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From die-hard Mets fan to their new No. 11 prospect: Meet Sammy Stafura

August 4, 2026

Sammy Stafura was on the team bus from Greensboro to Rome on Monday afternoon when he saw a tweet saying his favorite team, the Mets, were trading reliever Luke Weaver. Then Stafura saw that Weaver was sent to the Pirates, his organization. “I was like, 'Oh wow. I feel like

Bullpen star Weaver to Pirates; Mets get No. 9 prospect Stafura

August 3, 2026

NEW YORK -- The Pirates’ fraught bullpen situation received another major upgrade on Monday, when Pittsburgh acquired right-handed reliever Luke Weaver and cash considerations from the Mets for shortstop prospect Sammy Stafura. Of the Mets’ many obvious trade candidates, Weaver ranked among the most valuable because unlike their impending free

Bucs manager Kelly ejected for arguing about field conditions at soggy GABP 

August 2, 2026

CINCINNATI -- As the rain poured down on Great American Ball Park, a simple conversation on a possible delay turned into Pirates manager Don Kelly’s MLB-leading fifth ejection of the season in a 10-2 loss to the Reds on Sunday afternoon. The ejection occurred in the fourth inning with Pittsburgh

Doval shows some good stuff coming out of 'pen in Pirates debut

August 2, 2026

CINCINNATI -- Camilo Doval's ERA at Yankee Stadium this season is 7.08. Outside of the Bronx, his ERA is 2.21. The intriguing splits were put to the test on Sunday afternoon as Doval made his Pirates debut in the eighth inning against the Reds at Great American Ball Park. In

Ashcraft overcomes the rain before Mlodzinski shows off in key new role

August 2, 2026

CINCINNATI -- With the Pirates amid a four-game losing streak, they’d take a win any way they could. Even if that meant waiting through a one-hour and 46-minute rain delay in the sixth inning. Pittsburgh played all nine and returned to the win column Saturday night with a 4-1 win

Pirates trade for RHP Doval from Yankees for 2 prospects

August 1, 2026

CINCINNATI -- The Pirates have made their first splash of the Trade Deadline, acquiring right-handed reliever Camilo Doval and cash considerations from the Yankees in exchange for prospects Omar Alfonzo and Luis Cruz.

O'Hearn to miss 6-8 weeks on IL, but hopes to return for playoff push

August 1, 2026

CINCINNATI -- The Pirates will be without 1B/OF Ryan O'Hearn for 6-8 weeks, as he was placed on the 10-day injured list on Saturday with a left quad strain. In a series of corresponding moves, RHP Isaac Mattson was recalled from Triple-A Indianapolis, C/1B Rafael Flores Jr. was activated from

O'Hearn's left quad injury exacerbates Bucs' difficult loss

August 1, 2026

CINCINNATI -- Ryan O'Hearn sprinted toward first base in the top of the ninth when the Pirates' looming crushing loss suddenly turned worse. O’Hearn came up limping heavily before touching first base, holding his left quad in pain. O’Hearn left the field with the assistance of Pirates manager Don Kelly

Skenes allows 5 runs vs. Reds, ending tough month on sour note

July 31, 2026

CINCINNATI -- Aces are built to be skid stoppers. With the Pirates having lost three straight games, it was naturally Paul Skenes' job to get them back on track. Despite Pittsburgh’s offense providing some runs to work with, Skenes was unable to do that. The third-year ace allowed seven hits

How the Pirates discovered -- and developed -- 'The Magician'

July 31, 2026

This story was excerpted from Aiden Stepansky's Pirates Beat newsletter. To read the full newsletter, click here. And subscribe to get it regularly in your inbox.

A strength all season, Pirates' offense pushing through dry patch

July 31, 2026

CINCINNATI – The Pirates' calling card has been outhitting their opponent. But what happens when the bats turn cold? Thursday night continued a rare rough patch for one of baseball’s top offenses. Pittsburgh tallied just two runs on seven hits in its 3-2 loss to Cincinnati to open a four-game

Sisk K's 2 in first rehab outing with Triple-A Indianapolis

July 30, 2026

CINCINNATI – Evan Sisk was pitching as well as he ever had for the first three months of 2026. Then came the unexpected. Near the end of June, Sisk began to feel some discomfort in the back of his elbow area. The soreness was gradual over time. Eventually, he needed

Bucs go quietly in finale as Wild Card math gets more complicated

July 29, 2026

PITTSBURGH -- With the Trade Deadline looming and postseason races tightening, games can start to feel more important than they truly are. “I don't think I've ever seen anybody clinch in July,” veteran Brandon Lowe said after Tuesday’s game.

