PITTSBURGH PIRATES NEWS

Rowdy Tellez - Idle Wednesday Tellez isn't in the Pirates' lineup Wednesday versus Houston.

Impact Left-hander Framber Valdez will start on the mound for the Astros on Wednesday, meaning the lefty-hitting Tellez will head to the bench to begin the game. Connor Joe will get the starting nod at first base instead and bat third.

JULY 31 • ROTOWIRE

Joshua Palacios - Placed on injured list The Pirates placed Palacios on the 10-day injured list Wednesday with a left hamstring strain, Noah Hiles of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.

Impact Palacios made an early exit from Monday's game versus the Astros due to a hamstring injury, and it will now officially cause him to miss at least the first portion of August. Bryan De La Cruz was officially activated to fill the open roster spot, and he figures to take over as Pittsburgh's primary right fielder.

JULY 31 • ROTOWIRE

New-look Pirates vie for series sweep of Astros After executing several trades over the past couple of days to fortify their roster and confirm a commitment to pursue a postseason berth, t...

JULY 31 • NEWSOBSERVER.COM

Pittsburgh Pirates at Houston Astros odds, picks and predictions The Houston Astros (55-52) welcome the Pittsburgh Pirates (55-52) to Minute Maid Park Wednesday for the finale of their 3-game series. First...

JULY 31 • AZCENTRAL.COM

Pirates trade deadline: 3 takeaways from Ben Cherington's moves HOUSTON — For the past few months, Ben Cherington has fielded hundreds of questions about his strategy for the then-approaching trade deadli...

JULY 31 • POST-GAZETTE.COM

Astros play the Pirates after Diaz's 4-hit game

The Houston Astros take on the Pittsburgh Pirates after Yainer Diaz had four hits against the Pirates on Tuesday

JULY 31 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

How to Watch Astros vs. Pirates: TV Channel & Live Stream - July 31

Preview the July 31 matchup between the Houston Astros and Pittsburgh Pirates with recent trends, how to watch, livestream info, and more.

JULY 31 • DATA SKRIVE

Endy Rodríguez - Hitting from both sides of plate Rodriguez (elbow) has resumed hitting off a tee from the right side of the plate, MLB.com reports.

Impact Rodriguez resumed swinging from the left side of the plate in early July, so this marks another step forward in his recovery. He was originally ruled out for the entire 2024 season, though it's now possible that he will serve as the designated hitter in minor-league games late in the campaign.

JULY 31 • ROTOWIRE

Endy Rodríguez - Hitting from both sides of plate Rodriguez (elbow) has resumed hitting off a tee from the right side of the plate, MLB.com reports.

Impact Rodriguez resumed swinging from the left side of the plate in early July, so this marks another step forward in his recovery. He was originally ruled out for the entire 2024 season, though it's now possible that he will serve as the designated hitter in minor-league games late in the campaign.

JULY 31 • ROTOWIRE

Hunter Stratton - Closes out victory Stratton allowed two hits and struck out two over one inning Tuesday against the Astros.

Impact Stratton made his first appearance since being activated from the injured list and worked the ninth inning in a non-save situation. Both Aroldis Chapman and David Bednar were likely unavailable, though Stratton should work in some high-leverage spots in the final two months of the season.

JULY 31 • ROTOWIRE

Hunter Stratton - Closes out victory Stratton allowed two hits and struck out two Tuesday against the Astros.

Impact Stratton made his first appearance since being activated from the injured list and worked the ninth inning in a non-save situation. Both Aroldis Chapman and David Bednar were likely unavailable, though Stratton should work in some high-leverage spots in the final two months of the season.

JULY 31 • ROTOWIRE

Jared Jones - Another bullpen session Jones (lat) threw a 38-pitch bullpen session Tuesday, Noah Hiles of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.

Impact This marked Jones' second bullpen session since landing on the injured list, and he threw all pitches in his arsenal. He'll throw a live bullpen session during the team's upcoming homestand and could head out for a rehab assignment shortly thereafter.

JULY 31 • ROTOWIRE

Jared Jones - Another bullpen session Jones (lat) threw a 38-pitch bullpen session Tuesday, Noah Hiles of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.

Impact This marked Jones' second bullpen session since landing on the injured list, and he threw all pitches in his arsenal. He'll throw a live bullpen session during the team's upcoming homestand and could head out for a rehab assignment shortly thereafter.

JULY 31 • ROTOWIRE

Pittsburgh Pirates at Houston Astros Preview - 07/31/2024 This browser does not support the video element.

JULY 31 • MLB.COM

Connor Joe - Racks up three hits Joe went 3-for-4 with a run scored in Tuesday's 6-2 win over the Astros.

Impact Joe notched his first multi-hit game since June 26. The 31-year-old is batting a meager .224 (11-for-49) in July, and just two of those hits have gone for extra bases. For the season, he's slashing .244/.325/.383 with seven home runs, 31 RBI, 42 runs scored and two stolen bases across 332 plate appearances. Joe got the start in right field Tuesday, but he'll likely be back in a short-side platoon role at first base once outfielder Bryan De La Cruz reports to the Pirates after they acquired him in a trade with the Marlins earlier in the day.

