Pittsburgh Pirates

Paul Skenes will be making his next start on Saturday for Triple-A Indianapolis. (Source: Jonathan Mayo on Twitter)

Fantasy Impact: Despite some speculation that Skenes could be called up to the majors, he will make at least one more start in Triple-A. He has posted a 0.39 ERA with 41 strikeouts across 23 innings of work so far.

Quinn Priester endured a challenging day on the mound, allowing two earned runs on five hits and four walks while striking out three over six innings in Wednesday's 4-0 loss to the Athletics.

Fantasy Impact: This performance slightly elevated his ERA to 3.31 and WHIP to 1.29 for the season, reflecting some control issues that weren't as evident in his previous outings. With a K/9 of 6.06 and K/BB of 1.83, Priester's underlying metrics suggest he might struggle to maintain effective outings without improvements in strikeout and walk rates. Fantasy managers should be cautious, as his low BABIP of .204 indicates some luck in previous games, which may not continue.

Mitch Keller allowed three earned runs on five hits and two walks while striking out seven over five innings in Tuesday's 5-2 loss to the Athletics.

Fantasy Impact: This outing continues a troubling trend for Keller, whose season ERA now sits at an inflated 5.18, compounded by a 1.48 WHIP. Despite a decent strikeout rate of 8.8 K/9, Fantasy managers should be cautious. Keller's inconsistency in run prevention makes him a risky play in all but the deepest of leagues.

Jack Suwinski is out of the Pirates’ lineup Tuesday. (Source: Pirates on Twitter )

Fantasy Impact: Suwinski will get a day of rest with a left-hander on the mound for the A’s. Edward Olivares will patrol right field and bat fifth.

Oneil Cruz is out of the lineup for the Pirates Tuesday. (Source: Pirates on Twitter )

Fantasy Impact: Cruz has struggled this season against left-handed pitching, so it is not a surprise to see him get a day off. Alika Williams will fill in at shortstop and bat ninth.

Rowdy Tellez is out of the Pirates’ starting lineup Tuesday. (Source: Pirates on Twitter )

Fantasy Impact: Tellez will sit on the bench with the A’s starting lefty Alex Woody. Connor Joe will man first base and hit third Tuesday.

Bailey Falter struggled in Monday's 5-1 loss to the Athletics, surrendering five earned runs on six hits over five innings while striking out five and walking none.

Fantasy Impact: This outing nudged his ERA up to 4.22 and his WHIP slightly increased, though it remains impressive at 0.94. Despite a decent strikeout-to-walk ratio of 3.29, Falter's ability to limit runs has been inconsistent, as evidenced by his rising ERA. Fantasy managers should be cautious and keep an eye on his next few starts for signs of improvement or further regression.

Jared Jones allowed three runs on six hits over five innings on Sunday against the Giants.

Fantasy Impact: Jones struck out just three hitters on the afternoon. He'll look to bounce back against the Rockies.

Andrew McCutchen is missing from the lineup for the Pittsburgh Pirates against the San Francisco Giants Sunday. (Source: Pittsburgh Pirates on Twitter)

Fantasy Impact: McCutchen will sit out for routine rest, with Edward Olivares occupying the designated hitter spot and batting fifth against the Giants for manager Derek Shelton Sunday.

Connor Joe is in the Pirates’ starting lineup Sunday. (Source: Pirates on Twitter )

Fantasy Impact: Joe will draw the start in right field, with Jack Suwinski getting a day of rest. Joe will bat fourth in the series finale against the Giants.

Martin Perez delivered a solid performance, tossing six scoreless innings, allowing just four hits and two walks while striking out four in Saturday's narrow 4-3 victory over the Giants.

Fantasy Impact: Despite his commendable outing, Perez did not factor into the decision, leaving his season record at an unchanged 1-1. His season ERA dipped to an impressive 2.86, complementing a slightly elevated WHIP of 1.36. While his strikeout numbers remain modest at 7.0 K/9, his ability to limit runs significantly boosts his fantasy value, especially in formats that reward ERA and WHIP. Perez's consistent performance, underscored by a solid 3.37 FIP, suggests he could be a reliable mid-rotation option for fantasy managers, though his low strikeout totals may limit his ceiling in strikeout-heavy leagues.