Top prospect Hernandez's season likely over due to left oblique strain

July 29, 2026

PITTSBURGH -- Pirates top prospect and MLB Pipeline’s top right-handed pitcher Seth Hernandez is likely out for the season with a left oblique strain. Hernandez suffered the injury during his start on July 24, and is expected to be out six to eight weeks, which would line up with the

Bucs' comeback falls short after getting stifled by another righty starter

July 29, 2026

PITTSBURGH -- If the Pirates have a proven strength in 2026, it’s unequivocally their offense against right-handed pitching. Pittsburgh entered Tuesday with the most hits against righties (688) and the second-highest OPS (.779) in all of baseball. Yet, for the second night in a row, the Pirates were stumped by

Inside the origins of Jacob Gonzalez's power surge with Pirates

July 28, 2026

This story was excerpted from Aiden Stepansky's Pirates Beat newsletter. To read the full newsletter, click here. And subscribe to get it regularly in your inbox.

Pirates lose Kelly for arguing check-swing calls; Reynolds doubles in tying run anyway

July 28, 2026

PITTSBURGH -- Pirates manager Don Kelly was ejected from Monday night’s game at PNC Park in the bottom of the eighth inning by third-base umpire Ben May after arguing two check-swing calls against Bryan Reynolds. Reynolds doubled later in the at-bat to tie the game. Kelly watched the ninth and

Lowe leads Bucs to walk-off win after rookie Valdez exits with left wrist injury

July 28, 2026

PITTSBURGH -- The implications don’t get much higher for a game in late July. The Pirates entered the series with the Diamondbacks one game behind Arizona in the National League Wild Card standings.

Pirates sign Griffin’s buddy and No. 5 overall pick Curiel

July 27, 2026

PITTSBURGH -- Derek Curiel teared up when he walked on the PNC Park field on Thursday. He saw the Pittsburgh skyline off in the distance and envisioned contributing on that field in the near future with the Pirates.

With Deadline rapidly approaching, Pirates stay on course to be buyers

July 26, 2026

PITTSBURGH -- The final week of July can often decide whether teams identify themselves as buyers or sellers at the Trade Deadline. At times, the pressure can mount, building a losing streak. For a few days, it seemed the Pirates were headed in that direction. Then came an offensive outburst

Skenes K's season-high 11, but bid for 4th straight win foiled by Cubs

July 25, 2026

PITTSBURGH -- In all of Paul Skenes’ impressive achievements three years into his MLB career, he hasn’t won four straight games. Saturday night was a chance at another great feat. Skenes recorded a season-high 11 strikeouts, but he allowed three runs in the fifth, exiting after 5 1/3 innings with

Pirates lose game of inches on the basepaths to kick off pivotal homestand

July 25, 2026

PITTSBURGH -- The Pirates have already battled through a grueling stretch, taking on teams with a .500 or better record in six straight series. Though with the Trade Deadline nearing, a six-game homestand against two of the teams ahead of Pittsburgh in the NL Wild Card race is as pivotal

Marinaccio joins Pirates' bullpen for postseason push

July 24, 2026

PITTSBURGH -- The Pirates must fix their bullpen issues to break their 11-season playoff drought. They took a step in finding a cure Thursday evening, acquiring right-hander Ron Marinaccio from the Padres and designating Dennis Santana for assignment. Santana tallied a 6.05 ERA in 41 2/3 innings this season, while

Bizarre drought in the past, Skenes seeks a 4th straight win vs. Cubs

July 24, 2026

PITTSBURGH -- Paul Skenes has returned to Cy Young form. His first start out of the All-Star break continued his effective stretch from just before the break, proving his nine-start winless streak that spanned from mid-May to early July is well behind him. Across his last three starts, Skenes has

Former 1st-rounder Johnson learning resilience through ups, downs of Minors

July 24, 2026

This story was excerpted from Aiden Stepansky's Pirates Beat newsletter. To read the full newsletter, click here. And subscribe to get it regularly in your inbox.