfield/first base prospect is likely to make his way up the minor league ladder in the next few years, but is ranked as the No. 2 prospect in the Pirates' system. He has 60-grade power with a 50-grade hit tool and 55-grade speed. The left-handed hitter out of the Dominican Republic has the future tools to be a star, but at the age of 19 will need a few years to get some reps under his belt. A dynasty league stud, Florentino can be left on the waiver wire for the rest of this season in redraft leagues.
Source: Minor League Baseball
Source: Minor League Baseball
Termarr Johnson Going on Injured List With Knee Injury
Pittsburgh Pirates infield prospect Termarr Johnson (knee) is expected to be placed on the 7-day Injured List, according to Danny Demilio. Johnson will head to the shelf after suffering a left knee injury on August 8. He stumbled over first base and landed awkwardly, which resulted in Johnson being carted off the field. It doesn't sound like the young slugger is going to be back anytime soon. In 96 games at Triple-A Indianapolis, Johnson is slashing .199/.336/.319 with eight home runs, 37 RBI, and 24 stolen bases. He was a first-round pick of the Pirates from the 2022 draft. Given the timing of this injury, Johnson is unlikely to play in Pittsburgh this season. There should be more information on his injury in the coming days.
Source: Danny Demilio
Source: Danny Demilio
Hunter Barco Sharp in Latest Outing at Triple-A
Pittsburgh Pirates pitching prospect Hunter Barco looked sharp in his latest outing at Triple-A Indianapolis, tossing six innings of one-hit ball while walking two and striking out three. The Pirates' ninth-ranked prospect has worked as both a starter and reliever for Indy this year, with much better results as a starter, posting a 2.75 ERA and 1.19 WHIP compared to a 6.94 ERA and 1.97 WHIP. The former second-rounder debuted with the Pirates last year, and made six appearances earlier in 2026, all out of the bullpen. The 6-foot-4 hurler could get another shot in Pittsburgh this year, but his fantasy relevance will depend on whether he's working as a starter or reliever. With the Bucs acquiring Clay Holmes, there currently isn't a need for a closer, and long relief would only make him viable in leagues that reward holds. Even so, the 25-year-old is a name worth monitoring in the event Paul Skenes' recent velocity dip turns into anything more serious and the Pirates end up needing a rotation arm.
Source: MiLB.com
Source: MiLB.com
Paul Skenes Lifted Early From Contest After Notable Velocity Drop
Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher Paul Skenes was pulled out early during Tuesday's outing due to a drop in velocity, according to Talkin' Baseball. Skenes only threw 65 pitches during this game, and none of those pitches registered at 97 MPH or higher. The right-hander allowed one earned run on five hits while striking out four batters in the loss. Fantasy managers don't need to panic yet, but Skenes throwing under 97 MPH is certainly alarming. There is no word on him being injured, so maybe his early exit was for another reason. Fantasy managers should monitor this situation closely over the next few days.
Source: Talkin' Baseball
Source: Talkin' Baseball
Jhostynxon Garcia Off To Slow Start in Opportunity With Pirates
Pittsburgh Pirates outfield prospect Jhostynxon Garcia was called up to Pittsburgh on July 29 after spending most of the season with the Triple-A Indianapolis Indians. Garcia has played 19 games with Pittsburgh and has 47 at-bats with a .170 batting average and no homers, with two RBI and two runs scored. The right-handed hitting 23-year-old is off to a slow start with his new big league club after debuting briefly with the Red Sox last season. Garcia has already received an extended opportunity with the Pirates. The No. 5 overall prospect for Pittsburgh has yet to show off his skills at the big league level and thus can be left on the waiver wire in most fantasy leagues. He's combined for 10 homers and 35 runs in the minors this season between two levels but has yet to showcase that ability for the big league club.
Source: Minor League Baseball
Source: Minor League Baseball
Konnor Griffin Participating in Baseball Activities
Pittsburgh Pirates rookie shortstop Konnor Griffin (finger) suffered a torn left ring-finger sagittal band on a diving play on July 5 and was expected to be in a splint for six weeks. Griffin has been participating in baseball activities, playing catch and swinging with his top hand, according to MLB.com. He has also been standing in against the Trajekt machine. Griffin was originally placed on the 10-day injured list on July 7 and was moved to the 60-day IL on July 11. He still has a ways to go before potentially returning to the major-league roster, but barring a setback, the shortstop phenom will have a chance to be back in early September. The 20-year-old former ninth overall pick in 2024 is still rostered in over 60% of Yahoo leagues, even though he might only help fantasy managers for the last couple of weeks of the 2026 season. Before suffering a finger injury, Griffin was batting .276/.332/.404 with a .736 OPS, five homers, 25 RBI, 20 steals, and 35 runs scored across his first 225 at-bats. He's going to be a high-end, five-category contributor for a long time to come as long as he stays healthy.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
Oneil Cruz Begins Rehab Assignment Friday
Pittsburgh Pirates center fielder Oneil Cruz (left hand) will begin a rehab assignment with Triple-A Indianapolis on Friday, according to Alex Stumpf. Cruz has been out since early June with non-displaced fractures of the fourth and fifth metacarpals in his left hand and was transferred to the 60-day injured list July 18. This will be his first game action in roughly two months. The 27-year-old was hitting .264/.350/.472 with 14 home runs, 44 RBI, 45 runs, and 21 stolen bases in 64 games before getting hurt. Pittsburgh has not announced how many rehab games Cruz will need before being activated. Still, getting him back into competitive games is a significant step, and fantasy managers should continue holding him as he works toward a return.
Source: Alex Stumpf
Source: Alex Stumpf
Pirates Still Don't Have Specific Timetable for Oneil Cruz's Return
The Pittsburgh Pirates still do not have a specific timetable for outfielder Oneil Cruz's (hand) return from the 60-day injured list, according to Colin Beazley of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. "Still don't have a specific date or timeline, but I think we're getting closer all the time. We're waiting for maybe a little bit more information from him, but we're anticipating it happening soon," general manager Ben Cherington said. Despite starting baseball activities on July 29, it doesn't appear that the 27-year-old will be ready to come off the IL when he's eligible on Friday. Fantasy managers will need to be a bit more patient. Once he's cleared for a minor-league rehab assignment, his return to the big leagues won't be far off, barring a setback. The Dominican outfielder is a must-start in all fantasy formats when he's active for the Bucs, and he has hit .264/.350/.472 with an .822 OPS, 14 home runs, 44 RBI, 21 stolen bases, and 45 runs scored across his 250 at-bats in 2026 in his sixth major-league season in Pittsburgh. Cruz had a league-high 38 stolen bases in 2025 and is one of the best power/speed assets in baseball when he's healthy.
Source: Pittsburgh Post-Gazette - Colin Beazley
Source: Pittsburgh Post-Gazette - Colin Beazley
