Pittsburgh Pirates: Breaking News, Rumors & Highlights

Oneil Cruz is Key to Pirates Closing Wild Card Gap

PITTSBURGH -- The Pittsburgh Pirates have just a few weeks remaining in their regular season. After dropping two out of three against the Chicago Cubs in their most recent series, the Buccos head into the final stretch with a 75-75 record.

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Oneil Cruz Is Showing What the Pirates Were Missing

Earlier this season, Pittsburgh Pirates center fielder Oneil Cruz was breaking out and finally taking his game to the next level. Ever since he debuted back in 2021, it felt like the baseball world was awaiting that one “big year” from Cruz, as his electric power was second to none in the sport.

Pittsburgh Pirates News / Pittsburgh Pirates on SI / September 14

Pirates vs. Cubs Takeaways: Pittsburgh Bullpen Can Be Dominant

CHICAGO — The Pittsburgh Pirates' bullpen has been inconsistent this year, and this series against the Chicago Cubs showed both its best and its worst.

Brandon Lowe News / Pittsburgh Pirates on SI / September 14

Brandon Lowe Should Be Big Part of Pirates Future

PITTSBURGH — The Pittsburgh Pirates have one of the best second basemen in Brandon Lowe, and they can't let him leave this offseason. Lowe is out of contract at the end of this season and will become a top free agent, as teams will be vying for the services of one of the best second basemen available.

Houston Astros News / Yardbarker Quizzes

The 'MLB Playoff hits leaders' quiz

How many of the 30 MLB players with at least 70 hits in their postseason career can you name in five minutes?

The 'Active multiple .300 seasons' quiz

The 'Most 200-hit MLB seasons' quiz

The 'Last MVP by MLB team 'quiz

Esmerlyn Valdez News / Bucs Dugout / September 14

Rookie Esmerlyn Valdez heads to IL for Pirates

The Pittsburgh Pirates made a move over the weekend, assigning rookie outfielder Esemerlyn Valdez to the 10-day IL with a hamstring injury sustained running to first base.

MLB News / Yardbarker

Every first-overall MLB draft pick from the 21st century

The MLB Draft doesn’t get the same attention as the NFL Draft…or the NBA Draft…or even the NHL Draft. There’s the element of a stay in a farm system, the general lack of immediate impact for MLB draft picks, and the fact that it’s tougher for one MLB player to turn a franchise’s fortunes around.

Brandon Lowe News / Field Level Media / September 13

Brandon Lowe's pinch-hit heroics help Pirates evade sweep by Cubs

Brandon Lowe drove in two runs with a pinch-hit single in the sixth inning as the visiting Pittsburgh Pirates beat the Chicago Cubs 4-3 Sunday. The Cubs (83-67) fell into a tie with the Phillies for the first National League wild-card spot.

Pittsburgh Pirates News / Pittsburgh Pirates on SI / September 13

Pirates Win Means Playoff Fight is Still Alive

CHICAGO — The Pittsburgh Pirates need to get any win they can and they finally did that against one of their main rivals. The Pirates outlasted the Chicago Cubs 4-3 in the series finale at Wrigley Field on Sept.

Esmerlyn Valdez News / Pittsburgh Pirates on SI / September 13

Pirates' Esmerlyn Valdez Suffers Season-Ending Injury

CHICAGO — Esmerlyn Valdez projects as a bright future for the Pittsburgh Pirates, but he won't play for them for the foreseeable future. Pirates general manager Ben Cherington said on The Pirates Insider Show on 93.7 The Fan that Valdez's hamstring injury is season-ending, and he won't play again in 2026.

MLB News / Yardbarker / September 13

Don Kelly defends pulling Paul Skenes in Pirates' late loss to Cubs

With a slim 3-2 lead and Paul Skenes on the mound, Don Kelly made a decision that some believe sank the Pittsburgh Pirates' playoff hopes. It's also one the Pirates' manager had to answer for immediately following Pittsburgh's 4-3 loss to the Chicago Cubs on Saturday.

Cubs announce plans for return of Dansby Swanson

Cubs' Alex Bregman's explosive second half helping to erase slow start

The 'National League Cy Young winners' quiz

Esmerlyn Valdez News / MLB Trade Rumors / September 12

Pirates Place Esmerlyn Valdez On 10-Day Injured List

The Pirates placed outfielder Esmerlyn Valdez on the 10-day injured list today before their afternoon matchup with the Cubs. Utilityman Ronny Simon got the call-up from Triple-A Indianapolis to take his place on the active roster.

Pittsburgh Pirates News / EssentiallySports / September 12

'Holy F***': Pirates Manager Explodes After Umpires Refuse to Overturn Crucial Call

Another day, another umpiring controversy. From balls-and-strikes calls to check swings to askew hats, the MLB world witnessed plenty of controversy between the umpires and teams.

Athletics News / Yardbarker

The 20 greatest MLB teams to never win the World Series

Even the most successful regular-season teams in Major League Baseball have failed to win it all. Here's our list of 20 such clubs that fall into that category.

