Pittsburgh Pirates News

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Gregory Soto • RP • Pirates

Gregory Soto a Top Waiver-Wire Option for Saves?

Pittsburgh Pirates relief pitcher Gregory Soto is off to a terrific start on the mound this season, and he's getting onto the fantasy radar as he starts to rack up save opportunities. Soto has earned a save on back-to-back days, and each of his last three outings has either been a save or a win. Across 19 appearances (19.0 innings) this year, he owns a 1.42 ERA with 11.84 K/9, 3.32 BB/9, and 0.47 HR/9. The 31-year-old lefty also has three saves this season, tying his highest single-season mark since 2022, when he recorded 30. It seems like Soto is firmly established in the closer's role for now, so as long as the Pirates keep their winning percentage above .500, he'll have the potential to rack up saves in fantasy baseball. Rostered in just 28% of leagues, Soto represents an intriguing target for managers seeking a leverage bullpen arm on the waiver wire. He currently ranks #26 among relievers in RotoBaller's latest fantasy baseball rankings.

Yesterday

Jared Jones • 1B • Pirates

Jared Jones a Priority Injured Player to Stash?

Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher Jared Jones (elbow) is currently on the 60-day injured list, but he's an intriguing player to stash in fantasy baseball leagues ahead of his eventual activation. Although he must remain on the IL through May 26, he has started his rehab assignment in the minors, suggesting that he'll be activated as soon as he's eligible (barring a setback). Jones was highly impressive as a rookie in 2025, posting a 3.78 xFIP with 9.78 K/9, 2.88 BB/9, and an average fastball velocity of 97.4 mph. That type of production is worthy of a roster spot in fantasy leagues, so managers who can afford to stash Jones for a few weeks should add him while he's still available. He currently ranks #68 among starters in RotoBaller's latest fantasy baseball rankings, and his stock will only rise as his return gets closer.

Yesterday

Gregory Soto • RP • Pirates

Gregory Soto Tallies Second Save for Pirates, Settling in as Closer to Roster?

Pittsburgh Pirates relief pitcher Gregory Soto secured his second save of the season on Wednesday night, pitching a scoreless ninth inning to complete a close, 1-0 win over the Diamondbacks. Soto combined with Paul Skenes on the shutout and worked around a walk to Geraldo Perdomo to lock down the win. The veteran lefty has allowed three runs in 18 innings this season, posting a 1.50 ERA, 2.53 FIP, and 0.72 WHIP. He has 24 strikeouts in his 18 frames this year, and he has six holds to go with his two saves. If he consistently gets the call in the ninth, he'll be a solid closer to roster, but he has been used earlier in games in high-leverage situations against lefties. He and Dennis Santana will continue to share the closer role, but Soto has been more effective and could start to get more of the timeshare if he continues to be so effective.

2 days ago

Jared Jones • 1B • Pirates

Jared Jones Throws 54 Pitches in Rehab Outing on Wednesday

Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher Jared Jones (elbow) threw 54 pitches across three innings of work in a rehab start with Triple-A Indianapolis on Wednesday, allowing five hits, one earned run, and one walk while striking out two. It was the second rehab start for Jones as he works his way back from internal brace surgery on his right elbow. The 24-year-old has not appeared in an MLB game since September 2024, but he appears to be progressing towards a return to the big leagues in the not-too-distant future. Jones flashed significant upside as a rookie in 2024, posting a 6-8 record with a 4.14 ERA, 1.19 WHIP, and 132 strikeouts across 121 2/3 innings (22 starts). He's currently on the 60-day injured list, so a late-May/early-June return for Jones is likely the plan in Pittsburgh. Fantasy managers should consider stashing Jones off the waiver wire now in leagues where he is available.

2 days ago

Gregory Soto • RP • Pirates

Gregory Soto Poised to Take Over Ninth-Inning Role for Pirates?

Pittsburgh Pirates relief pitcher Gregory Soto has enjoyed a strong stretch of results and is beginning to emerge as the primary late-inning option for the Pirates. While Dennis Santana appeared to be the favorite for saves after taking over the closer role in 2025, the right-hander has struggled in the early going of the campaign, which has opened the door for Soto. Since tallying a save on April 15, Santana has posted a rough 8.10 ERA with a 2.10 WHIP, two losses, and one blown save over his last 6 2/3 innings. During this same stretch, Soto has struck out eight hitters over 7 1/3 innings while carrying a much stronger 2.45 ERA with a 0.68 WHIP. Even though Soto has only tallied one save so far this season, his underlying 1.91 xERA and elite 36.5% K% suggest he is far more suited for this role. Managers looking to find a reliever with high-end strikeout upside should look to stash Soto before he earns the bulk of the save opportunities on a competitive Pirates team.

