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Joey Ortiz hit two home runs and drove in four runs and Caleb Durbin added a home run, three RBIs and two runs to lead the Milwaukee Brewers to a 9-3 victory over the visiting Pittsburgh Pirates on Tuesday night.
It was the first multi-homer game of Ortiz's career, and the four RBIs matched a career high. Brice Turang extended his hit streak to nine games with a pair of hits and also scored a run, and Sal Frelick also had two hits and an RBI for Milwaukee, which won for the fifth time in its last six games.
Freddy Peralta (8-4) picked up the win, allowing three runs on seven hits while striking out eight over five-plus innings.
Nick Gonzales, coming off the first five-hit game of his career in Monday night's series opener, hit a three-run homer for the Pirates. Bryan Reynolds doubled among his two hits for Pittsburgh, which had a two-game win streak snapped. Andrew Heaney (3-7) suffered the loss, allowing seven runs on seven hits over four-plus innings. He walked three and struck out three.
Milwaukee took a 2-0 lead in the third inning on a two-run homer by Ortiz, driving in Durbin, who had singled.
The Brewers extended the lead to 6-0 in the fourth on back-to-back home runs by Durbin, a three-run blast down the left field line, and Ortiz, a 398-foot drive into the bullpen in left-center.
Milwaukee made it 7-0 in the fifth when Jackson Chourio led off with a single, moved to second on a walk to Christian Yelich, advanced to third on a double play and scored on a wild pitch to the backstop by reliever Michael Darrell-Hicks.
Pittsburgh cut the lead to 7-3 in the sixth when Andrew McCutchen and Reynolds led off with back-to-back singles and Gonzales followed with a 395-foot home run to left-center.
Ortiz drove in his fourth run in the eighth with a bases-loaded fielder's choice to make it 8-3, and Frelick added an RBI single to end the scoring.
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Pirates Named Dark Horse for Free Agent Pitcher
PITTSBURGH — The Pittsburgh Pirates need to make improvements to their roster ahead of the 2026 season and one pitcher could do just that. Kerry Miller of Bleacher Report wrote about 25 top free agents and one dark horse suitor for each player this offseason. He picked the Pirates as a dark-horse suitor for Texas Rangers free agent right-handed starting pitcher Merrill Kelly. "Pittsburgh signed Andrew Heaney this past winter, Martín Pérez the previous year, Rich Hill in the 2022-23 offseason and Jose Quintana the year before that," Miller wrote. "Kelly might be out of their price range, a cut above where those former Pirates were at in their careers when they signed those deals. But getting a veteran starting pitcher on an affordable, one-year deal is something this team tries to do every winter." While Miller is correct that the Pirates have gone after those pitchers, all of them were left-handed and Kelly is not. Still, Kelly is a veteran pitcher, who will be 37 years old next season, but has still put up good campaigns in recent years. Kelly spent seven seasons with the Arizona Diamondbacks from 2019-25, with a 62-50 record in 162 starts, a 3.74 ERA over 953.0 innings pitched, 865 strikeouts to 290 walks and a 1.19 WHIP. His best seasons came in 2022 and 2023, where he posted a 3.37 ERA and a 3.29 ERA, respectively. Kelly began his 2022 season with a 15 inning scoreless streak, just three innings off the Diamondbacks record. He also won National League Pitcher of the Month in July, with a 4-0 record over six starts, a 1.31 ERA over 41.1 innings pitched, 33 strikeouts to eight walks, a .168 opposing batting average and a 0.77 WHIP. This conicided with him winning NL Pitcher of the Week honors for July 25-31, where he posted back-to-back three hit scoreless outings over the San Francisco Giants and the Atlanta Braves. Kelly also has postseason experience, starting four games in 2023 and finishing with a 3-1 record, a 2.25 ERA over 24.0 innings pitched, 28 strikeouts to eight walks, a .145 opposing batting average and a 0.83 WHIP. He threw 6.1 scoreless innings in an 11-2 win over the Los Angeles Dodgers in Game 1 of the NLDS, allowing just three hits, two walks and posting five strikeouts. Kelly also gave up just one run and struck out over five innings in the 5-1 win over the Philadelphia Phillies in Game 6 of the NLCS. His best start came in Game 2 of the World Series against the Texas Rangers, where he allowed just one run over seven innings and posted nine strikeouts in the 9-1 win. The Diamondbacks traded Kelly to the Rangers on deadline day, where he had a 3-3 record over 10 starts and a 4.23 ERA over 55.1 innings pitched, as the Rangers missed out on an American League Wild Card spot. Spotrac projects that Kelly will make $15.8 million next season, which would make him the second-highest paid player on the Pirates payroll, behind right-handed starting pitcher Mitch Keller, who will make $16,911,500 in 2026, if the Pirates signed him. The Pirates do have a plethora of young pitching