According to OptaDATA, Ramirez became the only pitcher in MLB history to record a save featuring three strikeouts with the tying run in scoring position in the 12th inning or later. Out of more than 60,000 saves recorded since the stat became official in 1969, Ramirez stands alone.

Raiírez proved vital for the Pirates in a crucial victory over the San Diego Padres—one of their direct rivals for a postseason berth—as Pittsburgh continues to chase down San Diego in the standings.

Following a midseason trade with the New York Yankees that brought back Camilo Doval, the Pirates have struggled to find consistent momentum, forcing the club to rely heavily on Doval and Ramirez to lock down high-leverage late innings.

Ramirez’s performance so far this season

Throughout his big-league career, Ramirez has served primarily as a high-velocity right-handed middle reliever. Across more than 200 career appearances, he has posted a 4.29 ERA and a 1.37 WHIP while showcasing strong swing-and-miss ability with a career K/9 over 9.5.

A resilient bullpen journeyman, Ramirez relies on a hard-biting upper-90s sinker paired with a high-spin sweeper, making him a versatile weapon for both late-inning jams and multi-inning relief duty.

In his 2026 campaign with Pittsburgh, Ramirez has put together one of the most dominant stretches of his career. Anchoring the Pirates’ bullpen, the right-hander has registered a career-best ERA around 3.00 with more than 75 strikeouts across 68-plus innings pitched.

“Trade news: The Pittsburgh Pirates are acquiring right-handed reliever Camilo Doval from the New York Yankees for two prospects, sources tell ESPN,” the insider Jeff Passan revealed via X. Jon Heyman also reported that the players joining Aaron Boone’s roster are Luis Cruz and Omar Alfonzo.

The Yankees were recently linked to catcher Hunter Goodman, suggesting that their moves may not be finished in the Bronx. What is the missing piece they need to become true contenders?

Doval’s numbers in the Bronx

Prior to being traded to the Pittsburgh Pirates at the deadline, Camilo Doval posted a 3–1 record with a 4.54 ERA, 109 career saves, and 44 appearances for the New York Yankees in 2026. Despite his ERA struggles in New York, the Pirates significantly bolster their bullpen with this acquisition, gaining a high-octane arm with proven All-Star closer experience and elite raw stuff.

Pittsburgh is betting that a change of scenery—moving him away from Yankee Stadium, where he struggled—will help unlock his dominant form and provide much-needed stability for their late-inning high-leverage situations.

The Yankees are already thinking about the future

By acquiring Omar Alfonzo and Luis Cruz from Pittsburgh, the Yankees successfully shed a struggling reliever while bolstering the depth and upside of their minor league system. Alfonzo—ranked as the Pirates’ No. 17 prospect—adds high-upside power, a patient plate approach, and defensive versatility as a catcher/first baseman, while Cruz offers raw potential as a young Dominican Summer League outfielder.

Taking back two developing pieces for an underperforming veteran allows New York’s farm system to reload with long-term organizational talent without sacrificing immediate flexibility.

MLB announced the postponement of Tuesday’s game due to heavy rain in the New York area. According to reports, including from the New York Post‘s Jon Heyman, the teams will make up the game as part of a split doubleheader on Wednesday, with Game 1 starting at 1:05 p.m. ET and Game 2 following at 7:05 p.m. ET.

While weather delays are an inevitable part of a grueling 162-game season, the Yankees enter Wednesday holding the series upper hand after taking Monday’s opener 8–5, fueled by a monster two-homer night from Jazz Chisholm Jr.

Monday’s opener also featured a heated eighth-inning incident where the benches cleared following an exchange between Jose Caballero and Pirates reliever Dennis Santana, adding an extra layer of tension heading into Wednesday’s day-night twin bill.

NY Yankees’ postponed games in the regular season

Weather postponements have been relatively rare for New York this season, marking just their second rained-out contest of the year. Unusually, however, both postponements forced the Yankees into playing doubleheaders twice in less than a week.

Just days prior, New York split a split doubleheader against the Los Angeles Dodgers, dropping Game 1 8–2 before bouncing back for a 2–1 victory in the nightcap. The Yankees hope that experience works in their favor as they aim to wrap up a series win over Pittsburgh.

The Pirates, meanwhile, are well-versed in day-night doubleheaders, with Wednesday marking their third of the month following previous twin bills against the Milwaukee Brewers (a sweep for Pittsburgh) and the Cleveland Guardians (a split).