3 days ago

Jared Jones • 1B • Pirates

Jared Jones a Prime Injury Stash Candidate Off the Waiver Wire

Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher Jared Jones (elbow) has not pitched in an MLB game since September 2024 due to an elbow injury. However, the 24-year-old began a rehab assignment with Single-A Bradenton on Wednesday, throwing three perfect innings with five strikeouts. Given how long Jones has been out, he'll likely need an extended run of rehab outings before he's ready to return to the big leagues. Still, Jones could be on track to make his 2026 debut before the end of May. Across 121 2/3 innings (22 starts) in 2024, Jones posted a 6-8 record with a 4.14 ERA, 1.19 WHIP, and 132 strikeouts. Jones offers significant strikeout upside once healthy, so fantasy managers may want to consider stashing him off the waiver wire ahead of his eventual return.

6 days ago

Henry Davis • C • Pirates

Henry Davis Goes Deep Twice Out of Nine-Hole for Bucs

Pittsburgh Pirates catcher Henry Davis, who was hitting ninth for the team on Friday against the visiting Cincinnati Reds, finally did some damage offensively to help the Bucs beat their division rivals by a score of 9-1 at PNC Park. Davis went 2-for-3 at the dish with two home runs, three RBI, three runs scored, and a walk. Despite the big game at the plate, the 26-year-old Davis is still slashing only .176/.273/.309 with a .582 OPS, six RBI, 10 runs scored, and a stolen base in 68 at-bats so far in 2026. His two home runs were his first of the year. The two long balls were also his first extra-base hits since back on April 7. Davis has plenty to work on offensively before fantasy managers will want to consider picking him up off the waiver wire, especially since he's expected to continue sharing catching duties in Pittsburgh with Joey Bart. Davis is not rostered at all right now in Yahoo leagues.

7 days ago

Jared Jones • 1B • Pirates

Jared Jones Throws Three Perfect Innings in Rehab Outing on Wednesday

Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher Jared Jones (elbow) was sharp in his rehab outing on Wednesday with Single-A Bradenton, throwing three perfect innings with five strikeouts. Jones threw 41 pitches, 30 of which went for strikes. The 24-year-old is working his way back from an elbow injury, which required internal brace surgery and caused him to miss the entirety of 2025. Across 121 2/3 innings (22 starts) in 2024, Jones pitched to a 6-8 record with a 4.14 ERA, 1.19 WHIP, and 132 strikeouts. Given how much time he has missed due to injury, Jones will likely require multiple rehab appearances. He's also currently on the 60-day injured list, which means he will not be eligible to return to the big leagues until late May. Still, Jones has major fantasy upside if he can make it back to full strength and could be worth stashing off the waiver wire ahead of his eventual return.

Apr 29

Oneil Cruz • CF • Pirates

Oneil Cruz is Back in Action on Tuesday

Pittsburgh Pirates outfielder Oneil Cruz (illness) is back in the starting lineup ahead of Tuesday's game against the St. Louis Cardinals. Cruz was scratched ahead of Monday's contest due to an illness. He needed a rest day anyway after going 0-for-10 at the plate with five strikeouts over his last two games. Outside of that, it has been a productive beginning of the season for Cruz, who is slashing .259/.320/.518 with eight home runs, 24 RBI, and 10 steals across 27 games. He'll bat in the leadoff spot and cover center field against right-hander Kyle Leahy on Tuesday.

Apr 28

Braxton Ashcraft • SP • Pirates

Braxton Ashcraft Expected to Start on Tuesday Against Cardinals

Pittsburgh Pirates right-hander Braxton Ashcraft (personal) is expected to be activated from the bereavement list to start Tuesday's game against the division-rival St. Louis Cardinals at PNC Park, according to DK Pittsburgh Sports' Jose Negron. Ashcraft ended up being pushed back one spot in the team's starting rotation after they placed him on the bereavement list on Saturday. The 26-year-old former second-rounder in 2018 has displayed solid command of the baseball so far in 2026 in his five starts, going 1-1 with a 2.43 ERA (2.42 FIP) and 1.01 WHIP with 32 strikeouts and nine walks in 29 2/3 innings pitched. The Cardinals' offense ranks 13th in baseball in OPS (.713), but Ashcraft, who could be pitching with a heavy heart, should be returned to starting fantasy lineups in most leagues. He went 4-4 with a 2.71 ERA, 1.25 WHIP, and 71:24 K:BB in 69 2/3 frames over 26 appearances (eight starts) as a rookie in Pittsburgh in 2025.