talent, including two-time All-Star Paul Skenes, plus rookies in right-handers, Braxton Ashcraft, Mike Burrows and Bubba Chandler, plus left-hander Hunter Barco. Pittsburgh is aiming for a postseason appearance in 2026 and while the offense will get most of the attention after a bad season, adding on or bolstering a strong pitching staff is a goal that general manager Ben Cherington has for the offseason. "I think it gives us an opportunity," Cherington said on the youn pitching staff. "It's a strong foundation and we're not satisfied. We had a good pitching season, overall effective pitching season, we can be better and we're just as focused on that candidly as the offensive side because wins come from everywhere and we can't take for granted that this part of the team is 'OK and we'll just focus over here.' "We've got the pitching talent in the organization, I believe, to have the chance to be really good. There may be opportunities to add to that in the offseason. So it's a good foundation but we're not satisfied. We've got to push it higher."
The Big Five: NFL’s biggest surprises of the 2025 season — for better or worse
The 2025 NFL season has already produced unexpected plot twists, with projected playoff teams struggling and preseason afterthoughts becoming the talk of the town. For better or worse, here are the NFL's most surprising teams entering Week 6. 1. Baltimore Ravens (1-4) When things can't possibly get worse for the Ravens, they reach new depths. By losing 44-10 in Week 5 to the Houston Texans, a team it has historically dominated, Baltimore tied for its worst home loss in franchise history. The Ravens made moves this week to improve a putrid secondary, acquiring safety Alohi Gilman from the Los Angeles Chargers for edge-rusher Odafe Oweh and signing free-agent safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson, but that's unlikely to provide immediate relief. In Week 6, Baltimore hosts the Los Angeles Rams, who have the league's second-ranked pass offense, so QB Matthew Stafford should carve up the defensive backfield with wideouts Puka Nacua (who is on a pace for a record-shattering season) and Davante Adams. Baltimore's offense, which is likely to be without two-time MVP starting quarterback Lamar Jackson (hamstring) for the second consecutive week, won't be able to keep up in a shootout. Oddsmakers agree, with Los Angeles an 8.5-point favorite, per ESPN BET. The Ravens appear headed for a 1-5 record entering their Week 7 bye, but they have a much more favorable schedule when they return. According to ESPN's NFL Football Power Index, Baltimore ranks No. 25 in remaining strength of schedule. With a healthy Jackson and an AFC North up for grabs, don't rule out a second-half surge. Yet it's just as likely Baltimore spends all season in a hole it can't get out of. 2. Indianapolis Colts (4-1) The most surprising success story of the season is in Indianapolis, which has surpassed all expectations. Quarterback Daniel Jones, who entered 2025 3-13 in his past 16 starts, is playing like an MVP candidate. Through five games, the No. 6 overall pick of the 2019 NFL Draft is 107-of-150 (71.3 percent) for 1,290 yards, nine total touchdowns and two interceptions. The offense has generated most of the headlines, and for good reason, but the defense has been a revelation as well. The unit has held three of its first five opponents under 300 yards and forced a turnover in each game. Indy's fortune might not change in Week 6 as it hosts the Arizona Cardinals, who are coming off one of the most embarrassing collapses in recent history, blowing an 18-point lead at home to the previously winless Tennessee Titans. Arizona (2-3) has turned the ball over five times in its past two games. With road games remaining against the Chargers, Pittsburgh Steelers, Kansas City Chiefs, Jacksonville Jaguars and Seattle Seahawks, the Colts will soon provide a more accurate gauge on where they stand. But rather than being a Week 1 flash in the pan, Indianapolis looks built for the long haul. 3. San Francisco 49ers (4-1) Colts head coach Shane Steichen's main competition for Coach of the Year should be Kyle Shanahan, who has done a masterful job of leading a hobbled 49ers squad to the top of the NFC West. San Francisco is 3-0 without starting quarterback Brock Purdy, with Mac Jones joining Daniel Jones as one of the year's great reclamation projects. The Niners are also thriving without elite production in the run game from Christian McCaffrey, who is averaging 3.1 yards per carry. San Francisco is already 3-0 in division games, but to maintain its edge in the NFC West, the offense must become more balanced. Through Week 5, the Niners are first in pass offense (290.6 yards per game) but rank last in yards per rush attempt (3.1) and are the league's only team without a rushing touchdown. (Every other team has at least two.) 4. Jacksonville Jaguars (4-1) The Jaguars made the AFC South the only NFL division with two one-loss teams after coming back to win at home against the three-time