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Pirates Insider: Along hits and homer, Brandon Lowe offers important perspective after wild win

12:09 AM EDT

Brandon Lowe has appeared in 874 MLB games throughout his nine-year career. Most, if we’re being honest, were probably more aesthetically pleasing or crisp than the Pirates’ 13-12 victory over the Giants at PNC Park on Tuesday. But that perspective has allowed Lowe to see some things, especially when it

'A magical thing': Pirates baseball a refuge for 10-year-old brain cancer survivor

September 1, 2026

When Roman Senft grabs the microphone and yells “Play Ball!” prior to Tuesday’s Pirates game against the Giants are PNC Park, there will undoubtedly be plenty of excitement. But for 10-year-old Roman and his family, the moment will represent so much more considering everything the baseball-loving bunch from Cranberry has

Why Paul Skenes believes we can never do enough for first responders

August 31, 2026

Paul Skenes likes to joke that his first-ever dream job, before baseball or flying planes, was to become a firefighter. Perhaps that’s why Skenes enjoys this stuff so much. Or maybe it's the opportunity to help a worthy cause. (OK, it's probably a mix of both.) Backed by support from

Pirates Insider: Sunday's win sets up most pivotal week of season

August 30, 2026

ST. LOUIS — With sand slipping through the hourglass and the Pirates badly needing a hot streak to jump back into contention, this felt like a season-defining road trip for the club. Nine games in 11 days across three cities. A chance to shift this thing one way or another.

Pirates Insider: Pittsburgh's win highlights several needed offensive performances

August 29, 2026

ST. LOUIS — Jake Mangum saw Cardinals left fielder Joshua Báez fail to field the ball cleanly and discovered another gear. Mangum’s helmet went sailing. He was nearly called out at third base, though the Pirates saw third baseman Nolan Gorman drop the ball, challenged and won. It's the type

Skenes discusses velocity dip, what changed in his last start

August 29, 2026

ST. LOUIS -- Before the Pirates left for their current road trip, Paul Skenes had a conversation that put his mind at ease. With the Tigers in town, Skenes wound up chatting with Tigers pitcher Justin Verlander about velocity. Pittsburgh’s ace described what he’s gone through this season and asked

Pirates starting pitching took a step forward in San Diego. Will it continue?

August 27, 2026

ST. LOUIS — A handful of hours after the MLB Trade Deadline had passed, after he delivered one of his best starts of the second half and that night’s game in Milwaukee ended on a walkoff challenge, Bubba Chandler was addressing Mitch Keller’s season-ending injury when he offered an honest

Familiar problem plagues Pirates, as they drop series finale in San Diego

August 26, 2026

SAN DIEGO — When the Pirates offense has struggled this season, it’s been pretty easy to diagnose the problem. Either a left-handed pitcher has been on the mound, or the Pirates have been unable to convert with runners in scoring position. Sometimes both. A familiar problem resurfaced at a terrible

Endy Rodriguez has surgery on left hip, won't return this season

August 26, 2026

SAN DIEGO — Endy Rodriguez won’t return this season after he had surgery Wednesday to repair the labrum in his left hip, the Pirates announced. Rodriguez is expected to resume baseball activities within seven to nine months, which will likely delay his 2027 season, as well. The surgery was performed

Esmerlyn Valdez working, adjusting and eying more opportunities to punch back

August 26, 2026

SAN DIEGO — When Esmerlyn Valdez walked back to the visitors’ dugout after making the second out of the third inning Monday night, chasing a low-and-away changeup out of the zone from Padres starter Robbie Ray, the Pirates rookie was none too happy. But he didn’t let it consume him.

Paul Skenes, Oneil Cruz carry Pirates to another victory over Padres

August 26, 2026

SAN DIEGO — They're the Pirates’ two biggest players, both with freakish builds and skills and the ability to control the pace and trajectory of a game. Paul Skenes and Oneil Cruz, of course. With Pittsburgh badly needing another win, its season potentially teetering on this nine-game road trip, Skenes

Nick Gonzales, bullpen combine to help Pirates outlast Padres in 12

August 25, 2026

SAN DIEGO — Time after time, the Pirates had chances, opportunities to end this game long before its actual conclusion, and they failed to come through. Nick Gonzales changed that nearly four hours after the first pitch when he singled up the middle in the top of the 12th to

