Jason Mackey

SAN DIEGO — Time after time, the Pirates had chances, opportunities to end this game long before its actual conclusion, and they failed to come through. Nick Gonzales changed that nearly four hours after the first pitch when he singled up the middle in the top of the 12th to

SAN DIEGO — They're the Pirates’ two biggest players, both with freakish builds and skills and the ability to control the pace and trajectory of a game. Paul Skenes and Oneil Cruz, of course. With Pittsburgh badly needing another win, its season potentially teetering on this nine-game road trip, Skenes

SAN DIEGO — When Esmerlyn Valdez walked back to the visitors’ dugout after making the second out of the third inning Monday night, chasing a low-and-away changeup out of the zone from Padres starter Robbie Ray, the Pirates rookie was none too happy. But he didn’t let it consume him.

Endy Rodriguez won’t return this season after he had surgery Wednesday to repair the labrum in his left hip, the Pirates announced. Rodriguez is expected to resume baseball activities within seven to nine months, which will likely delay his 2027 season, as well. The surgery was performed by Dr. Thomas

SAN DIEGO — When the Pirates offense has struggled this season, it’s been pretty easy to diagnose the problem. Either a left-handed pitcher has been on the mound, or the Pirates have been unable to convert with runners in scoring position. Sometimes both. A familiar problem resurfaced at a terrible

ST. LOUIS — A handful of hours after the MLB Trade Deadline had passed, after he delivered one of his best starts of the second half and that night’s game in Milwaukee ended on a walkoff challenge, Bubba Chandler was addressing Mitch Keller’s season-ending injury when he offered an honest

ST. LOUIS -- Before the Pirates left for their current road trip, Paul Skenes had a conversation that put his mind at ease. With the Tigers in town, Skenes wound up chatting with Tigers pitcher Justin Verlander about velocity. Pittsburgh’s ace described what he’s gone through this season and asked

ST. LOUIS — Jake Mangum saw Cardinals left fielder Joshua Báez fail to field the ball cleanly and discovered another gear. Mangum’s helmet went sailing. He was nearly called out at third base, though the Pirates saw third baseman Nolan Gorman drop the ball, challenged and won. It's the type

ST. LOUIS — With sand slipping through the hourglass and the Pirates badly needing a hot streak to jump back into contention, this felt like a season-defining road trip for the club. Nine games in 11 days across three cities. A chance to shift this thing one way or another.

Paul Skenes likes to joke that his first-ever dream job, before baseball or flying planes, was to become a firefighter. Perhaps that’s why Skenes enjoys this stuff so much. Or maybe it's the opportunity to help a worthy cause. (OK, it's probably a mix of both.) Backed by support from