RADIO
Esmerlyn Valdez Returning to the Lineup on Tuesday
Pittsburgh Pirates rookie outfielder Esmerlyn Valdez (hand) will be back in the starting lineup for Tuesday's game against the visiting Arizona Diamondbacks and right-hander Brandon Pfaadt, according to Jason Mackey. Valdez will return to action a day after he was hit by a pitch on his left hand, which caused him to be removed from Monday's game early. Thankfully, tests on Valdez's hand came back negative for any fractures. The 22-year-old Dominican has been excellent in his first 124 major-league at-bats in 2026, slashing .290/.386/.702 with a 1.088 OPS, 14 home runs, 36 RBI, and 26 runs scored across his 38 games and 145 plate appearances. Valdez has been one of the most popular waiver-wire pickups for his power. Although he still has a 1.043 OPS in 21 games in July, Valdez has cooled off of late, going 3-for-16 with eight strikeouts in his last six games. Fantasy managers will be hoping that he can turn things around in his return on Tuesday at PNC Park.
Source: Jason Mackey
Source: Jason Mackey
Esmerlyn Valdez Day-to-Day With Hand Contusion
Pittsburgh Pirates rookie outfielder Esmerlyn Valdez (hand) is considered day-to-day with a left-hand contusion after tests showed no fractures, according to Alex Stumpf of MLB.com. Valdez was forced from Monday's series opener against the Arizona Diamondbacks early after he was hit on the left hand by a pitch. Thankfully, the 22-year-old has avoided a serious injury, but he might be held out of action on Tuesday for the second game of the series. The right-handed-hitting Dominican outfielder has been one of the hottest waiver-wire pickups in fantasy baseball since his MLB debut earlier this year, as he's tearing the cover off the baseball with a .290/.386/.702 slash line with a 1.088 OPS, 14 home runs, 36 RBI, and 26 runs scored in only 38 games and 145 plate appearances. In 21 games and 91 plate appearances in July, Valdez has gone 21-for-76 (.276) with a 1.043 OPS, eight homers, three doubles, a triple, 24 RBI, and 16 runs for the Bucs. Check back later to see if he's ready to return to Pittsburgh's starting nine against Arizona.
Source: MLB.com - Alex Stumpf
Source: MLB.com - Alex Stumpf
Oneil Cruz Having "Good Days of Late," Rehab Assignment Could Come Soon
Pittsburgh Pirates general manager Ben Cherington said that center fielder Oneil Cruz (hand) has had "good days of late," according to Dominic Campbell of Sports Illustrated. Cruz seems to be past the soreness of where his fractured hand is on contact, and his bones are healing. His next step is to ramp up his baseball activities before going on a minor-league rehab assignment. Cherington thinks that Cruz could be ready to come off the 60-day injured list during the early window of eligibility to return, which will come on Aug. 7. The 27-year-old Dominican has been sidelined with a fractured left hand since June 8. Cruz has been swinging a bat for a few weeks and is improving, so fantasy managers are starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel for his return. With one of the fastest bat speeds in baseball, Cruz can be a five-category game-changer down the stretch if he's fully healthy. Before his hand injury, he was slashing .264/.350/.472 with an .822 OPS, 14 home runs, 44 RBI, 21 stolen bases, and 45 runs scored across his 250 at-bats.
Source: Sports Illustrated - Dominic Campbell
Source: Sports Illustrated - Dominic Campbell
Esmerlyn Valdez Leaves Early on Monday After Being Hit in Wrist Area
Pittsburgh Pirates rookie outfielder Esmerlyn Valdez (wrist) left Monday's game early against the Arizona Diamondbacks after he was hit by a pitch in the left wrist area in the fourth inning, according to Alex Stumpf of MLB.com. Before leaving the contest early, Valdez went 0-for-1 at the plate. He was replaced in right field by Tyler Callihan, who moved from first base. Valdez will almost certainly go for X-rays on his hand/wrist to determine if he's dealing with any cracked bones. The 22-year-old Dominican outfielder has burst onto the scene in the Steel City in 2026 in his first year in the big leagues, as he came into Monday's series opener with a .293/.385/.707 slash line, 1.092 OPS, 14 home runs, 36 RBI, and 26 runs scored in 37 games across 143 plate appearances. His strong start to his MLB career has earned him an everyday role and has made him one of the most popular recent waiver-wire pickups in fantasy baseball leagues. For now, we'll consider Valdez day-to-day until we know more about his hand/wrist injury. UPDATE: Valdez is expected to undergo more imaging on Tuesday, according to the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review's Kevin Gorman.