defending AFC champion Chiefs in Week 5. Jacksonville ranks in the top 10 in the NFL in both scoring offense and scoring defense. The Jaguars have ascending talent on both sides of the ball, with running back Travis Etienne (443 rushing yards) averaging career highs in yards per carry (5.8) and rush yards per game (88.6). First-year head coach Liam Coen has done a good job of running him in advantageous situations, with Etienne only facing a stacked box (eight or more defenders near the line of scrimmage) on 13 percent of his carries, the sixth-lowest rate among qualifying running backs, per NFL Pro. The defense, led by first-year defensive coordinator Anthony Campanile, a former Green Bay Packers linebackers coach/run game coordinator, has more than held up on its end, forcing an NFL-high 14 turnovers. Linebacker Devin Lloyd (four interceptions, one fumble recovery) is one of the league's most improved players. ESPN's FPI gives the Jaguars a 75.4 percent chance to reach the playoffs, the third-highest odds in the AFC, trailing the Buffalo Bills (92.2 percent) and Colts (85 percent). 5. Las Vegas Raiders (1-4) "I'm processing it poorly to tell you the truth," first-year Raiders head coach Pete Carroll, 74, told reporters after his team's 40-6 trouncing at the Colts last Sunday. "I did expect to win right out of the chutes," Carroll added. Technically, Las Vegas did, defeating the New England Patriots (3-2) in Week 1. But four consecutive losses have dimmed hopes of a playoff run and instead raised significant questions, particularly at quarterback. Geno Smith, acquired in a trade with the Seattle Seahawks in the offseason, has regressed significantly after a strong three-year run as Seahawks starter. Through five games, Smith leads the NFL in interceptions (nine), throwing one on 5.5 percent of his pass attempts, more than double his rate from 2022-24 (2.1 percent). Instead of contending for a postseason spot, the Raiders, a longtime doormat, are closer to the No. 1 pick. Las Vegas is projected to end the season with the league's fifth-worst record, per ESPN. The more things change, the more they stay the same.
Eagles receive good and bad injury news ahead of matchup with Giants
The Philadelphia Eagles are coming off one of their worst losses of the season after the Denver Broncos scored 18 unanswered points in the fourth quarter last Sunday to win 21-17. The Eagles have a short week due to playing their divisional opponent, the New York Giants, on “Thursday Night Football.” They have the opportunity to fix the problems on offense, as the Giants are one of the worst defenses (26th, 377.2 yards) in the NFL. However, the Eagles could struggle on defense, as they may also be down one of their better defensive linemen, Jalen Carter. The Eagles received one positive and one negative piece of injury news for two key players Being a short week, the Eagles have a limited amount of time to practice and formulate a game plan, but also have a limited amount of time for their players to heal after a few came out of the Eagles' loss to the Broncos battered and bruised. Running back Saquon Barkley was one of those players who wasn't 100% healthy following the loss, as he found himself on Monday's injury report and did not practice with the team due to a knee injury. Barkley taking time to rest seems to have paid off, as he was a full participant in practice as of Wednesday’s injury report. Defensive linemen Jalen Carter was a new addition to the report, as he was limited in practice due to a heel injury. Carter is currently listed as "questionable" for Thursday night's game. Eagles need both Saquon Barkley and Jalen Carter to win against the Giants Even without Carter and Barkley, the Eagles have a better roster than the Giants, but having both makes the gap even wider. Saquon is one of the best running backs in the league and has extra motivation to play the Giants, as they're his former team. In one career game against them since signing with the Eagles, Barkley ran for 176 yards on 17 carries and scored one touchdown in their matchup last October, per StatMuse. Not having a game with over 100+ yards rushing this season, Saquon could have his first one of the season against his former team, as the Giants have the 26th-ranked defense (140.0 yards) against the rush. Hopefully, Carter is available, as he is the glue that holds the Eagles' defense together. Carter is credited with playing in every game, except he was disqualified from the Eagles' season opener against the Dallas Cowboys after he spat on Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott. Carter has three solo tackles, seven assists and has not recorded a sack. If Carter can't play, the Eagles will need to rely on Jordan Davis to step up and fill in for Carter. Davis has 11 solo tackles, eight assists and a sack in five games this season. Davis will also need to pick up the slack for Carter on special teams, as the two have a blocked kick on their stat sheet against the Los Angeles Rams, which Davis ran back for a touchdown.
