MLB Player News

Stallings went 1-for-4 with two RBI and a run scored Saturday against the Rangers.

Stallings is known for his glove and is a reliable backup catcher, but he's been quite productive at the dish of late. Across his last six games, he's hit .350 with eight RBI and three runs scored. Stallings has seen a moderate uptick in playing time of late, as Saturday marked his third time in the lineup in the last seven games.

Grandal went 2-for-4 with a three-run home run and a second run scored in Saturday's 10-9 win over the Cubs.

The veteran catcher took Keegan Thompson deep in the bottom of the fifth inning to put the Pirates back on top for good after the Cubs had struck for seven runs in the top of the frame. It was Grandal's first homer and first RBI in five games since making his season debut May 4, and he's gone 4-for-17 over that stretch as he settles into the starting job for Pittsburgh.

Bednar gave up a run on two hits in the ninth inning Saturday to record his seventh save of the season in a 10-9 win over the Cubs.

The right-hander made things interesting, giving up back-to-back hits to begin the ninth and allowing the tying run to get to third base with two outs, but Bednar escaped the jam. He's converted his last six save chances but has been volatile while doing it, getting tagged for runs in five of 11 appearances over that stretch while posting an 8.38 ERA and 12:3 K:BB through 9.2 innings. Bednar still has a grip on the Pirates' closer role and there is incentive to keep him in the ninth inning and build his trade value.

Skenes came away with a no-decision in Saturday's 10-9 win over the Cubs, giving up three runs on six hits and two walks over four-plus innings. He struck out seven.

The 21-year-old right-hander displayed some nerves in his big-league debut, throwing only 54 of 84 pitches for strikes, but he flashed his upside right out of the gate by hitting triple digits on the radar gun on his first two career pitches and reaching 100 mph on five fastballs in total against the first batter he faced, eventually striking out Chicago leadoff man Mike Tauchman on a 100.9 mph four-seamer. Skenes isn't heading back to the minors any time soon, and his next start should come on the road next week in a rematch with the Cubs.

Steele escaped with a no-decision in Saturday's 10-9 loss to the Pirates, surrendering six runs on six hits -- including three home runs -- and two walks over four innings. He struck out three.

Making just his third start of the season after missing all of April with a hamstring strain, Steele served up homers to Connor Joe and Oneil Cruz in the third inning and Michael Taylor in the fourth, but he got taken off the hook for the loss thanks to a seven-run fifth by the Cubs. Steele has yet to complete five innings in an outing and threw just 74 pitches (53 strikes) Saturday, but he should begin to get stretched out more as he puts the injury further behind him. Steele will take a 4.73 ERA and 11:4 K:BB through 13.1 innings into his next start, which lines up to be a rematch with the Pirates back in Wrigley Field next week.

McMahon went 4-for-5 with one RBI and two runs scored in Saturday's 8-3 win over the Rangers.

McMahon entered Saturday just 2-for-21 (.095) over his last six contests. The only downside to his performance in this contest was that all four hits were singles. The third baseman is up to a .303/.391/.462 slash line with five home runs, 21 RBI, 16 runs scored and no stolen bases over 39 contests this season. He's never hit higher than .254 or slugged better than .450 in a full season, so the first quarter of the 2024 campaign has essentially been McMahon at his absolute best, which consequently raises a red flag for regression later in the year.

Nelson came away with a no-decision in Saturday's 5-4 extra-innings loss to the Orioles, giving up three runs on 10 hits over 4.2 innings. He struck out three without walking a batter.

Half of the hits off Nelson went for extra bases, including a pair of doubles plus a triple by Ryan Mountcastle and a solo homer by Gunnar Henderson. Nelson has lasted past five innings only once in six starts this season, and he'll carry a 5.33 ERA, 1.70 WHIP and 19:6 K:BB through 25.1 innings into his next outing, which lines up to come at home next weekend against the Tigers.

Doyle went 1-for-2 with a double, two walks, a stolen base and one run scored in Saturday's 8-3 win over the Rangers.

Doyle opened May cold, going 2-for-23 over a six-game span, but he's bounced back by going 6-for-13 with two steals, four extra-base hits and three RBI over his last four contests. The outfielder is up to a .288/.336/.468 slash line with six steals, four home runs, 11 RBI and 24 runs scored through 152 plate appearances on the year. This was his first game with multiple walks all season. He has a 27.6 percent strikeout rate, which has limited Doyle's effectiveness.

Goodman went 1-for-3 with a solo home run in Saturday's 8-3 win over the Rangers.

Goodman has just two hits over seven major-league games this season, but both of them have been homers. He's added a 2:8 BB:K, four RBI and two runs scored through 21 plate appearances this season. Goodman is serving as a bench bat during this stint in the majors, mostly as a backup first baseman behind Elehuris Montero.

Feltner allowed two runs on five hits and two walks while striking out four over six innings in a no-decision versus the Rangers on Saturday.

Feltner ran into some trouble in the fifth inning but otherwise had a respectable outing for his third quality start of the season. He's still winless over his last five outings, but he was able to avoid giving up a home run -- Feltner has yet to yield a long ball at home in three Coors Field starts in 2024. Overall, he's at a 5.20 ERA, 1.42 WHIP and 40:12 K:BB through 45 innings over eight starts this season. The right-hander is tentatively projected to make his next start on the road at pitcher-friendly Oracle Park in San Francisco.