
Pittsburgh Pirates DVOA, Stats, & MLB Rankings
Team Profile

2024 Team Stats


The Pittsburgh Pirates activated right-hander Quinn Priester (lat) from the 15-day injured list on Tuesday and optioned outfielder Edward Olivares to Triple-A Indianapolis in a corresponding move. The team also outrighted left-hander Justin Bruihl to Indy after he was designated for assignment and cleared waivers. Priester, who has been up and down for the Pirates as a starter in 2024, should make his first start off the IL this weekend in an excellent matchup against the Chicago White Sox. The 24-year-old went five innings in his final minor-league rehab start and currently carries a 4.83 ERA in 31 2/3 innings (six starts) in his second year in the majors. Olivares will get the boot back to the farm after Joshua Palacios has emerged as the team's regular in right field of late. Olivares is hitting just .224 (39-for-174) with five home runs and 23 RBI.


Pittsburgh Pirates closer David Bednar (oblique) will start his minor-league rehab assignment with Double-A Altoona on Tuesday. Bednar threw a successful bullpen session over the weekend and will now pitch in minor league games after missing over two weeks with a left-oblique strain. It remains to be seen how many outings the 29-year-old right-hander will make in the minors before coming off the injured list. It's possible he could rejoin Pittsburgh's bullpen this weekend, but don't be surprised if the Bucs play it safe and bring Bednar back for the start of the second half of the season after next week's All-Star break. When he returns, Bednar will continue his role as the club's primary closer, moving veteran left-hander Aroldis Chapman back to his late-inning setup role. If Bednar is available for some reason on your league's waiver wire, pick him up and stash him now.


Pittsburgh Pirates manager Derek Shelton said that left-hander Josh Fleming will make the start on Tuesday in Milwaukee to take on the division-rival Brewers. While Fleming has only allowed one earned run in 9 1/3 innings in his last six appearances (one start) for the Pirates, he hasn't started a game since June 16 against the Colorado Rockies and hasn't gone more than two innings in any of his last five appearances out of the bullpen, so fantasy managers would be wise to avoid the 28-year-old southpaw as a streamer, especially in a tough matchup against the National League Central leaders on the road. Fleming last appeared on Saturday against the New York Mets and threw two scoreless innings of relief while striking out one and walking none.


Pittsburgh Pirates outfielder/designated hitter Andrew McCutchen is getting a day off on Tuesday as the team faces the division-rival Milwaukee Brewers on the road. With McCutchen sitting, Bryan Reynolds will get a day off his feet and serve as the DH while batting second against Brewers right-hander Colin Rea. Starting in Pittsburgh's outfield from left field to right are Jack Suwinski, Michael Taylor and Joshua Palacios. The 37-year-old McCutchen has struggled at the plate so far in six games in July, going 3-for-22 (.136) with a homer, double, RBI and nine strikeouts in 27 plate appearances. The cold stretch has dropped his season slash line to .225/.328/.386 with a .714 OPS. McCutchen has been a decent source of power (12 homers) and runs (46) for fantasy managers in deep-mixed leagues.


Pittsburgh Pirates shortstop Oneil Cruz (hamstring) will not make the start on Tuesday against the hosting division-rival Milwaukee Brewers after he was forced to leave Monday's series finale against the New York Mets early due to hamstring tightness. For now, fantasy managers should continue to regard Cruz as day-to-day. Jared Triolo will take over at the 6 on Tuesday and will bat eighth for the Bucs against Brewers right-hander Colin Rea. Triolo is hitting .125 in eight career at-bats against Rea and will be a low-upside deep sleeper for DFS lineups on Tuesday. The 25-year-old Cruz has gotten off to a good start in July, so hopefully his hamstring issue doesn't end up sending him to the injured list heading into the All-Star break. In seven games in July so far, he's gone 8-for-24 (.333) with two homers, a double, five RBI, one steal and four runs scored in 27 trips to the plate.