“If you get frustrated, I’m winning,” Caballero said after the game, via MLB.com. “For me, it’s a battle in the box. I’m trying to win the battle. If you’re not concentrating 100%, I think I’m winning.”

The incident began after home-plate umpire Paul Clemons waved off a pitch earlier in the at-bat. Caballero eventually grounded into an inning-ending double play, but as the play concluded, Santana confronted him near first base, prompting players from both teams to leave their dugouts before the situation was quickly defused.

Why did the Yankees and Pirates benches clear?

Santana explained that his frustration centered on the pace of the at-bat rather than anything personal toward Caballero. “It was the game speed. I’m not used to that,” Santana said. “People waiting too much at home plate; it frustrated me a little bit. With baseball, you have to be quick. It’s nothing against him. It’s just a game. I got caught up in the game.”

According to Santana, his message to Caballero was simply that he shouldn’t take so long to get set in the batter’s box. Caballero later said he couldn’t hear exactly what Santana was saying during the exchange.

Aaron Boone defends Jose Caballero’s approach

Manager Aaron Boone backed his infielder after the game. “It’s a weird timing thing for guys,” Boone said. “When not a lot of guys do it, it can catch you off guard a little bit. Frankly, I think more guys should explore it. That way, you take the pitcher out of having all the ability to disrupt timing.”

After allowing nine combined runs in his previous two starts, Skenes bounced back with another overpowering performance despite taking the loss. “That’s cool,” Skenes said according to MLB.com. “There’s a lot of baseball left.”

Following the game, the right-hander reacted calmly after learning he now owns the fourth-best ERA by any pitcher before turning 24 with at least 300 innings pitched, as manager Don Kelly recently reacted after Paul Skenes flirts with no-hitter.

The outing lowered Skenes’ ERA to 2.89 on the season while improving his career ERA to 2.12. The only pitchers ahead of him on the all-time list are names from baseball’s early decades, including Hall of Famer Babe Ruth.

Skenes dominates early against Cubs lineup

Skenes wasted little time establishing control against Chicago. The flamethrowing right-hander retired the first eight batters he faced and struck out seven of the first eight hitters, repeatedly generating swings and misses with his sweeper and overpowering fastball.

His seven strikeouts through the first three innings tied a career high, matching marks he previously reached during his rookie season. Skenes also continued his remarkable success in night games this season, entering Thursday with a 0.51 ERA under the lights compared to a much higher daytime ERA.

Despite allowing only three hits through four innings, Skenes admitted afterward that his pitch count climbed because of inconsistent command. “Coming out of the gate was pretty good,” Skenes said. “I think there were times throughout the game where it was kind of hit and miss, but for the most part found ways to get outs.”

Pirates continue searching for consistency behind Skenes

The Cubs finally broke through in the fourth inning after Michael Busch walked and Seiya Suzuki delivered an RBI bloop single to give Chicago a 1-0 lead. Skenes later ran into trouble again in the sixth inning before manager Don Kelly visited the mound with reliever Mason Montgomery warming in the bullpen.

Although Skenes exited after an infield error allowed another run to score, both sixth-inning runs were ruled unearned. Pittsburgh’s bullpen later surrendered additional insurance runs, including a two-run homer from Ian Happ, as the Pirates settled for a split in the four-game series against their NL Central rivals.

As Skenes continued overpowering Colorado’s lineup throughout the game, Kelly admitted the possibility of a historic performance crossed his mind while watching from the dugout. “Paul is capable of pitching like this every time out. But, yeah, it crossed my mind that he might get (a no-hitter),” Kelly said according to MLB.com, after Skenes struck out 10 batters across eight scoreless innings.

The Pirates right-hander retired the first 14 hitters he faced and struck out the first six batters of the game before Mickey Moniak broke up the no-hit bid with a single in the seventh inning, as Nolan McLean chases Paul Skenes in the NL Cy Young race.

Skenes dominates Rockies lineup in another historic performance

Skenes controlled the game from the opening inning, consistently generating swings and misses while showcasing elite command throughout the outing. The 2024 National League Rookie of the Year allowed only two hits and did not issue a walk while throwing 98 pitches over eight innings.

