On deck Tonight: Pittsburgh at Cincinnati,7:10 p.m. Pitching matchup: Pirates RHPJameson Taillon (6-7) vs. Reds RHP Tyler Mahle (7-7) TV: AT&T SportsNet The Associated Press CHICAGO — Mookie Betts and the major league-leading Red Sox are on pace for 100-plus wins. Same for ...

PITTSBURGH — Don’t be mad at Le’Veon Bell. Yes, he’s turned down more money than most of us will ever see. He’s doing that in the hope of breaking the bank as a free agent next summer, which is a risky strategy. But he’s willing to assume that risk, and how can you fault him for ...

By Alan Saunders The Associated Press PITTSBURGH — One late-inning rally wasn’t enough for the Pittsburgh Pirates. Trailing and down to their final out on two occasions, the Pirates managed a 7-6 victory over the Milwaukee Brewers that gave them the first five-game sweep in the majors ...

By John Mehno For the Mirror PITTSBURGH — Austin Meadows had planned on spending the All-Star break relaxing at home with his family. His plans changed radically Sunday morning when the Pirates told him he was headed back to Class AAA Indianapolis. Meadows, who had started just once ...

The Associated Press PITTSBURGH — Once wasn’t enough for Starling Marte and Gregory Polanco. They hit back-to-back home runs for the second time Saturday, and the Pittsburgh Pirates won the second game of a doubleheader 6-2 over the Milwaukee Brewers. With the Pirates leading 3-0 in the ...

By John Mehno For the Mirror PITTSBURGH — Francisco Cervelli is back on the concussion disabled list, possibly raising questions about his future as a catcher. The Pirates announced before Saturday afternoon’s doubleheader against Milwaukee that Cervelli was again on the DL. Jacob ...

PITTSBURGH — Prior to the start of 2018, Colin Moran was a member of the Houston Astros’ world championship team. But Moran wasn’t playing much, and the Pittsburgh Pirates changed all of that last Jan. 13, when they picked him up from the Astros in a five-player trade that sent ...

PITTSBURGH — Josh Bell has had a tough third season at the plate, with an overall drop in production and especially in extra-base hits. Bell might have turned the corner in that department on Friday, with two doubles and a triple as part of his four-hit night that helped Pittsburgh to a 7-3 ...

By John Mehno For the Mirror PITTSBURGH — Clay Holmes gets another chance to start a major league game today. Holmes is slated to pitch the second game of the Pirates’ doubleheader this afternoon against the Milwaukee Brewers. His first start was rocky, to say the least. He started ...

PITTSBURGH — Jameson Taillon let a lead get away in his last start. This time, he had the answer when he got in trouble. Taillon struck out a career-high 10 to lead the Pittsburgh Pirates to a 6-3 victory over the Milwaukee Brewers on Thursday night. “You don’t want to live and die ...

By John Mehno For the Mirror PITTSBURGH — Austin Meadows was on the bench when the Pirates opened their series against the Milwaukee Brewers Thursday night. Could there be a change of address in his immediate future? Although Gregory Polanco sat against lefthanded starter Wade Miley, ...

Notes and observations from a recent trip to Pittsburgh’s PNC Park. PITTSBURGH — The writing is on the wall for the Pittsburgh Pirates. More specifically, for some of the Pirates’ veteran players. With the July 31 non-waiver trade deadline fast approaching, Pirates general manager ...

PITTSBURGH — Starling Marte did not start any of the first three games of July because Pirates manager Clint Hurdle felt his slumping center fielder needed a mental break. The strategy worked, even if Marte still doesn’t agree with it. Marte hit a two-run home run and Trevor Williams ...

PITTSBURGH — Starling Marte recently got a few days off. The Pirates got a better player when Marte returned. The enforced rest has become an occasional tactic for manager Clint Hurdle. He did it a few years ago with Andrew McCutchen, sitting the slumping player for a series in ...

By Alan Saunders The Associated Press PITTSBURGH — Anthony Rendon hit a two-run homer, Daniel Murphy doubled twice and had four hits, and the Washington Nationals beat the Pittsburgh Pirates 5-1 on Tuesday night. Rendon hit his 13th homer off starter Joe Musgrove (3-4) in the fifth ...

By John Mehno For the Mirror PITTSBURGH — Clint Hurdle often jokes that he can count on picking up some lineup suggestions when he visits his neighborhood grocery store. It seems like everyone from the produce guy to the lady ordering at the deli counter to the bagger has an idea about ...

By Alan Saunders The Associated Press PITTSBURGH — Looking for a spark to get his offense going, Pirates manager Clint Hurdle made a change to the top of his batting order by stacking outfielders Corey Dickerson, Starling Marte and Gregory Polanco in the first three spots for the first ...

By John Mehno For the Mirror PITTSBURGH — Considering the Pirates have only carried 12 position players for much of this season, it’s notable that they used their 10th different leadoff hitter Monday night. Corey Dickerson became the latest to occupy the top spot in the batting order ...

PITTSBURGH — With the Pittsburgh Pirates struggling to score runs, rookie pitcher Nick Kingham came through to give himself some run support. Kingham pitched six solid innings and drove in two runs, helping the Pirates avoid a three-game sweep with a 4-1 win against the Philadelphia ...

PITTSBURGH — This week of games could determine which direction the Pirates take for the rest of the season. Their homestand includes three games against Washington, then five against Milwaukee, including a Saturday afternoon doubleheader. “This is a really big week for us,” general ...