Pittsburgh Pirates DVOA, Stats, & MLB Rankings

Pittsburgh Pirates outfielder Bryan Reynolds went 3-for-5 with two runs, two RBI, and a walk during their 9-3 victory over the Los Angeles Angels on Tuesday evening. Reynolds would hit three singles in this game. In the ninth inning, Reynolds would conclude his evening with a two-run single, which scored outfielder Tommy Pham and infielder Isiah Kiner-Falefa. This was Reynolds' second-straight three-hit game and third three-hit game over his last four games. During this offensive surge, Reynolds has posted an impressive .526/.550/.684 slash line with just one extra-base hit. However, before this impressive run, Reynolds was in a slump, hitting just .179 over his previous eight games. Given his recent hot stretch, the 30-year-old switch-hitter should be viewed as a strong play in DFS on Wednesday, facing Los Angeles right-hander Jack Kochanowicz.

Pittsburgh Pirates left-hander Bailey Falter (back) was removed from his start early on Tuesday against the hosting Los Angeles Angels due to lower-back tightness, according to the team. Falter is currently being treated by the team's medical staff, and the Pirates will provide an update on his condition when new information becomes available. Before departing the contest in Anaheim, Falter had allowed three earned runs on five hits (one homer) while walking none and striking out five in four innings (65 pitches). It's anyone's guess as to whether the 27-year-old southpaw will be able to make his next scheduled start on Sunday against the Los Angeles Dodgers. Even if Falter's injury is minor and he's able to toe the rubber this weekend, fantasy managers will want to avoid him in that matchup. He has been inconsistent so far in 2025 and entered Tuesday's outing with a 4.91 ERA and 1.18 WHIP in his four starts.

Pittsburgh Pirates outfielder Oneil Cruz is not in Sunday's lineup when they conclude a series against the Cleveland Guardians. Cruz has been in the starting nine in each of the previous seven contests and will get a much-needed day off. During this stretch, the 26-year-old has posted a .269/.367/.654 slash line with one double, three home runs, and three stolen bases. Through 19 games this season, Cruz has held a .234/.363/.500 slash line with five long balls and 10 stolen bases. Under the hood, he has generated an elite 20.5 percent barrel rate and a 54.5 percent hard-hit rate, which are both well above the average marks, which suggests his power production should continue to climb during the summer. Fantasy managers should expect Cruz to return to the lineup on Tuesday against the Angels. This afternoon, Alexander Canario will cover center field and bat in the five-hole.

Pittsburgh Pirates relief pitcher David Bednar has been recalled from Triple-A Indianapolis on Saturday. The 30-year-old was optioned to the minors after allowing four earned runs across three appearances early in the season. Since then, Bednar has tossed five scoreless innings with seven strikeouts over five appearances. Dennis Santana has been operating as the closer lately, so it's unclear if Bednar will take over the role. The expectation is Bednar will move back into a high-leverage role, but he might not get a ton of save opportunities right away. Bednar is worth monitoring in fantasy leagues, but isn't a must-have player right now.

Pittsburgh Pirates relief pitcher Dennis Santana earned his second save of the season on Thursday afternoon during their victory over the Washington Nationals. Santana entered the game in the ninth inning and only needed to record two outs as Ryan Borucki started the inning. Santana retired both batters he faced. First, he got outfielder Dylan Crews to hit a ground out, and then proceeded to strike out infielder Luis Garcia Jr. With David Bednar being optioned to Triple-A Indianapolis, Santana has emerged as the favorite for save opportunities in the Steel City. Through his first nine innings of the season, the 29-year-old right-hander has held a 2.00 ERA with a 1.00 WHIP. He has struck out five batters but has generated a high 5.54 xERA, which suggests he could face some regression. Despite his underwhelming metrics, he is a viable target for saves in deeper formats.