The Pirates split the first 2 games of this series in jarring fashion — 11-7 on Monday, then a 0-8 shutout on Tuesday. That whipsaw is Pittsburgh in a nutshell: capable of a genuine offensive explosion one night, completely invisible the next. The bigger issue for this game is what's happened in Skenes starts specifically. The Pirates have dropped 7 straight with Skenes on the mound, and his ERA is still 3.10 — this is not a Skenes problem. Pittsburgh has scored 2 or fewer runs in 5 of those 7 games. Going up against a Wheeler who is posting sub-1.00 ERA figures for June is not when that pattern reverses.
- Day-To-DayJared Jones (SP) — no07/01
- Day-To-DayAnthony Solometo (SP) — Solometo underwent left shoulder labrum surgery and is expected to be sidelined until at least April 2027, Mark Chiarelli of Baseball America reports.06/09
- Day-To-DayMitch Jebb (LF)
- Day-To-DaySean Sullivan (SP) — Pirates director of sports medicine Todd Tomczyk said Wednesday that Sullivan is battling right elbow soreness, Andrew Destin of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.05/08
- 10-Day-ILSpencer Horwitz (1B) — Pirates general manager Ben Cherington said Sunday that Horwitz (hamstring) will remain sidelined for "weeks, not days," and the first baseman isn't expected to return from the 10-day injured list until after the All-Star break, Colin Beazley of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.06/28
- 10-Day-ILOneil Cruz (CF) — Pirates general manager Ben Cherington said Sunday that he expects Cruz (hand) to return from the 10-day injured list at some point in July, most likely after the All-Star break, Colin Beazley of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.06/28
- 15-Day-ILWilber Dotel (RP) — Dotel (lat) will begin a rehab assignment at Double-A Altoona on Saturday, Kevin Gorman of TribLive.com reports.06/27
- 60-Day-ILChris Devenski (RP) — Devenski (illness) was transferred from the 15-day IL to the 60-day IL on Sunday.06/07
- Day-To-DayLiover Peguero (SS) — The Phillies reassigned Peguero to minor-league camp Sunday.06/18
- Day-To-DayAndrew Walling (RP)
- Day-To-DayCarson DeMartini (SS)
- Day-To-DayDaniel Robert (RP) — Robert suffered a cardiac incident Sunday while preparing to throw a bullpen session and was taken to a local hospital, Matt Gelb of The Athletic reports.05/08
- Day-To-DayMark Kolozsvary (C) — Kolozsvary (undisclosed) agreed to a minor-league contract with the Phillies on Friday that includes an invitation to spring training, Will Sammon of The Athletic reports.05/08
- 15-Day-ILBrad Keller (RP) — Keller (forearm) completed a live batting practice session Tuesday, Scott Lauber of The Philadelphia Inquirer reports.06/30
- 60-Day-ILJohan Rojas (CF) — Rojas (suspension) underwent surgery Friday to repair the UCL in his right elbow and will face an expected recovery timeline of 6-to-8 months, Scott Lauber of The Philadelphia Inquirer reports.06/25
- 60-Day-ILAdolis Garcia (RF) — The Phillies announced that Garcia underwent successful surgery Wednesday to repair a torn right lat, Lochlahn March of The Philadelphia Inquirer reports.06/24
Pittsburgh is also missing 2 of its better bats. Oneil Cruz (hand) and Spencer Horwitz (hamstring) are both expected to be out past the All-Star break, per GM Ben Cherington. That's a power bat in center field and a first baseman who was contributing — both gone. The Phillies have their own IL names — Adolis Garcia and Johan Rojas are on the 60-day — but those losses sting less when Wheeler is doing what he's been doing and Philadelphia is at home with a 48-38 record. The Phillies haven't run away with the NL East, but a series at home against a shorthanded Pirates club is one they need.