Notes: Now Ya See 'Em, Now Ya Don't Roster; Bombs Away In Pgh, PA

Have a great holiday...

Notes:

• The Bucs started the week by extending their losing streak to five games before taking the finale in Washington, riding B-Rey's three homers and six RBI to an 8-7 win. They beat the Brewers by that same tally in their PNC return; Michael Perez homered three times to carry the load. Jack Suwinski hit three homers on 6/19; the Pirates became the first MLB team to have three players hit three homers in the same month. Pittsburgh had an eight game streak that ended Saturday where the games were all decided by one or two runs; they were 3-5 during that spell. Pittsburgh split the four-game set with Milwaukee for a 3-4 week.
• The Pirates are off for July 4th; it's only the fifth time in franchise history that they haven't played on Independence Day. In 1897, they weren't scheduled - the other three days off were a 1981 rainout, 1994 strike and the 2020 Covid season.
• The Pirates ended June with 44 homers, just short of the all-time club record of 45 hit in August of 2007.
• Pittsburgh bought the contract of LHP Manny Bañuelos, 31, from the Yankees after he was DFA'ed.

David Bednar is ready for the 4th - 2022 Pirates promo image

• RHP David Bednar is working through back issues that affect his day-to-day availability; he sat out a couple of games to rest it and got his cage rattled when he returned against the Brew Crew. But he came back Saturday to finish up, so...  We do suspect this bout may end his multi-inning use by Shelty, or at least tether him to a strict pitch count.
• RHP Bryse Wilson was recalled from Indy to start Saturday's game; LHP Aaron Fletcher was optioned back to Indy to clear roster room. Wilson went six innings of two-run ball and earned his first win of the campaign. Then RHP Zach Thompson came of the IL Sunday to reclaim his rotation spot and Wilson was optioned back to Indy.
• IF Tucupita Marcano was activated from the COVID injured list. To make roster room, IF Yu Chang was DFA'ed. RHP Duane Underwood Jr. was recalled from the IL; RHP Yerry De Los Santos was placed on the Covid IL to open a spot.
• LHP Dillon Peters (back spasms) began his rehab stint at Altoona on Tuesday. He's the fifth guy on the IL now in the rehab stage.

Josh VanMeter is back - 2022 photo Denis Poroy/Getty

• INF Josh VanMeter was reinstated from the IL and RHP Miguel Yajore was called up from Indy on Monday; Yajore started in the place of the injured Zach Thompson, went four scoreless, and was returned to Indy; LHP Aaron Fletcher was then brought up (he lasted five days before being optioned back). To make space for the original move, OF Cal Mitchell was returned to Indy and LHP Anthony Banda was DFA'ed and then sold to Toronto.
• RHP Jerad Eickhoff cleared waivers and was assigned back to Indy. RHP Heath Hembree also cleared waivers and was released.
• RHP Max Kranick was moved to the 60-day IL; he underwent TJ surgery three weeks ago.
• Minor league home run leader Matt Gorski of Altoona (.292 BA-23 HR-58 RBI between the Curve and Greensboro) was carted off field after hitting a triple with a quad injury to his left leg. He's on the 7-day IL.
• RHP Mark Appel, now 30, whom the Pirates drafted first in 2013 (remember that whole kerfuffle?!) made his MLB debut with the Phils on Wednesday. He gave up a hit and fanned a batter in an inning of work.