JULY 31 • ROTOWIRE

Connor Joe - Racks up three hits Joe went 3-for-4 with a run scored in Tuesday's 6-2 win over the Astros.

Impact Joe notched his first multi-hit game since June 26. The 31-year-old is batting a meager .224 (11-for-49) in July, and just two of those hits have gone for extra bases. For the season, he's slashing .244/.325/.383 with seven home runs, 31 RBI, 42 runs scored and two stolen bases across 332 plate appearances. Joe got the start in right field Tuesday, but he'll likely be back in a short-side platoon role at first base once outfielder Bryan De La Cruz reports to the Pirates after they acquired him in a trade with the Marlins earlier in the day.

JULY 31 • ROTOWIRE

Michael A. Taylor - Homers again Tuesday Taylor went 1-for-4 with a two-run home run in Tuesday's 6-2 win over the Astros.

Impact Taylor gave the Pirates some breathing room with his sixth-inning homer. He's doubled his homer total for the year over the last two days, hitting one in each of his last two games to give him four on the year. The veteran outfielder is up to a .209/.269/.314 slash line with 19 RBI, 26 runs scored and nine stolen bases across 216 plate appearances. If he can build on his recent improvements at the plate, Taylor will likely see an increased role.

JULY 31 • ROTOWIRE

Michael A. Taylor - Homers again Tuesday Taylor went 1-for-4 with a two-run home run in Tuesday's 6-2 win over the Astros.

Impact Taylor gave the Pirates some breathing room with his sixth-inning homer. He's doubled his homer total for the year over the last two days, hitting one in each of his last two games to give him four on the year. The veteran outfielder is up to a .209/.269/.314 slash line with 19 RBI, 26 runs scored and nine stolen bases across 216 plate appearances. If he can build on his recent improvements at the plate, Taylor will likely see an increased role.

JULY 31 • ROTOWIRE

Jake Woodford - Set to start Wednesday Woodford will start Wednesday's game versus the Astros, Alex Stumpf of MLB.com reports.

Impact Woodford had started seven games for Triple-A Indianapolis after joining the Pirates on a minor-league deal in June, putting up a 2.29 ERA, 1.03 WHIP and 37:5 K:BB over 35.1 innings. His excellent performance earned him a promotion to the big-league roster Tuesday, and he's now set to make his first start in the big leagues since June 6. The 27-year-old righty gave up 10 runs in 8.1 frames across his two starts with the White Sox, but his recent hot streak may translate into major-league success with Pittsburgh. It's unclear if the Pirates have any plans to include Woodford in the rotation beyond Wednesday.

JULY 31 • ROTOWIRE

Jake Woodford - Set to start Wednesday Woodford will start Wednesday's game versus the Astros, Alex Stumpf of MLB.com reports.

Impact Woodford has started seven games for Indianapolis since signing a minor-league deal with the Pirates in June, putting up a 2.29 ERA and 1.03 WHIP alongside a 37:5 K:BB. His drastic turnaround earned him a spot on the big-league roster Tuesday, and he's now set to make his first start in the big leagues since June 6. The 27-year-old righty gave up 10 runs in 8.1 frames across his two starts with the White Sox, but his recent hot streak may translate into major-league success with Pittsburgh.

JULY 31 • ROTOWIRE

Bailey Falter - Earns win in return Falter (5-7) allowed two runs (one earned) on six hits and struck out three without walking a batter over 5.1 innings to earn the win over the Astros on Tuesday.

Impact Falter missed most of July while recovering from left triceps tendinitis. He was good in his return, though he allowed a home run to Yainer Diaz. Falter threw 47 of his 66 pitches for strikes, so it may take him another couple of starts to get fully stretched out. The southpaw now has a 3.95 ERA, 1.19 WHIP and 64:28 K:BB through 95.2 innings over 18 starts this season. His next outing is projected to be at home versus the Padres.

JULY 31 • ROTOWIRE

Bailey Falter - Earns win in return Falter (5-7) allowed two runs (one earned) on six hits and struck out three without walking a batter over 5.1 innings to earn the win over the Astros on Tuesday.

Impact Falter missed most of July while recovering from left triceps tendinitis. He was good in his return, though he allowed a home run to Yainer Diaz. Falter threw 47 of his 66 pitches for strikes, so it may take him another couple of starts to get fully stretched out. The southpaw now has a 3.95 ERA, 1.19 WHIP and 64:28 K:BB through 95.2 innings over 18 starts this season. His next outing is projected to be at home versus the Padres.

JULY 31 • ROTOWIRE

Michael A. Taylor's latest homer lifts Pirates over Astros again Michael A.Taylor homered for the second consecutive game and left-hander Bailey Falter excelled in his return from the injured list as the v...

JULY 31 • SUNHERALD.COM

Taylor HRs in 2nd straight game, Falter is strong in return to rotation as Pirates stop Astros 6-2

Michael Taylor homered for the second straight game, Bailey Falter returned to the rotation and threw one-run ball into the sixth inning as the Pittsburgh Pirates beat the Houston...

JULY 31 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Bailey Falter shines in return from injured list, pitches Pirates to series victory over Astros HOUSTON — Bailey Falter had nowhere to be Tuesday evening. Pitching in the second of a three game set on the road, his club wasn’t scheduled...

JULY 31 • POST-GAZETTE.COM