Apr 28

Jared Jones • 1B • Pirates

Jared Jones to Begin a Rehab Assignment on Wednesday

Pittsburgh Pirates general manager Ben Cherington said that right-hander Jared Jones (elbow) will begin a minor-league rehab assignment with Low-A Bradenton on Wednesday, according to Jason Mackey. Jones has finally been cleared to pitch in games as he continues his rehab from an internal-brace procedure on his right elbow last May. The 24-year-old former second-round pick in 2020 did not pitch at all last year for the Pirates and isn't eligible to return from the 60-day injured list until late May, so fantasy managers stashing him right now must remain patient. When healthy, though, Jones will have a starting rotation spot waiting for him in Pittsburgh after he had a 4.14 ERA (4.00 FIP) and 1.19 WHIP with 132 strikeouts and 39 walks in 121 2/3 innings in his first 22 major-league games in 2024 in his big-league debut with the Bucs. Right now, Jones is rostered in 17% of Yahoo leagues. When Jones initially returns to the Bucs' rotation, expect plenty of workload restrictions after he missed all of the 2025 campaign.

Apr 28

Dennis Santana • RP • Pirates

Dennis Santana Blows Second Save, Falling Out of Closer Committee?

Pittsburgh Pirates right-hander Dennis Santana had a rough outing in his team's 4-2 loss to the St. Louis Cardinals on Monday. With Pittsburgh leading 2-0 entering the ninth inning, Santana allowed four hits, two walks, and four earned runs while recording just two outs for his second blown save of the season. The 30-year-old's overall stat line for the season remains solid, as he's pitched to a 3.29 ERA and 1.29 WHIP with 10 strikeouts and two saves across 13 2/3 innings. However, Santana has not recorded a save since April 15 and could be falling out of favor in a Pirates pen that has relied on multiple relievers in the ninth inning this season. With just a 17.2% strikeout rate and a 13.8% walk rate, Santana has not demonstrated typical closer dominance in his underlying numbers. If Pittsburgh does go in a different direction, left-hander Gregory Soto could emerge.

Apr 27

Oneil Cruz • CF • Pirates

Oneil Cruz Sits Out on Monday With Illness

Pittsburgh Pirates outfielder Oneil Cruz (illness) was scratched from the team's starting lineup on Monday against the division-rival St. Louis Cardinals at PNC Park, according to the team. With Cruz being under the weather, Jake Mangum made the start in center field for the Bucs and was hitting eighth in the batting order against Cardinals right-hander Dustin May. First baseman Spencer Horwitz was also moved up to the leadoff spot. Fantasy managers should consider Cruz to be day-to-day. Check back on Tuesday to see if he's feeling good enough to return to action for Game 2 of the series in the Steel City. The 27-year-old Dominican has already had his fair share of mishaps on defense in center field as he continues to transition from shortstop to center field in the big leagues, but fantasy managers can't complain about his bat through his first 112 at-bats of the year. Cruz came into Monday's action slashing .259/.320/.518 with an .838 OPS, eight long balls, 24 RBI, 10 stolen bases, and 19 runs scored. He led the league with 38 steals in 2025 and is an elite power speed option in fantasy when he's healthy.

Apr 27

Gregory Soto • RP • Pirates

Gregory Soto Continues to be Part of a Closer-by-Committee Approach

Pittsburgh Pirates left-handed reliever Gregory Soto (2-0) has been excellent so far in 2026, making 14 appearances on the season with a 1.98 ERA and 0.80 WHIP with 20 strikeouts in 13 2/3 innings pitched. Under the hood, he has also been dominant (1.86 xERA and .137 xBA). Currently, he is splitting closing duties with right-hander Dennis Santana, who earned 16 saves last season. Although Soto's stuff and stats project better than Santana's, Santana is still throwing the ball well, with a 0.69 ERA and 0.85 WHIP; however, regression may catch up with Santana at some point, as he has a 3.52 xERA and is missing fewer bats (25.3 percent whiff rate to Soto's 31.1 percent). While Soto holds standalone value as things are now, he appears to be the higher upside reliever to roster amongst the two Pirate backend relievers, making him a must-add reliever in deeper formats.

Apr 27

Braxton Ashcraft • SP • Pirates

Braxton Ashcraft is Placed on Bereavement List

Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher Braxton Ashcraft (personal) was placed on the bereavement list on Saturday. The right-hander is currently away from the team while dealing with a personal matter. He was scheduled to start against the St. Louis Cardinals on Monday. That won't happen with Ashcraft being forced to miss at least three games while on the bereavement list. In a corresponding move, reliever Cam Sanders has been recalled from Triple-A Indianapolis. It's unclear who is going to make the start in place of Ashcraft. It's possible that the Pirates go with a bullpen game, but more information should be known closer to that contest.