David Bednar secured a save but allowed an earned run in his latest appearance against the Giants.

Fantasy Impact: He threw 19 pitches, conceding two hits and striking out three. Despite the hiccup of allowing a run, Bednar's ability to close the game helped the Pirates edge out a 4-3 victory. However, his season-long struggles are evident with an alarming 11.70 ERA and a 1.60 WHIP over 12 games. His high strikeout rate of 13.5 K/9 remains a silver lining, suggesting he can overpower hitters, but his inconsistency in high-leverage situations might be a concern for fantasy managers relying on him for saves. Bednar's performance continues to be a mixed bag, making him a risky fantasy play in all but the deepest of leagues.

Ke'Bryan Hayes helped the Pirates edge out the Giants 4-3 with his performance at the plate.

Fantasy Impact: Hayes went 2-for-5 with a home run, one run scored, and one RBI. This game showcased a glimpse of power from Hayes, who has otherwise had a modest power showing this season, with this homer being just his first of the year. His season batting average sits at a solid .281, and while his power numbers aren't eye-popping, his ability to get on base and hit for a decent average continues to make him a viable option in most fantasy formats. However, fantasy managers might want to temper expectations when it comes to home run production, as his slugging contributions appear limited.

Bryan Reynolds went 2-for-5 with a home run and two RBI in the Pirates' 4-3 victory over the Giants.

Fantasy Impact: His performance included a crucial home run that contributed significantly to the team's narrow win. This season, Reynolds has been hovering around a .264 batting average, which is decent but not spectacular. His power numbers, with four homers and 17 RBI through 28 games, suggest he's on pace to provide moderate power and run production. Fantasy managers should note his solid wOBA of .347, indicating his effectiveness at creating runs when he does connect. However, his strikeout rate of 20.2% remains a concern, potentially limiting his batting average upside. Overall, Reynolds remains a viable fantasy option, particularly in formats that reward power and on-base skills.

Joey Bart is in the starting lineup for the Pittsburgh Pirates against the San Francisco Giants Saturday. (Source: Pittsburgh Pirates on Twitter)

Fantasy Impact: Bart takes the field with Henry Davis out for rest reasons, starting behind the plate at catcher and batting sixth for manager Derek Shelton against the Giants Saturday.

Henry Davis is missing from the lineup for the Pittsburgh Pirates against the San Francisco Giants Saturday. (Source: Pittsburgh Pirates on Twitter)

Fantasy Impact: Davis will receive the night off for general rest, with Joey Bart filling in behind the plate at catcher and batting sixth against the Giants Saturday.

The Pirates optioned Ryder Ryan to Triple-A Indianapolis. (Source: Pittsburgh Pirates on Twitter)

Fantasy Impact: Ryan was optioned with Kyle Nicolas being called up. Ryan had posted a 3.00 ERA across 12 innings.

The Pirates recalled RHP Kyle Nicolas from Triple-A Indianapolis. (Source: Pittsburgh Pirates on Twitter)

Fantasy Impact: Nicolas has been called up with Ryder Ryan being optioned. He should hold a role in the middle innings of the Pirates bullpen.

Josh Fleming is set to start Wednesday’s game against the Brewers. (Source: Kevin Gorman on Twitter)

Fantasy Impact: Fleming will likely serve as the opener with Quinn Priester, who was the original starter, likely to back up Fleming. Fantasy managers should expect Priester to see the bulk of the innings Wednesday.

Jason Delay underwent surgery to repair the meniscus in his right knee recently. (Source: Alex Stumpf on Twitter )

Fantasy Impact: Delay is slated to begin baseball activities in approximately six weeks. The Pirates will continue to deploy Henry Davis and Joey Bart as their two catchers.