Skenes continues building elite MLB resume

The dominant outing added to an already historic stretch for Skenes, who continues establishing himself as one of baseball’s top pitchers. Despite the near no-hitter, Skenes said he was not thinking about the milestone early in the game.

“No. Just because it’s so early,” Skenes said. “There’s a lot of game left at that point.” The Pirates received offensive contributions from Nick Gonzales, Brandon Lowe, and Bryan Reynolds, while Gregory Soto secured the save in the ninth inning.

According to Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reporter Colin Beazley on X, Kelly explained that the decision was based on what he saw late in the game. “Don Kelly said he noticed Paul Skenes’ command and velo drop a little bit in the eighth, leading to the decision to pull him,” Beazley reported. “Skenes struck out the side in the eighth. Just three hitters reached three-ball counts in the game, including two in the eighth.”

Even with the slight dip in command, Skenes still delivered a highly efficient performance, limiting Arizona to minimal traffic on the bases and maintaining control of the game from start to finish. His outing lowered his ERA to 2.36 and improved his record to 5–2, further cementing his role as the anchor of Pittsburgh’s rotation as Mets’ Nolan McLean chases Skenes in the NL Cy Young race.

Pirates prioritize long-term health over complete game

The Pirates’ decision to pull Skenes reflected a clear focus on long-term durability rather than chasing a complete game. Although the right-hander finished the eighth inning by striking out the side, the team noticed subtle signs that suggested fatigue.

Only three Diamondbacks hitters reached three-ball counts during the entire game, but two of them came in the eighth inning. That detail, combined with a small drop in velocity, was enough for Pittsburgh’s coaching staff to act conservatively.

Kelly’s approach highlights how carefully the Pirates are managing their young ace during a season in which he remains central to their long-term plans. Rather than risk unnecessary workload, the organization chose to rely on its bullpen to close out a game they were already controlling.

Skenes continues to lead Pirates’ rotation

Even in a shortened outing, Skenes once again showed why he is considered one of the most important pitchers in the National League. His ability to dominate deep into games has become a consistent theme this season, giving Pittsburgh a reliable foundation every time he takes the mound.

The Pirates improved to 20–17 with the win and continue to stay competitive in a tight NL Central race. While Skenes’ dominance is a major reason for their success, the team’s willingness to manage his workload carefully could be just as important over the course of the season.

After news broke that Tarik Skubal is set to miss multiple weeks due to injury, the spotlight now shifts to the Pirates. MLB reduced Devenski’s suspension to two games after an initial three-game ruling, while Kelly will miss one game. Both also received fines. “Going hard inside to start an at-bat… just trying to execute my pitch,” Devenski said, according to MLB.com, making it clear he did not believe the throw was intentional.

The moment occurred during the seventh inning, when a pitch inside caused Stewart to lose his helmet and react with frustration. After a brief discussion among the umpires, the decision was made to eject Devenski, which later led to the suspension.

Umpires explain decision after reviewing the situation

Crew chief Alan Porter said the ruling was based on the full sequence of events during the at-bat. “We believe he threw it at him intentionally. That’s why we ejected him,” Porter explained.

After the ejection, Yohan Ramirez entered the game and finished the inning. Despite the tension, Pittsburgh went on to secure a convincing 17-7 win, completing a strong series against Cincinnati.

Pirates must adjust with bullpen already under pressure

The suspensions come at a challenging time for Pittsburgh, as the team has relied heavily on its bullpen early in the season. Through 35 games, the Pirates’ relievers have already logged one of the highest inning totals in the league.

That puts more responsibility on starters like Paul Skenes, Mitch Keller, and Bubba Chandler to provide length in upcoming games. The team will look to manage its pitching carefully while Devenski serves his suspension.

Devenski, a veteran with more than a decade in the majors, has made three appearances for Pittsburgh this season, allowing two earned runs in limited innings. Even with a short suspension, his absence adds another test for a team trying to maintain stability on the mound.

“He’s going to be the face of the Pirates for a long time,” Skenes said about Griffin, via reporter Justin Guerriero on X. Just six games into his MLB career, Griffin put pen to paper on the biggest contract in franchise history.

Skenes’ comments set off the alarms in Pittsburgh. Many fans believe Skenes is the face of the franchise and will be that way for the remainder of his career, regardless of how great Griffin—the No. 1 prospect in MLB—turns out to be. However, the star starting pitcher’s statement has now left his future up in the air.

