Weekly Report: Bucs Win At Home & Sweep Shelty, Jared Back & Carmen Bumped, Konnor On IL, Cutch DFA'ed By Texas

And it's June...

Pirates Stuff:

• After the Cub series, it was announced Jared Jones was back with the team (he started the next day v Minnesota), Carmen Mlodzinski will go to the pen and somehow Bubba Chandler will remain in the rotation. To clear a spot for Jones, reliever Justin Lawrence (0-2/5.32) was DFA'ed. We expect that Mlodzinski's move had more to do with the ineptitude of the long relievers than a rap on Carmen, who didn't buy into the bulk innings eater role. To make the story murkier, on Sunday Mlodzinski was placed on the restricted list and RHP Cam Sanders was recalled (for one day, then optioned back), so... Ben Cherington told the media that Mlodzinski said he wasn't ready to pitch physically or mentally yet, didn't request a trade, is part of the Pirates' future and is expected back for the upcoming road trip, which explains the Sanders moves.

Carmen's working through some things...2026 photo/Pirates

• In an out-of-the-blue move, the Pirates have recalled INF/OF Tyler Callihan from Indy and optioned OF Esmerlyn Valdez back to AAA. Valdez was the fourth Pirate since 1900 to have two or more of his first MLB hits be home runs, along with Dick Stuart (1958, two), Craig Wilson (2001, two) and Rodolfo Castro (2021, five). But those were his only two hits in 16 at bats, to go with nine Ks.
• Konnor Griffin sat out Thursday's Cub finale with a sore arm (flexor strain). Hopefully, it's just a rest day; he was available off the bench, though the Callahan move looks like insurance just in case....and sure enough, Nick Gonzales left the game with a sore knee that he banged on Wednesday; Tyler took his place. Konnor won't be able to throw for a few days, but can swing; Kelly used him to DH, but on Sunday he went on the 10-day IL when Ryan O'Hearn returned to action.
• Other banged up Bucs: Nick Gonzales (leg contusion) is at 90% and was available to play. O'Hearn (right quad strain) ran the bases on Friday and returned Sunday. Joey Bart (left foot infection) is still weeks away and Chris Devenski (illness) may resume throwing next week.
• Brandow Lowe has been in the bigs for nine years; Saturday was the first time he was ejected.

Brandon gets his first heave-ho - 2026 photo/Pirates

• Former Mountaineer Carlson Reed threw seven perfect innings for A+ Greensboro on Friday and bullpen guys Inmer Lobo & Kyle Larsen completed the no-no although they walked three to lose the perfecto in a 4-0 victory over Hub City.
• RHP Jack Anker, 22, was the Florida State League Pitcher of the Week; he went six scoreless, two-hit innings with four K against Lakeland last week. He's 3-1/3.38 on the season for Bradenton.

Game Stuff: 

• The Cubs came to town riding an eight-game losing streak as the Pirates were hosting a Memorial Day game for the first time since May 28, 2018 (spoiler alert: they lost that one to the Cubs, 7-0). It promised to be entertaining with two of the NLs top attacks, but thanks to Carmen Mlodzinski, Wilber Dotel (the winner, his first MLB dub) and Gregory Soto (the save), it turned into a slab duel, with the Bucs prevailing 2-1. The game winning-blow was a two-out, seventh-inning solo shot by Hank Davis, who is still under the Mendoza line. Spencer Horwitz opened the scoring, coming across on Brandon Lowe's double.
• The Bucs put on an unscheduled fireworks display in the first frame by scoring five times, capped by Esmerlyn "The Magician" Valdez's blast in front of his fam. Spencer Horwitz joined him with a later long ball, Oneil Cruz went 3-for-3 and Valdez had 3 RBI. As for the twirlers, Braxton Ashcraft wiggled out of a couple of jams to get into the seventh inning and the bullpen took it home from there. When the smoke cleared, the Pirates had laid a big-league 12-1 whuppin' on the Cubs.
• Bubba Chandler, who should be looking over his shoulder with Jared Jones in town, fell behind 3-0 early. Not for long. though, as Brandow Lowe bopped a two-out, three-run homer to tie it in the third. Bubba gave the lead up in the next inning. The Bucs tied it again on a Konnor Griffin blast; then the bullpen took over *sigh*. That spelled the end of the Cubs futility streak as they ran away with a 10-4 decision.

Bubba made the cut - 2026 Topps

• Paul Skenes couldn't turn the tide - bad D, bad O, soft hits and another bullpen blowup gave the Cubs a 7-2 win and a series split.
• Friday began the Twins set, with a Zambelli Drone night and Jared Jones on tap for the series opener. He didn't exactly sparkle, going 4-1/3 IP while giving up seven hits and five runs to squander an early 3-1 lead, although he did hit 101 with his heater. Oneil Cruz splashed a ball into the Allegheny and Wilber Dotel tossed three zeroes, and it was barely enough. The Bucs blew a great eighth inning chance, but Bryan Reynolds made it moot by walking it off with a two-run, ninth-inning bomb to pull it out 6-5 and spoil Shelty's return to his old stomping grounds.
• Not a day for pitchers; Mitch Keller left after four and it was already 8-7 good guys. Lots goin' on - Oneil Cruz, Spencer Horwitz and Jake Mangum homered in that span; Brandow Lowe got ejected, too. It settled down some after that, with the final aping a Steeler-Ravens score with the Buccos on top 10-9 thanks to late-inning web gems by Mangum and Tyler Callahan. Gregory Soto closed it out, earning back-to-back saves while Yohan Ramirez got the win. 
• Well, welcome back Ryan O'Hearn, who homered during his first at bat. Nick Gonzales added another an inng later to give Braxton Ashcraft a third-inning 4-0 pad. The Bucs added five more runs in the fifth and swept the Twinkies, 9-3. Ashcraft went six frames for the win with a career-high 11 Ks without a walk.

Ryan returns to action - 2026 Pirates promo

• The Bucs visit the Astros and Braves beginning Tuesday, a formidable duo for the MASH-unit Pirates.

MLB Stuff

• Houston hurlers Tatsuyu Imai, Steven Okert and Alimber Santa cobined to toss a no-hitter against Texas in a 9-0 win at Globe Life Field that made Memorial Day memorable. The no-no was the first tossed in MLB since the Chicago Cubs shut down the Pirates 12-0 on Sept. 4, 2024 at Wrigley Field. 
• A Pirate prospect does good: IF Charles McAdoo, who was a 13th round draft pick in 2023 and traded the following year to Toronto for Isiah Kiner Falefa, made his MLB debut on Friday. He homered for his first hit.
• News we'd rather not hear: Cutch was placed on release waivers by Texas. He was batting .192 with one homer, so...

Cutch gets cut - 2025 Topps Greatest Hits

• The Royals DFA'ed LHP Bailey Falter, who they got from the Bucs last season for LHP Evan Sisk, now part of the pen, and prospect 1B Callan Moss.
• The Nats moved RHP Max Kranick to the 60-day IL. He appeared with the Bucs in 2021-22 and moved to the NY Mets in 2024-25. He was settling in there, but had July elbow surgery and became an FA, moving to Washington.
• LHP Jose Quintana was placed on the 60-day IL by Colorado with an elbow sprain.