Sources: the Pirates are recalling RHP Wilber Dotel and optioning RHP Isaac Mattson. The bullpen has struggled lately, so the Pirates are giving one of their top pitching prospects another shot in the majors.

Bubba Chandler has added new pitches this season, but it hasn't helped his control issues so far. I took a deeper dive, and there's a pretty noticeable change in his arm angle. I wrote about Chandler's struggles for Book-Rule Bucs. Read it here: bookrulebucs.substack.com/p/stumpf-try...

Nick Yorke has been optioned to Triple-A Indianapolis after today’s game, per Pirates. A corresponding move will be made Tuesday

That's game. Phillies 6, Pirates 0. This weekend, Ryan O'Hearn hit the IL, the Pirates blew a 6-0 lead in game one, didn't score a run in games two or three, Paul Skenes was tagged for five runs and the team fell to last place in the division. Pirates are now 24-23.

Trade: The Pirates have acquired High-A RHP Kyle Robinson from the Athletics for INF Alika Williams

That’s game. Pirates 7, Rockies 2. Ryan O’Hearn had three hits and a homer. Endy Rodríguez with a couple hits and a walk. Pirates take the series. They are 24-20.

Joey Bart has been placed on the 10-day injured list with a left foot infection, retroactive to Sunday. Endy Rodríguez has been recalled from Triple-A Indianapolis.

Outfielder Jhostynxon García’s rehab assignment is complete and he has returned to Triple-A Indianapolis.

RHP Brandan Bidois is in the Pirates’ clubhouse. No official move at this time. May just be taxi squad.

A quality all-Bucco grid imo

Don Kelly took over as the Pirates’ manager exactly one year ago. The former player who was DFA’d nine times did what he did best in that first year as manager: survive. Now he has the chance to build and live. More in a column for Book-Rule Bucs: open.substack.com/pub/bookrule...

Yohan Ramírez once passed through a quarter of the MLB clubhouses in a three-year stretch. Now he's one of the top performers in the Pirates' bullpen. I took a look at his arm slot, his pitch mix and his vicious tunnels for Book-Rule Bucs. Read it here: bookrulebucs.substack.com/p/stumpf-ram...

That's game. Pirates 1, Reds 0. Braxton Ashcraft was brilliant. Konnor Griffin and Oneil Cruz were clutch late. Gregory Soto got the last four outs. Pirates sweep the Reds. They are 19-16.

"It’s been fun. It’s been challenging. I feel like I’m getting better.” Konnor Griffin has taken 100 Major League plate appearances. There has been some good, some bad, some changes. I dove into the data and chatted with Griffin for today's Book-Rule Bucs: bookrulebucs.substack.com/p/stumpf-tak...

Three thoughts as the Cardinals sweep the Pirates: substack.com/profile/1630...

That's game. Cardinals 10, Pirates 5. Ugly ballgame. Ugly series. Skenes allowed a career-high eight hits as the Pirates are swept in a four-game home set. Losing streak is now five games. Pirates finish April 16-16.

From Pirates PR: With Brandon Lowe’s homer, the Pirates have three players with 20+ RBIs in April for the first time ever. Lowe and Ryan O’Hearn have 20, Oneil Cruz has 26.

Some Pirate injury updates: Jared Jones (elbow) is recovering normally after first rehab start. Don’t know where he’ll make his next start yet Jared Triolo (knee) expected to make back to back starts w/ Altoona Jhostynxon Garcia (lower back) will have rehab transferred to Fla.

I get it. The season is still young. He dug himself out of a deeper hole in 2023. The team still sees the underlying metrics and his track record. But there’s no other way to slice it: Marcell Ozuna has had one of the worst Aprils ever for a Pirate hitter youtu.be/sn53edUZXpA?...

That's game. Cardinals 5, Pirates 4. Nick Gonzales gave a potential walk-off bomb a ride with two outs in the ninth, but it's caught at the wall. I thought he had it off the bat. That's a four-game losing streak. Pirates are 16-15.

Sources: Chris Devenski is heading to Pittsburgh. The veteran right-hander has struck out 14 over 8 innings with Triple-A Indianapolis this season. He will need to be added to the roster, so a corresponding move will come today.

That's game. Cardinals 4, Pirates 2. This one slipped away in the ninth. Between tonight and the Nationals series the last homestead, the Pirates have lost some very winnable games at PNC Park recently.

Alec Burleson's infield single ends the Pirate bullpen's bid at a perfect game. Second time in four games the Pirates retired the first 20 batters of the game.

Wilber Dotel was probably called up before he was 100% ready and before when the Pirates projected. He's risen to the opportunity. Tonight: 4 IP, 3 K. He and the bullpen have made this a very interesting ballgame here in the 7th

Oneil Cruz was scratched from tonight’s lineup due to an illness. He is being treated by the Pirates’ medical staff

Jared Triolo walked into the clubhouse today and saw a bouncy house for Konnor Griffin's birthday. "This is new to me," he joked. We're a month into the season. Thoughts on the Pirates' vibe, if they can be for real and this series with the Cardinals. bookrulebucs.substack.com/p/newsletter...

