Pittsburgh Pirates / MLB category
Pirates farm report for March 29, 2026: Konnor Griffin doubles twice but Indy falls to 0-3
INDIANAPOLIS (Triple-A, 0-3) was swept in a three-game series after falling 4-1 to St. Paul (Twins). SS Konnor Griffin (.500) was 2 for 4 and doubled twice for his first extra-base hits in Triple-A. DH Ronny Simon (.600) was 1 for 2 with two walks and an RBI. 3B Davis...
Henry Davis delivers game-winning hit, then makes saving tag as Pirates beat Mets in 10
A day after the Pittsburgh Pirates took one on the chin in extra innings against the New York Mets, Henry Davis returned the favor. Davis drove in the winning run with a single in the 10th inning, then tagged Francisco Lindor at home plate to preserve the lead as the...
Pirates farm report for March 28, 2026: Konnor Griffin reaches base 4 times in Indy loss
INDIANAPOLIS (Triple-A, 0-2) dropped a 9-7 decision to St. Paul (Twins). SS Konnor Griffin (.500) was 2 for 3 with an RBI and reached base four times. He had two singles, two walks, a strikeout and scored a run. CF Dominic Fletcher (.375) launched the Indians’ first home run of...
Luis Robert Jr. hits 3-run walk-off homer vs. Pirates rookie Hunter Barco, Mets win in 11th inning
Hunter Barco had never earned a save in his college or pro career, but the Pittsburgh Pirates put the rookie left-hander in position to do that by turning to him in extra innings. After getting out of a jam in the 10th inning, Barco gave up a three-run homer to...
Mark Madden’s Hot Take: Shortstop, 1st base, 3rd base, DH? How can the Pirates fix Oneil Cruz?
This space previously mooted the possibility of trading Oneil Cruz after his “Yakety Sax”-style meltdown when the Pittsburgh Pirates opened their season Thursday at New York. But the Pirates seem unlikely to do that. His raw talent is undeniable. Cruz is affordable at $3.3 million and, if he keeps disappointing,...
Pirates farm report for March 27, 2026: Konnor Griffin steals base, scores twice in Triple-A debut
INDIANAPOLIS (Triple-A, 0-1) lost 4-2 to St. Paul (Twins) in its season opener. SS Konnor Griffin (.333) led off and went 1 for 3 with a walk, stolen base and two runs scored in his Triple-A debut. C Endy Rodriguez (.500) went 2 for 4 with a pair of RBIs....
Beyond the Bylines: Pirates’ Opening Day dud, Penguins thriller, Aaron Rodgers intrigue, Bill Murray moviesVideo
In this week’s “Beyond the Bylines,” Tim Benz and Joe Starkey debate the Pittsburgh Pirates’ season-opening loss to the Mets. They also dive into the Sweet 16, the Penguins’ crucial victory in Ottawa, and they kick around the theory that Aaron Rodgers’ latest contract delay may be about money. Tim...
Mark Madden: All the tools, but no toolbox; Pirates’ biggest problem might be Oneil Cruz
The Pirates should trade Oneil Cruz. There must be some MLB team still impressed by his amazing athleticism and willing to ignore that he’s 27 and hasn’t yet learned how to play baseball. Beyond occasional flashes, Cruz is useless. Cruz is a .233 lifetime hitter, a tragic .172 against left-handed...
Kevin Gorman’s Take 5: Oneil Cruz’s misplays in center field prove costly for Pirates in opener
Oneil Cruz could blame his Opening Day misplays in center field on the sun — and he did, to some degree — but that only accounts for one of his two first-inning gaffes in the 11-7 loss to the New York Mets. If only it were a matter of why...
Pirates season primer: Headlines, opinions, predictions as Bucs begin 2026 campaign
The Pirates boast one of the best pitchers in baseball, a revamped infield, added power at the plate, and a top prospect knocking on the door. So how will it all come together this season? That’s still up for debate. There’s a general belief Pittsburgh will surpass last year’s win...
U mad, bro?: Steelers fans loathe the idea of signing Kirk Cousins if Aaron Rodgers doesn’t return
It’s clear that most Pittsburgh Steelers fans despise the notion of potentially waiting all the way through the draft for Aaron Rodgers to sign. The only idea the Steelers fans seem to hate more? Signing any of the other available veteran quarterbacks. Ick! What a list. I was reminded of...
SportsNet Pittsburgh unveils full ‘creative refresh’ for Pirates broadcasts
Major enhancements are about to arrive on the screens of fans tuning into Pittsburgh Pirates games. Over the last year, SportsNet Pittsburgh, which televises the vast majority of Pirates games and is managed by New England Sports Network, has been working on a significant overhaul of its broadcasts. When the...