Apr 25

Bubba Chandler • SP • Pirates

Bubba Chandler Struggles Against Texas, Cause for Concern?

Pittsburgh Pirates right-hander Bubba Chandler had his worst outing of the year on Thursday in Texas in a 6-1 loss to the Rangers at Globe Life Field. Chandler picked up his second loss of the season by allowing six earned runs on seven hits (two homers) while walking three and striking out four in just four innings of work. The big blow against the young 23-year-old hurler was a three-run homer by shortstop Corey Seager. In his first five starts of his first full season in the big leagues with the Pirates, Chandler is sporting a 1-2 record, 4.88 ERA (5.69 FIP), 1.50 WHIP, and 21:16 K:BB in 24 innings pitched. His 16 walks currently lead the league, and Chandler must improve his control on the mound if he wants to reach his ceiling in the big leagues. His next scheduled matchup is set for next week against the division-rival St. Louis Cardinals, who currently rank 21st in baseball with a .695 OPS.

Apr 24

Paul Skenes • SP • Pirates

Paul Skenes Rounding into Form as May Approaches

Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher Paul Skenes got his 2026 season off to a terrible start by allowing five earned runs and failing to get out of the first inning on Opening Day against the New York Mets. However, the 23-year-old ace has slowly been rounding into form and looking like his usual dominant self since then. Across five starts (22 innings) overall this season, Skenes owns a 3-1 record with a 3.27 ERA, 0.91 WHIP, and 23 strikeouts. Since his disastrous outing against the Mets, Skenes has allowed just three total earned runs across his last 21 1/3 innings. Skenes' 18.2% K-BB rate is down from the 23.7% mark he posted in 2025, which could be a very minor cause for concern. Still, opposing batters are hitting just .165 against him. As long as he stays healthy, Skenes should provide fantasy SP1 production once again in 2026.

Apr 23

Brandon Lowe • 2B • Pirates

Brandon Lowe Back From Knee Injury on Wednesday

Pittsburgh Pirates second baseman Brandon Lowe (knee) and first baseman Spencer Horwitz (neck) are both in the starting lineup for Wednesday's game in Texas against the Rangers and right-hander Jack Leiter, according to MLB.com. Lowe is starting at second base and batting second, while Horwitz is at first and batting seventh against Leiter. The left-handed-hitting Lowe didn't play in Tuesday's loss to the Rangers due to left-knee discomfort, and Horwitz was scratched from Tuesday's lineup due to neck discomfort. Neither injury proved to be very serious. The 31-year-old Lowe has gotten off to a pretty nice start in 2026 in his first year in Pittsburgh, slashing .267/.375/.600 with a .975 OPS, seven long balls, 18 RBI, and 12 runs scored in 19 games across 88 plate appearances. For a second baseman in fantasy, he provides a nice power floor that comes with durability concerns. Both Lowe and Horwitz are batting .500 in just two career at-bats apiece against Leiter.

Apr 22

Brandon Lowe • 2B • Pirates

Brandon Lowe is Day-to-Day with Knee Issue

Pittsburgh Pirates second baseman Brandon Lowe (knee) is out of the starting lineup ahead of Tuesday's game against the Texas Rangers. It's unclear when Lowe suffered the injury, but he'll miss his second straight game due to left knee discomfort. Pirates manager Don Kelly said Lowe is trending in the right direction and is hopefully available to come off the bench on Tuesday. Barring any setbacks, it doesn't sound like Lowe will require a trip to the Injured List. Nick Gonzales will bat seventh and cover second base against right-hander Kumar Rocker on Tuesday. Fantasy managers should check back on Wednesday for another update on Lowe.

Apr 21

Dennis Santana • RP • Pirates

Dennis Santana Reclaiming Ninth-Inning Role in Pittsburgh?

Pittsburgh Pirates reliever Dennis Santana has picked up two saves over his last five innings pitched while posting a 1.80 ERA. Santana owns a (2-1) record with two saves while posting a 0.82 ERA, 0.82 WHIP, and 7:5 K:BB across 11 innings in 2026. The 30-year-old entered the ninth inning in Friday's win over the Tampa Bay Rays, but it ended up being a non-save situation. However, the good news is that Santana has appeared in the ninth inning or later in his last six appearances. He is coming off a career year in 2025, when he posted a 2.18 ERA and 0.87 WHIP and recorded 16 saves. Santana was the favorite to start the year as Pittsburgh's primary closer, but the Pirates opted to use Gregory Soto in save situations to start the year. With the recent trend of Santana handling ninth-inning duties and Soto being used primarily as a setup man, Santana is quickly reclaiming his role as the main Pirates closer.

Apr 18

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