Either he believes Griffin is a better player than him, or he believes the Pirates won’t be good anytime soon and he won’t stay in town for long. Even if Skenes wanted out of Pittsburgh, though, his contract situation makes things more complicated. It’s not like a public comment in April 2026 will immediately set him free.

Skenes’ contract with Pirates

Back in July of 2023, Skenes was signed to a record-setting $9.2 million signing bonus. Since then, he’s been playing on pre-arbitration one-year contracts with a rising salary. Skenes will become eligible for arbitration for the first time ahead of the 2027 MLB season.

Pittsburgh has its ace signed to a extremely team-friendly deal, but Skenes will demand proper compensation soon. If the Pirates don’t offer him a deal he believes is aligned with his value, he might push to be traded. Moreover, Pittsburgh has set a precedent with Griffin’s contract, and it may have handed Skenes a blueprint for the starting pitcher to craft his ideal extension.

Can Skenes leave Pittsburgh?

The Louisiana State University alum will become an unrestricted free agent following the 2029 campaign. In the meantime, he could ask for a trade out of Pittsburgh. That’s about the only option he has to skip town.

The alternative route requires the Pirates to not tender Skenes and allow him to sign with another organization. The odds of that are slim, likely on par with the chances of an average human getting a hit off a fastball from Skenes.

Thus, even if his latest comment could be interpreted as a hint of his future exit, fans in the Burgh can remain calm that if Skenes leaves, it won’t be anytime soon. Now is not the time to hit the panic button. At least, not yet.

The $140 million deal marks the largest investment in a single player in Pirates history, shattering the previous record held by Bryan Reynolds. For a franchise often criticized for its spending habits, this move signals a bold new era under the current front office.

Griffin’s extension is a landmark moment for the organization. After revealing how he felt after his Pirates debut, he also made history by committing nine figures to the 19-year-old and with it, Pittsburgh has completely reset its internal pay scale. Griffin now sits alone at the top of the Pirates’ all-time richest contracts:

Early returns for Pirates with Griffin

While Griffin is still finding his power stroke at the Major League level, his presence in the lineup has been an immediate catalyst. Through his first five games, the Pirates have surged to a 4-1 record.

Griffin is currently batting his way through the early-season adjustment period, posting a .300 OBP with three hits and three RBIs. Though he has yet to record his first career home run or stolen base, his plate discipline and ability to drive in runs in clutch situations have already validated the hype.

The road ahead

A contract of this magnitude naturally brings immense pressure, but the young shortstop seems unfazed by the spotlight. “He hasn’t even scratched the surface of his potential,” one scout noted.

If Griffin develops into the five-tool superstar the Pirates are betting on, this $140 million price tag might eventually look like a bargain. For a city hungry for a deep October run, the message is clear: the Pirates are no longer just developing talent, they’re keeping it.

“It was awesome,” Griffin said, according to MLB.com. “Getting a win, as well, was the cherry on top. That was hands down one of the best days of my life.” The 19-year-old shortstop also acknowledged the Pirates organization and scout Darren Mazeroski, who signed him after taking a chance on the young prospect.

Griffin’s ascent to the majors has been impressive. Considered a five-tool player, he slashed .438/.571/.625 in five Triple-A games this season and hit .333 with 21 home runs, 94 RBIs, and 65 stolen bases in 122 games last year, earning Baseball America’s Minor League Player of the Year award.

His debut made him the youngest Pirate to collect a hit in an MLB debut since Bill Mazeroski in 1956, with Pittsburgh’s rising talent drawing wider attention as NY Yankees keep eyes on Paul Skenes.

Immediate impact at the plate

In his first at-bat, Griffin crushed a 1-2 curveball from Orioles starter Kyle Bradish into the left-center-field gap at 105.8 mph, scoring on a single by Jared Triolo. The double ignited a four-run second inning, giving starter Mitch Keller a comfortable lead to work with.

A moment to remember

Beyond the numbers, Griffin focused on savoring the moment. “Running onto the field, hearing my name called, I tried to just be present. I couldn’t really feel my feet much, but I just tried to be where my feet were and enjoy the moment,” he said.

Griffin also honored Bill Mazeroski’s legacy and acknowledged Darren Mazeroski’s role in his journey, highlighting the personal meaning behind his historic debut.