Pittsburgh Pirates DVOA, Stats, & MLB Rankings

Pittsburgh Pirates second baseman Nick Gonzales (ankle) is going on the 10-day injured list on Friday after suffering a non-displaced left-ankle fracture in the Opening Day loss to the Miami Marlins on Thursday, according to manager Derek Shelton. In a corresponding move, the team is recalling infielder Enmanuel Valdez from Triple-A Indianapolis. The 25-year-old Gonzales hit a two-run home run on Opening Day but was hobbling pretty badly while trotting around the bases and was immediately removed from the game. Pittsburgh's starting lineup for Friday's contest in Miami has yet to be announced, but veteran Adam Frazier, who replaced Gonzales at the keystone on Thursday, will likely make the start at second base against right-hander Connor Gillispie. There's no timetable for Gonzales, but fantasy managers should expect him to miss at least a month of action, if not more.

Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher Paul Skenes struck out seven in the first Opening Day start of his career, but he ended up with a no-decision after the Marlins staged a late-inning comeback to walk off as winners by a score of 5-4. Skenes needed 94 pitches to get through 5 1/3 innings but only allowed three hits and two walks. Both walks came in the sixth inning before he was replaced, and one of those two runners came around to score on a wild pitch after he left the game. Even though he didn't get the win, Skenes still looked strong and ready to anchor fantasy rotations all season long. He became the youngest Pirates pitcher to make an Opening Day start since at least 1900 and the youngest in the MLB since Jose Fernandez in 2014 for the Marlins. He is also the fastest player to go from No. 1 overall pick to an Opening Day starting pitcher.

Boston Red Sox relief pitcher Aroldis Chapman was recently named the primary closer heading into the regular season, according to manager Alex Cora. Well, there's still 161 more chances for Chapman to get a save, but he didn't get that chance on Thursday. Instead, Chapman was called upon to face left-handed slugger Corey Seager in the eighth inning. It's worth noting that the game was tied when Chapman came in which could be part of the reason why they decided to use him in that spot. Afterwards, Wilyer Abreu smacked a three-run home run and right-hander Justin Slaten was called upon to close out the game. Chapman will certainly get his save chances, but this isn't quite a full-time closer role like the organization claimed it was a few days ago. Fantasy managers who have Chapman rostered should keep him as he'll likely still get a majority of the save opportunities.

Pittsburgh Pirates second baseman Nick Gonzales (ankle) went 1-for-3 with his first home run of the season, a run scored, two RBI and two strikeouts in the team's 5-4 loss to the Miami Marlins on Opening Day on Thursday, but he was also removed early due to recurrent left-ankle discomfort. Gonzales went deep for a two-run homer in the sixth inning and hobbled around the bases before being pulled. The 25-year-old will be examined by the team's medical staff before the Bucs provide an update on his status. Consider him day-to-day for now, but we'd be surprised if he's back in the starting lineup on Friday in Miami. Veteran Adam Frazier took over for Gonzales at the keystone on Thursday and walked in his only plate appearance. If Gonzales is forced to miss extended time with his ankle injury, Frazier would likely take over as the regular at second base in Pittsburgh.

The Pittsburgh Pirates officially placed right-hander Jared Jones (elbow) on the 15-day injured list on Thursday with a right-elbow UCL sprain. For now, Jones will attempt to rest and rehab his UCL injury, but it doesn't mean he won't eventually need to go under the knife, which would officially end his 2025 season. In a best-case scenario, rest and rehab does the trick, but even then, the 23-year-old hurler probably wouldn't be in play to make his season debut for the Pirates until around June. The Bucs will shut him down from throwing for six weeks before he attempts to restart a throwing program and build his arm up. Expect Jones to be transferred to the 60-day IL eventually. With Jones sidelined, Carmen Mlodzinski won the fifth rotation spot in Pittsburgh, but it could only be a matter of time before pitching prospects Bubba Chandler and/or Thomas Harrington force their way into the big-league rotation.