Source: MLB.com - Alex Stumpf
Source: MLB.com - Alex Stumpf
Seth Hernandez Placed on Injured List With Left-Oblique Issue
Pittsburgh Pirates right-handed pitching prospect Seth Hernandez (oblique) has been placed on the minor-league injured list with a left-oblique issue, according to Jonathan Mayo of MLB.com. The injury occurred during his Friday, July 24 start for High-A Greensboro against Winston-Salem. Hernandez completed three innings, allowing one hit and striking out five, but Pittsburgh has not announced the severity of the injury or how long he will remain sidelined. Hernandez is the Pirates' top prospect and ranks sixth overall on MLB Pipeline's current list. The 20-year-old owns a 2.43 ERA with 118 strikeouts across 74 innings between Single-A Bradenton and High-A Greensboro in his first full professional season. Dynasty managers should continue holding him while awaiting a clearer recovery timetable.
Source: Jonathan Mayo
Source: Jonathan Mayo
Mason Montgomery Earns Second Save as Fantasy Value Continues to Rise
Pittsburgh Pirates left-hander Mason Montgomery earned his second save of the season in the team's 8-7 win over the division-rival Chicago Cubs on Sunday, although it didn't come easily. Montgomery allowed two earned runs on two hits (one homer) while walking none and striking out two. The 26-year-old southpaw is getting more run in high-leverage, late-inning situations, and he got the call in the ninth in this one over left-hander Gregory Soto, who has been the team's primary saves option for the majority of the 2026 season. Montgomery is now 3-3 on the season with two saves, a 4.04 ERA (2.92 FIP), 1.23 WHIP, and 65:19 K:BB in 42 1/3 innings across his 43 appearances (five starts) in his third year in the majors (first in Pittsburgh). While the Pirates seem to be trusting Montgomery more now that reliever Dennis Santana is out of the picture, Soto is still the better option for saves in the Pirates' bullpen for fantasy managers. Montgomery is currently rostered in 4% of Yahoo leagues, although he's an option for those desperate in deeper leagues.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
White Sox Acquire Jose Urquidy
The Chicago White Sox acquired right-handed pitcher Jose Urquidy from the Pittsburgh Pirates on Sunday. In exchange, the Pirates will receive right-handed pitcher Felix Doroteo. Urquidy hasn't seen much action in the big leagues over the last few years. He made five relief appearances for the Pirates, but was shelled for 10 earned runs. Since then, Urquidy owns a 3.66 ERA, with a 73/18 K/BB ratio across 83.2 innings as a starting pitcher with Triple-A Indianapolis. This isn't the blockbuster trade deadline move that'll save the White Sox's season, but it's something. The expectation is that Urquidy will head to Triple-A and serve as depth.
Source: Mark Feinsand
Source: Mark Feinsand
Paul Skenes Fans 11 Cubs But Allows Five Runs in Loss
Pittsburgh Pirates right-hander Paul Skenes started off Saturday's outing strong, but he faltered late in the team's 11-0 blowout loss to the division-rival Chicago Cubs. Skenes allowed five earned runs on six hits while walking two and striking out 11 in 5 1/3 innings of work to take his ninth loss of the season. The 24-year-old three-time All-Star and former Cy Young winner is now 9-9 in his third major-league season with a career-high 3.65 ERA (2.72 FIP) and 1.06 WHIP with 149 strikeouts and 28 walks in 120 2/3 innings pitched across his league-high 22 starts. Skenes hasn't been quite as untouchable as he was in his first two seasons with the Pirates, and Saturday's five-run outing snapped a streak of three straight starts with two earned runs allowed or fewer. Even though Skenes hasn't been as dominant as many were hoping for in 2026, he still has plenty of swing-and-miss stuff, as he generated 22 swings and misses on 105 pitches against Chicago. Fantasy managers should keep him in their starting lineups for his next scheduled outing against the division-rival Cincinnati Reds next week. In his two starts against the Reds this year, Skenes has a 4.50 ERA with four walks and 12 strikeouts in 10 innings pitched.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
Braxton Ashcraft Remains Worth Buying Despite Current Rough Patch
Across 116 1/3 innings (20 starts) in 2026, Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher Braxton Ashcraft has recorded a 9-4 record with a 3.95 ERA, 1.17 WHIP, and 130 strikeouts. While Ashcraft's overall line is strong, he's run into a rough patch of late. Across his last two starts, the 26-year-old has allowed four home runs and 12 earned runs in just eight innings pitched. Ashcraft's previous career-high for innings pitched in a professional season was 73 in 2024, so he may be running into a wall under the strain of his current workload. However, the young right-hander's underlying metrics still point to high-end upside. Ashcraft is averaging 97.2 miles per hour on his fastball, and he's logged a 27.0% strikeout rate with just a 5.8% walk rate. In leagues where managers are panicking after back-to-back rough outings, Ashcraft could be worth buying low on.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Bryan Reynolds is Bouncing Back in 2026
Pittsburgh Pirates outfielder Bryan Reynolds put together one of the worst seasons of his career last year. It wasn't an awful year, but Reynolds is expected to play at an All-Star level, which is something he didn't do last season. Now, Reynolds is back and has rebounded nicely at the plate. Through 103 games, Reynolds is slashing .275/.391/.463 with 14 home runs, 59 RBI, and seven stolen bases this season. It appears Reynolds is finally back to the normal version of himself that fantasy managers expect to see. Fantasy managers might want to take advantage of the resurgence now and cash in by trading him.