I did something different for the Book-Rule Bucs newsletter and wrote about Globe Life Field. It was ballpark No. 30 for me, and MLB's newest ballpark just made me... sad. My column on how baseball is having a crisis in ballparks (plus Pirates stuff too): bookrulebucs.substack.com/p/newsletter...

Jared Triolo will start a rehab assignment with Single-A Bradenton tonight

That's game. Pirates 8, Rangers 4. Braxton Ashcraft was brilliant. Jake Mangum drove in the go-ahead run in the ninth, and Oneil Cruz added the insurance with a moonshot three-run shot. The Pirates are 14-10.

Seven innings for Braxton Ashcraft. First time in his major league career. Slider was outstanding early, and he's leaned on the fastball later. Lone hiccup was a 344-foot home run. Stayed on the attack all night. Stayed in sync. Really everything you can ask from a young pitcher

Bryan Reynolds singles home Henry Davis. It's the 500th RBI of his career, tied with Bobby Bonilla for the most for a switch-hitter in Pirates franchise history since 1920* (when RBIs became an official stat). *Max Carey had 721 RBIs in his Pirates career, 351 after 1920.

Andrew McCutchen didn't have a lot to say on how his Pirates tenure came to a close or what his future with the organization might look like. He might have said more through omission. A (free) column for Book-Rule Bucs: bookrulebucs.substack.com/p/stumpf-mcc...

Andrew McCutchen was asked tonight if he was disappointed he did not return to the Pirates. "I'd rather not answer that question." I followed by asking how he feels the relationship is now and if he could see himself returning. "I don't know. I guess you'd have to ask them."

That's game. Rangers 5, Pirates 1. Evan Carter robbing Oneil Cruz of a three-run shot was the big turning point in this one. Carmen Mlodzinski's outing went sideways during the third time through the order. Pirates are 13-10.

Brandon Lowe is dealing with some left knee discomfort, per Don Kelly. Considered day-to-day, but he’s doing better. Lowe is not in the lineup tonight

Bubba Chandler is always working on something during his catch play and bullpens. This week, we saw the fruits of that tinkering: a brand new sweeper. I wrote about the origins of the pitch + why it could make an impact for the Book-Rule Bucs newsletter: substack.com/home/post/p-...

Bubba Chandler is always working on something during his catch play and bullpens. This week, we saw the fruits of that tinkering: a brand new sweeper. I wrote about the origins of the pitch + why it could make an impact for the Book-Rule Bucs newsletter: substack.com/home/post/p-...

Jhostynxon Garcia is being placed on Triple-A Indianapolis’ injured list with lower back tightness

Pirates prospect Edward Florentino is starting a rehab assignment with Bradenton today

The Pirates broke the opener seal this week. It worked for Carmen Mlodzinski. What other starters could benefit from having a reliever occasionally go first? That, trivia, thoughts on the Rays and more in today's Book-Rule Bucs newsletter. Check it out: bookrulebucs.substack.com/p/newsletter...

Source confirms the Pirates are recalling RHP Cam Sanders. Sanders was one of the pitching development/scouting team’s bigger wins last season. He has struck out 11 in six innings with Indianapolis this year. Matt Moscona had it first

That’s game. Nationals 8, Pirates 7, 10 innings. Very sloppy game. Four errors. Outfielders throwing to the wrong base. A HBP and very wild pitch with the bases loaded and two outs. Poor execution costs the Pirates the series. Instead, it’s a split.

Pirate injury updates from Todd Tomczyk: Jared Jones (elbow) will enter sim game phase of rehab soon. Generally, pitchers have 3-6 sims/lives before rehab assignment talk. Jared Triolo (right patellar tendon) has resumed baseball activities. He should run bases next week in FL.

That’s game. Pirates 2, Nationals 0. Carmen Mlodzinski was outstanding. Mason Montgomery was tenacious. The opener and bulk-guy strategy worked wonders for the Pirates tonight

Don Kelly’s mantra this year has been “earn it.” Earn respect, earn opportunities. Brandon Lowe is off to a historic start and has helped stabilize the lineup. His left-on-left splits aren’t great, but if anyone has earned that 7th inning AB, it’s him: youtu.be/dnAHzko1or8?...

That’s game. Pirates 16, Nationals 5. It wasn’t even that close.

From Pirates PR: Brandon Lowe is the first Pirate (since RBI became official in 1920) with 5+ RBI in back-to-back games

The Pirates scored 10 runs for Paul Skenes in the bottom of the sixth inning tonight. The Pirates scored 11 runs for Paul Skenes in his 10 losses last season.

Nick Yorke's fastball whiff rate has gone from 22.5% in Indy to 7% with the Pirates. The data and his approach support that drastic improvement. I took a look at three analytics I'm buying for the Book-Rule Bucs newsletter. Check it out: open.substack.com/pub/bookrule...

ROSTER MOVES: The Pittsburgh Pirates today recalled left-handed pitcher Evan Sisk from Triple-A Indianapolis and optioned left-handed pitcher Hunter Barco to Indianapolis.