Pittsburgh Pirates

Martin Perez struggled to contain the Angels, allowing four earned runs on eight hits while striking out five over five innings in Wednesday's 5-4 loss to the Angels.

Fantasy Impact: This performance slightly tarnished his otherwise solid season stats, nudging his ERA up to 3.60 and WHIP to 1.40. Despite not walking any batters, the volume of hits he allowed suggests that he might be finding too much of the strike zone. His season-long indicators, like a 3.52 FIP and a high .338 BABIP, hint that he's been somewhat unlucky, which could mean potential improvement. However, fantasy managers should be cautious, as his moderate strikeout rate of 7.2 K/9 limits his upside in categories that reward strikeouts.

Oneil Cruz went 2-for-4 with a double and three RBI in the Pirates' narrow 5-4 loss to the Angels.

Fantasy Impact: Despite the team's defeat, Cruz's performance was a bright spot, driving in three of the team's four runs. This game pushes his season RBI total to 15 and batting average to .252. While his power numbers have been modest with only five homers, his ability to drive in runs when opportunities arise is notable. However, his high strikeout rate (.347) and low walk rate (.063) continue to be areas of concern for fantasy managers. Cruz's contributions are valuable, but his inconsistency at the plate could be a limiting factor in his fantasy upside.

The Pirates announced Paul Skenes will make his MLB debut on Saturday against the Cubs. (Source: Pittsburgh Pirates on Twitter)

Fantasy Impact: Skenes has posted a 0.99 ERA with 45 strikeouts to eight walks across 27 1/3 innings in Triple-A. He will likely be a bit limited, but he should be fantasy relevant right away.

Jason Delay (knee) caught a bullpen session Wednesday. (Source: Andrew Destin on Twitter )

Fantasy Impact: This is the first reported instance of Delay catching a bullpen since undergoing surgery to repair his meniscus. He still has no set timetable for a return.

Jack Suwinski is in the Pirates lineup on Wednesday against the Angels.

Fantasy Impact: Suwinski is starting in center field and hitting No. 7 in the lineup. He has hit two home runs and driven in 10 runs so far this season.

Michael A. Taylor is not in the Pirates starting lineup on Wednesday against the Angels.

Fantasy Impact: Taylor is out after going 0-for-3 on Tuesday. He is hitting .221 with three steals so far this season. Jack Suwinski is back in center field for Pittsburgh.

Joey Bart is back in the Pirates lineup on Wednesday against the Angels.

Fantasy Impact: Bart is back behind the plate and hitting No. 8 in the lineup. He has collected three home runs and driven in eight runs so far this season.

Yasmani Grandal is not in the Pirates lineup on Wednesday against the Angels.

Fantasy Impact: Grandal gets the day off behind the plate. He has just one hit across nine plate appearances so far this season.

Edward Olivares is not in the Pirates lineup on Wednesday against the Angels.

Fantasy Impact: Olivares collected one of just three hits on Tuesday for Pittsburgh in a 9-0 loss. Connor Joe gets the start in right field on Wednesday.

Rowdy Tellez is in the Pirates lineup on Wednesday against the Angels.

Fantasy Impact: Tellez is starting at first base and hitting No. 5 in the lineup. He is hitting just .209 so far this season with one home run.

Ke'Bryan Hayes is not in the Pirates lineup on Wednesday against the Angels.

Fantasy Impact: Hayes gets the day off with Jared Triolo starting at third base in his absence. He is hitting .240 at the plate so far this season after going hitless on Tuesday.

Jared Triolo went 0-for-2 in the Pirates' 4-1 victory over the Angels, but he managed to swipe a base and draw a walk.

Fantasy Impact: Despite not contributing to the scoreboard directly, Triolo's ability to get on base and create scoring opportunities with his speed remains a small positive in an otherwise lackluster performance. His season batting average sits at a modest .221, and with only minimal power and RBI production, his fantasy relevance is largely dependent on leagues that value stolen bases and walks. His current form suggests limited upside, making him a fringe option in mixed leagues at best.

Mitch Keller delivered a stellar performance, allowing just one earned run on five hits and one walk while striking out five across nine innings in Monday's 4-1 win over the Angels.

Fantasy Impact: This complete game not only showcased his ability to control the game but also provided a much-needed boost to his season statistics. Despite a somewhat elevated ERA of 4.41 and a WHIP of 1.33 coming into this game, performances like this hint at a potential turnaround. His solid strikeout-to-walk ratio of 2.75 and a reasonable BABIP of .307 suggest that he could stabilize and possibly improve as the season progresses. Fantasy managers should consider this outing a positive sign, possibly making Keller a savvy pick for those looking for pitching depth with upside.

Bryan Reynolds went 2-for-4 with a double, a triple, and one run scored in the Pirates' 5-3 victory over the Rockies.

Fantasy Impact: This performance, featuring both a double and a triple, provides a slight uptick to his somewhat modest .243 batting average for the season. While Reynolds's power numbers have been underwhelming with only four homers, his ability to hit for extra bases is a reminder of the potential lurking in his bat. His season-long metrics, including a .325 wOBA and a .287 BABIP, suggest he's been somewhat unlucky, which could hint at better days ahead if those numbers regress towards the mean. Fantasy managers should keep an eye on Reynolds for signs of a breakout, especially in leagues that reward extra-base hits.

David Bednar recorded the save on Sunday against the Rockies, working around a hit with one strikeout.

Fantasy Impact: Bednar had been struggling as of late before recording his sixth save of the season on Sunday.

Bailey Falter allowed three runs on six hits over 5 1/3 innings with three strikeouts and two walks on Sunday against the Rockies.

Fantasy Impact: Falter came just two outs away from what would have been a quality start. He remains someone worth streaming in certain matchups with limited upside.

Jared Jones delivered a masterclass on the mound Saturday, tossing seven scoreless innings while allowing just one hit and striking out ten against the Rockies.

Fantasy Impact: This gem of a performance helped the Pirates edge out a 1-0 victory. Jones's dominance in this outing further cements his status as a rising star in fantasy circles, especially given his impressive season stats that include a 2.63 ERA and a 0.78 WHIP. His ability to maintain a high strikeout rate (11.4 K/9) and minimize walks contributes to a stellar 10.40 strikeout-to-walk ratio, making him a must-start in all formats. Fantasy managers should continue to ride his hot streak, as his low BABIP (.225) suggests some luck, but his skill indicators like FIP (3.38) confirm his effectiveness is no fluke.

Davis was optioned to Triple-A Indianapolis Friday. (Source: Kevin Gorman on X)

Fantasy Impact: Davis has slashed just .162/.280/.206 with a 34.9% strikeout rate this season. Yasmani Grandal has returned from the IL with plantar fasciitis and pushed the struggling Davis aside. The 24-year-old will look to correct his swing in the minors.

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.

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.