Mike Clevinger News / MLB Trade Rumors / September 12

KBO’s NC Dinos Sign Mike Clevinger

The NC Dinos of the Korea Baseball Organization announced they’ve signed right-hander Mike Clevinger (h/t to Dan Kurtz of MyKBO.net). It’s a six-week deal as an injury replacement for righty Curtis Taylor.

Ryan O'Hearn News / Field Level Media / September 11

Pirates activate 1B/OF Ryan O’Hearn from IL

The Pittsburgh Pirates brought back veteran first baseman and outfielder Ryan O'Hearn from the 10-day injured list Friday. The Pirates activated O'Hearn and optioned outfielder Ronny Simon to Triple-A Indianapolis before falling 12-2 to the host Chicago Cubs in the opener of a three-game series.

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The 'Women's U.S. Open champions' quiz

The '4,500-yard, 15-INT NFL seasons' quiz

The 'Most 10-TD catch NFL seasons' quiz

The 'NFL's active passing-leaders' quiz

MLB News / Athlon Sports / September 11

Pirates Demote Outfielder Ahead of Cubs Game

The Pittsburgh Pirates made a roster move ahead of their three-game series against the Chicago Cubs, reinstating Ryan O’Hearn from the 10-day injured list and optioning outfielder Ronny Simon to Triple-A Indianapolis.

Pittsburgh Pirates News / Athlon Sports / September 11

Pirates Reinstate Ryan O’Hearn From Injured List

As the Pittsburgh Pirates fight to stay in the NL Wild Card race, their lineup is getting one final boost for the home stretch. Prior to Friday’s series opener at Wrigley Field, the Pirates announced that left-handed slugger Ryan O’Hearn was activated from the 10-day injured list following a month-long absence.

Pittsburgh Pirates News / Athlon Sports / September 11

Pirates Announce Replacement After Season-Ending Injury News

The Pittsburgh Pirates placed Braxton Ashcraft on the 15-day injured list Thursday because of right arm discomfort and recalled right-hander Antwone Kelly from Triple-A Indianapolis.

Oneil Cruz News / MLB on ClutchPoints / September 10

Watch Pirates’ Oneil Cruz crush hardest home run of MLB season vs. White Sox

The Pittsburgh Pirates may have already lost so much pace in the postseason race, but they are still technically in the dogfight for the Wild Card spot in the NL after taking a 2-0 victory over the Chicago White Sox on Thursday.

Konnor Griffin News / Viral Sports News / September 10

Pirates Raise Eyebrows With Sudden Konnor Griffin Move

The Pittsburgh Pirates will try to finish off a series sweep of the Chicago White Sox on Thursday night at Rate Field, and the lineup they posted for the finale contains one notable shift.

Braxton Ashcraft News / MLB Trade Rumors / September 10

Pirates Place Braxton Ashcraft On 15-Day Injured List

The Pirates announced that right-hander Braxton Ashcraft has been placed on the 15-day injured list (retroactive to September 7) due to discomfort in his throwing arm.

Oneil Cruz News / Larry Brown Sports / September 10

Watch: 6-foot-7 Oneil Cruz was ready to throw it down during bench-clearing scene

Oneil Cruz looked ready to use his great size advantage during a heated moment in Wednesday’s game between the Pittsburgh Pirates and the Chicago White Sox at Rate Field in Chicago, Ill.

Mason Montgomery News / Just Baseball / September 9

How Adding a Sinker Transformed Mason Montgomery’s 2026 Season

During the first half of the 2026 MLB season, the Pittsburgh Pirates were defined by one thing: a lack of bullpen depth, and more specifically, a lack of a lockdown closer.

Luke Weaver News / Larry Brown Sports / September 5

Pirates pitcher blames poison ivy for his recent struggles

Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Luke Weaver has been a disappointment since the team acquired him a month ago at the MLB trade deadline. He has dealt with one highly unusual issue that has at least something to do with that.

Luke Weaver News / Yardbarker / September 4

Pirates' Luke Weaver reveals bizarre issue that may be limiting his performance

Since joining the Pirates, Luke Weaver's numbers have taken a dip from what they were with the Mets, and he recently revealed what one of the issues might be.

Konnor Griffin's return could be the Pirates' last hope of clinching a spot in the postseason

Update on when Mets' Steve Cohen could make major David Stearns decision revealed

MLB insider shares massive update on Mets' possible pursuit of Dodgers' Tarik Skubal

The 'National League Cy Young winners' quiz

Konnor Griffin News / Yardbarker / September 4

Konnor Griffin's return could be the Pirates' last hope of clinching a spot in the postseason

The Pittsburgh Pirates' last hope for clinching the final NL Wild Card spot could be helped by the return of rookie shortstop Konnor Griffin. The 20-year-old

MLB releases spring training schedule as dark cloud looms over 2027

MLB insider shares massive update on Mets' possible pursuit of Dodgers' Tarik Skubal

MLB News / Yardbarker / September 2

Pirates make history with massive inning in wild walk-off win vs. Giants

Before the Pittsburgh Pirates finished off a wild game against the San Francisco Giants with a walk-off win, they made franchise history in the third inning.

Pirates outlast Giants after blowing six-run lead

The 'Active MLB 1K-hit club' quiz

MLB News / Yardbarker / September 2