Pittsburgh Pirates DVOA, Stats, & MLB Rankings

Pittsburgh Pirates impressive rookie right-hander Paul Skenes became just the fifth rookie ever to start the All-Star game on Tuesday, and the first to do so since 1995. The 22-year-old had a scoreless first inning while flashing triple-digit velocity and maxing out at 100.1 mph. He tallied a game-high-tying four swings and misses. Skenes retired Steven Kwan on a pop out and Gunnar Henderson on a ground out before walking Juan Soto and getting Aaron Judge to roll over on a ground out to third base to end the inning. Last year's first overall pick out of LSU has special stuff and is going to be one of the most dominant pitchers in baseball for years to come. He's already 6-0 in his first big-league season with a stingy 1.90 ERA and 0.92 WHIP with 89 strikeouts in 66 1/3 innings over his first 11 starts with the Pirates.

Pittsburgh Pirates outfielder Bryan Reynolds went 4-for-5 at the plate on Saturday with four singles and four RBI. Reynolds knocked his first two-run single of the game in the seventh frame to score Ke'Bryan Hayes and Connor Joe. Then, in the ninth inning, the 29-year-old hit his final single, which brought in Connor Joe for the second time and Yasmani Grandal. Through 95 games this season, the switch-hitter sits with a stellar .281/.342/.478 line, 17 home runs, 60 RBI, five stolen bases, and a 33:90 BB:K ratio. Since posting a remarkable 25-game hitting streak through June, the Vanderbilt product entered this game with a solid .245 AVG. Reynolds should be seen as a lineup staple in all leagues going forward and a viable play in all DFS formats.

Pittsburgh Pirates outfielder/designated hitter Andrew McCutchen was pulled early from Saturday's game with hamstring discomfort. The team announced the injury shortly after the Pirates' 6-2 win over the Chicago White Sox. McCutchen is currently being evaluated and should be considered day-to-day. The 37-year-old was having a solid day at the plate, going 2-4 and tallying a run before Joey Bart pinch-hit for him in the top of the ninth. Given that the All-Star break will start on Monday, fantasy managers should prepare for McCutchen to sit out tomorrow's game to give him extra rest. The injury doesn't appear to be serious at the moment but fantasy managers should monitor McCutchen's status going forward. Expect Bryan Reynolds to slide into the DH role while Michael Taylor will likely start in the outfield on Sunday against scheduled White Sox starter Chad Kuhl.

Pittsburgh Pirates catcher Joey Bart will take the day off on Saturday in the second game of the series against the hosting Chicago White Sox. Veteran Yasmani Grandal will do the catching against his old team and will bat ninth against White Sox right-hander Chris Flexen. With former first-rounder Henry Davis missing time with a concussion and now back in the minor leagues to work on his swing, it's Bart and Grandal splitting time behind the dish in Pittsburgh for the foreseeable future. Bart, a former first-rounder himself, flamed out in San Fran and is getting another opportunity with the Bucs in 2024. The 27-year-old backstop is currently hitting a mediocre .235/.327/.447 but with a .774 OPS, five home runs and 17 RBI in 85 at-bats. As long as he keeps seeing regular playing time, he'll be relevant for his power in two-catcher fantasy formats.

Pittsburgh Pirates shortstop Oneil Cruz is out of the team's starting lineup on Friday for the series opener against the hosting Chicago White Sox. Cruz returned to Thursday's lineup after missing the previous two contests with hamstring soreness, but he'll sit out again to begin a new series in Chicago on Friday. It remains to be seen if the 25-year-old aggravated his hamstring or if the Pirates are just giving him extra rest before next week's All-Star break. Either way, fantasy managers need to remove him from their lineups. The 6-foot-7, 215-pounder is on pace to set career-highs across the board in 2024 after never appearing in more than 87 big-league games the last three seasons. Jared Triolo is starting at the 6 on Friday and is batting seventh against White Sox All-Star left-hander Garrett Crochet. Avoid Triolo as a sleeper in DFS.