That hot stretch? It's needed now after Pirates are swept by Dodgers

August 23, 2026

LOS ANGELES — The Pirates arrived in California on Wednesday knowing they’d need a strong showing against the Dodgers, not only to kickstart their longest road trip of the season but to spark a badly needed hot streak over the final weeks or so. While general manager Ben Cherington before

Loss to Dodgers, Tarik Skubal highlights several things that need to change for Pirates

August 22, 2026

LOS ANGELES -- The start of Saturday’s game could not have gone much better for the Pirates. They scored three runs off Tarik Skubal in the first. Jared Jones buzzed through a stacked Dodgers lineup while pitching in his hometown ballpark for the first time. Despite plenty of momentum early,

Road narrowing fast, as Pirates drop game one to Dodgers in extras

August 22, 2026

LOS ANGELES — Now, here comes the hard part. Friday night against the Dodgers and Yoshinobu Yamamoto was theoretically the soft spot in this series, the one game where the Pirates didn’t have to face a two-time Cy Young Award winner.

Pirates Insider: Nine storylines to follow on what figures to be a revealing road trip

August 20, 2026

LOS ANGELES — When Pirates and players first examined the 2026 schedule last August, this pocket was hard to ignore. Nine games in 11 days, including six against NL West heavyweights in the Dodgers and Padres, plus ending a month where the Pirates play 18 of 27 on the road.

Pirates Insider: Why Wednesday's walk-off win might've saved their season

August 19, 2026

With the Pirates trailing by two and their season teetering on Wednesday afternoon, Rafael Flores Jr. calmly grabbed a bat and jogged upstairs to the batting cages adjacent to the service tunnel in the bowels of PNC Park. As Flores worked to get loose and calibrate his swing, there's no

‘Absolutely money’: Braxton Ashcraft picks up where he left off with another gem

August 18, 2026

It’s almost like Braxton Ashcraft’s previous start, his complete-game gem, never ended. He just saved his progress, flew home from Miami and resumed the game Tuesday with the Tigers in town. It sure must have felt like as video game for Rafael Flores Jr., who was once again behind the

'It was a tough one': Carmen Mlodzinski struggles again in series-opening loss to Tigers

August 18, 2026

When the Pirates have shown signs of pulling themselves off the mat in the second half, starting pitching has been arguably been their biggest aid. Yet when they’ve struggled, that aspect has usually been the primary culprit. After taking two of three from the Red Sox over the weekend and

Oneil Cruz activated from 60-day injured list, while Konnor Griffin is ahead of schedule

August 17, 2026

The Pirates welcomed back a big part of their offense on Monday, as they activated Oneil Cruz from the 60-day injured list. To make room on the active roster, they optioned Ronny Simon to Triple-A. They designated Johnathan Rodriguez to create space on the 40-man roster. Cruz had been on

Henry Davis belongs in the Gold Glove conversation, if not more. Here's why.

August 17, 2026

Don Kelly started to really see the change last year, the comfortability and command, the brick wall behind home plate, the throws whizzing down to second base. But in 2026, Henry Davis has taken his defense to another level, one that could make him the Pirates’ fourth Gold Glove catcher

Pirates Insider: Weekend series win showed ingredients necessary for digging out of hole

August 16, 2026

Aiming to snap a seven-series losing streak and win their first in nearly a month, the Pirates had to wait around awhile. Through a 2-hour, 34-minute rain delay, in fact. But when the weather finally stopped and play resumed, the Pirates closed out an 8-3 victory over the Red Sox

Ben Cherington expands on the Paul Skenes decision, Oneil Cruz’s timeline and more

August 16, 2026

Ben Cherington is plenty aware of the Paul Skenes question that has been hanging over the Pirates. What’s wrong? Is he hurt? Pittsburgh’s general manager said Sunday on the Pirates Insider Show on 93.7 The Fan the organization has seen nothing to indicate Skenes is injured, though the Pirates do

Why the Pirates pushed back Paul Skenes' next start until Wednesday

August 15, 2026

Paul Skenes has dealt with plenty of firsts in his Major League career, from milestones to the National League Rookie of the Year and the NL Cy Young Award last season. This is one he probably could have done without: pitching on eight days rest because he had a start

Pirates offense stymied by Sonny Gray, Red Sox in loss

August 15, 2026

Just when it looked like the Pirates might’ve found brighter days, Sonny Gray came along and darkened the mood. The Red Sox starting pitcher kept the Pirates bats at bay during a 4-0 loss on Saturday, knotting this series at a game apiece. Gray worked seven shutout innings and struck