Source: Baseball Reference
Source: Baseball Reference
Pirates Designate Dennis Santana for Assignment
The Pittsburgh Pirates designated right-handed reliever Dennis Santana for assignment on Thursday to make room for right-handed reliever Ron Marinaccio, who was acquired in a minor trade from the San Diego Padres in exchange for international signing bonus pool considerations, according to MLB.com's Alex Stumpf. Santana was an option for saves in the Pirates' bullpen earlier this season, but he has struggled mightily, going 2-5 with a 6.05 ERA (5.48 FIP), a 1.51 WHIP, two saves, 37 strikeouts, and 21 walks in 41 2/3 relief innings in 2026 in his second full season in Pittsburgh. The 30-year-old Dominican hurler has had a really rough month of July, allowing 10 earned runs on 12 hits (four homers) while walking two and striking out seven for two losses and a hold in 7 1/3 innings across eight appearances out of the bullpen. Santana will most likely clear waivers because of his $3.7 million salary, at which point he could refuse an outright assignment and become a free agent.
Source: MLB.com - Alex Stumpf
Source: MLB.com - Alex Stumpf
Jacob Gonzalez Is a Deep-League Power Add After Another Pittsburgh Homer
Pittsburgh Pirates infielder Jacob Gonzalez hit a two-run homer in Wednesday's 5-3 win over the Yankees, his second long ball since joining the club. Gonzalez is 5-for-17 with five RBI and three runs during that stretch. His full major-league line now sits at .252 with four homers, 22 RBI, and 14 runs across 103 at-bats. The Pirates have used Gonzalez at shortstop and first base, but there is still competition for at-bats around the infield. That keeps him out of standard mixed-league territory for now. The power is worth a deeper look. Gonzalez hit .320/.422/.675 with 19 home runs over 200 Triple-A at-bats, and only 3% of Yahoo leagues have him rostered. RotoBaller places him in the 15-team range. He is a viable add there, especially for managers looking for corner-infield power.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Jake Mangum a Deep-League Speed Option if his Foot Checks Out
Pittsburgh Pirates center fielder Jake Mangum (foot) collected two hits, stole his 19th base, and knocked in an insurance run during Wednesday's 5-3 win over the Yankees. He also fouled a ball off his right foot. Mangum finished the opener but was scratched from the second game of the doubleheader so Pittsburgh could examine the injury. The Pirates hope to have him back Friday. Mangum is batting .303 with two home runs, 35 runs, 21 RBI, and 19 steals across 251 at-bats. There is almost no power here, but that is not why fantasy managers are looking his way. He can help in average and make a real difference in stolen bases. His name appears on just 11% of Yahoo rosters, while RotoBaller ranks him in the 15-team range. Mangum is worth adding there once the foot checks out.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Gregory Soto Tallies 13th Save, Re-Emerging as Name to Roster in Pittsburgh Bullpen
Pittsburgh Pirates left-hander Gregory Soto picked up his 13th save of the season on Wednesday, throwing a scoreless 10th inning with a strikeout in his team's 5-3 extra-inning win over the New York Yankees. Soto had a rough month in June, allowing 11 earned runs across 7 1/3 innings. However, the 31-year-old has bounced back in July, pitching to a 1.35 ERA with six strikeouts and two saves across his first 6 2/3 innings this month. The 31-year-old's underlying metrics for the year remain strong, as he's averaging 97.2 miles per hour on his fastball and owns a 27.6% strikeout rate. With his recent rough patch now seemingly in the rearview mirror, Soto once again looks like the closer to roster in Pittsburgh.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
Sammy Stafura Stays Red-Hot With Multi-Hit, Multi-Steal Performance
Pittsburgh Pirates infield prospect Sammy Stafura logged yet another multi-hit performance on Tuesday, his 10th multi-hit effort in his last 15 games at High-A, while adding a pair of steals. After an uneven start to the season, which included two stints on the injured list, Stafura is now making up for it. Since June 25, a period of 17 games, the Pirates' 10th-ranked prospect has gone on an otherworldly run of production, hitting .413 with 12 home runs, 36 RBI, 26 runs scored, and 10 stolen bases, good for a .565 wOBA and 227 wRC+ over that period. He's doing so despite an elevated 26.8 percent strikeout rate over that span, although it is an improvement over the 33.3 percent rate he produced at High-A prior to this recent run of success. As a career .251 hitter in the lower levels of the minors, the 21-year-old may have fallen off the dynasty radar, but this type of production shouldn't be ignored, and the former second-rounder may finally be living up to his draft-day potential.
Source: MiLB.com
Source: MiLB.com