Dolphins’ Mike McDaniel Issues Serious Warning to Tua Tagovailoa
Mike McDaniel’s Dolphins are stuck in a rut, and the pressure is mounting fast. After messing up a 17-0 lead last Sunday, the team sits at 1-4, its worst start since 2021. The defense looks shaky, and Tua Tagovailoa’s performance has become an overanalyzed topic in Miami. The team’s future and McDaniel’s job security now hang in the balance as the clock ticks toward their Week 6 showdown with the Los Angeles Chargers. And the head coach didn’t sugarcoat things during his media session ahead of the game. When asked how quarterback Tua has absorbed the high expectations amidst growing frustration, McDaniel was blunt. “A bottom line, black and white, you’re held accountable for the results while you’re trying to get better, that’s difficult.” He knows Tua faces constant noise, from praise to criticism, and how a player handles that separates the winners from the rest. “It’s not easy, but that’s something that no quarterback in the National Football League is not exposed to…They tell you you’re awesome or that you suck. What is that? How does that relate to what you’re doing to influence your next performance?” That’s as close to a warning from a head coach as you get without flat out saying ‘shape up or ship out.’ McDaniel is emphasizing accountability to a player who’s been under the microscope since Day 1. Tagovailoa, who threw three touchdowns on Sunday but watched his team collapse after a strong start, knows the sting of losing better than most. “No one wants to start the season 1-4…We’ve got to figure this out now. This feeling sucks,” Tua admitted. The Dolphins’ offense sputtered after their early lead, rushing for a mere 19 yards, their lowest since McDaniel took over in 2022. The defense gave up 239 rushing yards, with rookie Rico Dowdle running for a career high of 206 yards. This loss was a wake-up call. Miami’s meltdown was the first time under McDaniel that the Dolphins lost after holding a 17-point lead. And with a turnover differential advantage, no less. McDaniel called the loss “unacceptable,” taking full responsibility and promising immediate fixes. Despite that, the head coach’s job security remains in question. Mike McDaniel is on the hot seat The pressure on McDaniel isn’t just coming from the scoreboard. ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler put it plainly on The Rich Eisen Show: “(McDaniel’s seat) is moderately hot.” Ownership likes the guy, but patience is wearing thin. “This is not something where they are looking for an excuse to move on from him right now,” Fowler said. “They want to give him a little bit of time…[But] if they have some home games that are pretty ugly, if the fans turn on the team. That’s when Stephen Ross could make a move.” That’s a polite way of saying the Dolphins’ season is hanging by a thread. The team’s defense, retooled and weaker than before, hasn’t gelled. Key players on that side were let go for locker room culture reasons, but their replacements haven’t measured up. It’s a rebuilding year with a thin margin for error. Fowler points out Miami’s transition, saying “they’re not working with a team that is ready-made to win right now, at least on that side of the ball.” With just two home games in October and intense fan scrutiny looming, McDaniel’s future depends heavily on fixing what’s broken now. The Dolphins will have to find their identity fast. And McDaniel will need to prove he’s the right man to lead them through these rough waters.
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