Tim Benz: Pirates start 2026 by living up, and down, to many preseason expectations
The Pittsburgh Pirates’ 2026 season opener against the New York Mets went from “That couldn’t have started better” to “That couldn’t have started worse.” Real quick. It ended poorly, too, with an 11-7 defeat. Game No. 1 of 162 also crystallized a lot of the reasons to feel better about...
Paul Skenes makes early exit amid 5-run 1st inning as Mets pound Pirates in season opener
Paul Skenes made a stunning exit on Opening Day as the Pittsburgh Pirates ace and National League Cy Young Award winner got an early hook after allowing five runs with two outs in the first inning. The New York Mets scored five runs while batting around the order before the...
Early exit: Pirates’ Paul Skenes doesn’t survive 1st inning at Mets in opener
It was a short-lived Opening Day for Paul Skenes, as the reigning National League Cy Young Award winner didn’t survive the first inning of the season opener Thursday afternoon against the New York Mets. It was a stunning early exit at Citi Field, as Skenes was yanked with two outs...
For Don Kelly, 1st Opening Day as Pirates manager represents a fresh start in dream job
Don Kelly has made no secret that he cherishes every moment of managing the Pittsburgh Pirates, and the season opener at the New York Mets on Thursday marked the first Opening Day as their skipper for the Mt. Lebanon and Point Park alum. Kelly shared an inspired message with his...
Mark Madden: Is it still hating if it happens? Expect 77 wins for these Pirates
I’m often accused of hating the Pittsburgh Pirates. Not true. I’m just a beacon of harsh truth. The Pirates were my first big sports love. I have 41 sets of ticket stubs from the 1971 world championship season to prove it. That includes Game 4 of the World Series at...
Paul Skenes leans into leadership as Opening Day starter wants to will the Pirates to win
Paul Skenes will be the first to admit that he wasn’t the leader of the Pittsburgh Pirates last season, instead taking a deferential disposition toward franchise icon Andrew McCutchen and other veteran players. Now that Skenes has asserted his dominance as a two-time All-Star starting pitcher, the reigning National League...
Tim Benz: Some Pirates optimism is warranted but let’s not go overboardVideo
If there is a line of people ahead of me who are more cynical and jaded about the Pittsburgh Pirates, it’s a short one. Yet here I am — with Game 1 of the 2026 season approaching Thursday — predicting 81 wins. I’ve been hovering around that number for quite...
Previewing the Pirates: Rebuilt bullpen could see Dennis Santana, Gregory Soto as closers
For the Pittsburgh Pirates, the final bullpen moves came down to their starting pitching, but the biggest decision will be who serves as closer. From the outset of spring training, the bulk relief role was going to be determined by who won the fifth spot in the rotation. When Carmen...
Lefty Hunter Barco scoreless in relief but Braves beat Pirates in Grapefruit League finale
Hunter Barco made the final cut for the Pittsburgh Pirates, then showed why he’s ready for a relief role. The 6-foot-4 left-hander tossed 2 1/3 scoreless innings to finish spring training with a 2.31 ERA after being scored upon once in five appearances. It was the way the game started...
Pirates reassign RHP Mike Clevinger in final cuts; Hunter Barco, Jose Urquidy make team
The Pittsburgh Pirates made their final cut of spring training, reassigning right-handed pitcher Mike Clevinger to minor league camp in a move that determined the final two spots in the bullpen. The 35-year-old Clevinger was 1-0 with a 5.02 ERA, 1.40 WHIP, 15 strikeouts against 10 walks and a .200...
Mark Madden: Playing it safe with top prospects could be costly for Pirates, Penguins
The Pirates sent 19-year-old phenom shortstop Konnor Griffin to Triple-A. The Penguins continue to keep 21-year-old phenom goaltender Sergei Murashov at their Wilkes-Barre/Scranton farm team. I don’t agree with either decision. But I understand. Griffin has never had an at-bat in Triple-A and has just 83 at the Double-A level....
Previewing the Pirates: Carmen Mlodzinski earns final spot in starting rotation
The final few spots on the Pittsburgh Pirates’ Opening Day roster are filling in as spring training nears its conclusion. On Sunday afternoon, as the Pirates took on the Boston Red Sox in their penultimate spring contest, manager Don Kelly answered a major remaining question as to who would be...
Pirates fall to Red Sox in penultimate spring training game
The 2026 regular season is within sight for the Pittsburgh Pirates, who played their penultimate spring training game Sunday afternoon at LECOM Park in Bradenton, Fla. Mitch Keller, making his final start of spring, took on the Boston Red Sox and delivered 32⁄3 innings in a 6-3 Pirates defeat. Boston...
