July 7, 2025 4:43 am
PITTSBURGH — Pirates star Paul Skenes has been named to the National League All-Star team for the second year in a row. Skenes, 23, joins only two other starting Pirates pitchers in being selected for the All-Star game in at least two straight seasons. Bob Veale made the team in 1965 and 1966 and Rip Sewell was selected in 1943, 1944 and 1946. There was no All-Star game in 1945. He is ranked first in the league in ERA (2.03) and batting average against (.182). He is tied at sixth for strikeouts. Skenes was the first Pirates rookie pitcher to be selected for the game. He was the starter in that game. The All-Star game will be held at Truist Park on July 15.
July 7, 2025 4:40 am
SEATTLE (AP) — Pittsburgh Pirates center fielder Oneil Cruz made a 105.2 mph throw to nab Seattle’s J.P. Crawford at the plate, the second-hardest thrown ball to produce an outfield assist since Statcast started tracking in 2015. The fastest throw from the outfield that produced an out in Major League Baseball’s Statcast era was 105.5 mph by Aaron Hicks of the New York Yankees in 2016. Cruz’s throw on Sunday was the fastest of any kind by a Pirates outfielder. The one-hopper to the plate came as a surprise to Crawford, who did not slide on the play. The Pirates lost to the Mariners 1-0.
July 7, 2025 4:44 am
WASHINGTON (AP) — Manager Dave Martinez and general manager Mike Rizzo have been fired by the Washington Nationals amid their sixth consecutive losing season since they won the 2019 World Series. The move came hours after a 6-4 loss in Washington on Sunday completed a sweep by the Boston Red Sox. The Nationals are 37-53 and last in their division. The only National League club with a worse record in 2025 is the Colorado Rockies. Rizzo had overseen the roster since 2009, and Martinez had been in the dugout since 2018. This was his first managing job at any level of baseball.
July 6, 2025 7:23 am
(AP) The Pittsburgh Pirates hit the road against the Seattle Mariners looking to break a four-game road losing streak. Seattle has a 24-21 record at home and a 47-42 record overall. The Mariners have gone 33-7 in games when they scored five or more runs. Pittsburgh has gone 12-31 in road games and 38-52 overall. The Pirates are 13-35 in games when they have given up at least one home run. Sunday’s game is the third time these teams match up this season. Cal Raleigh leads the Mariners with 35 home runs while slugging .646. Randy Arozarena is 13 for 40 with five home runs and 10 RBIs over the past 10 games. Oneil Cruz leads the Pirates with 15 home runs while slugging .408. Ke’Bryan Hayes is 13 for 38 with three doubles and seven RBIs over the last 10 games. In their last ten games, the Mariners are 6-4, with a .254 batting average, 2.74 ERA, and they have outscored opponents by one run. The Pirates are 6-4 in their last ten, with a .253 batting average, 2.20 ERA, and have outscored opponents by 24 runs.
July 5, 2025 4:16 am
Famed competitive eater Joey “Jaws” Chestnut has reclaimed his title at the Nathan’s Famous Fourth of July hot dog eating contest after skipping last year’s event. The 41-year-old from Westfield, Indiana, secured his 17th Mustard Belt in 20 appearances before cheering fans at Coney Island in Brooklyn, New York. He had missed the 2024 competition over a contract dispute involving a deal he had struck with a competing brand, the plant-based meat company Impossible Foods. Defending champion Miki Sudo won her 11th title in the women’s division. The event, held outside the original Nathan’s Famous restaurant, dates back to 1972 and draws large crowds of fans.
July 5, 2025 3:50 am
PITTSBURGH (AP) — The Pittsburgh Steelers signed general manager Omar Khan to a three-year extension Thursday after an offseason that saw the team bring in quarterback Aaron Rodgers. The Steelers announced the deal that will keep Khan with Pittsburgh through the 2028 season. He was hired as the team’s GM in 2022. Khan and coach Mike Tomlin are building their offense around Rodgers, the four-time MVP who’s returning for a 21st season. The 41-year-old Rodgers signed a one-year deal after a season in which Justin Fields and Russell Wilson combined to lead the Steelers to a 10-7 record and a playoff berth.
July 4, 2025 3:55 am
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Clayton Kershaw has reached an incredible milestone, becoming the 20th pitcher in MLB history to record 3,000 career strikeouts. On Wednesday night, he struck out Vinny Capra of the Chicago White Sox with a slider in the sixth inning. The 37-year-old Dodgers pitcher joins an elite group, including just three other left-handers, to achieve this feat. Fans at Dodger Stadium gave Kershaw a standing ovation as he tipped his cap and acknowledged his family in the stands. Despite not earning the win, Kershaw expressed gratitude for his teammates and the moment, calling it a special achievement in his 18th season.
July 4, 2025 2:25 am
PITTSBURGH (AP) — The Pirates didn’t look like a last-place team during a 6-0 homestand in which they outscored the New York Mets and St. Louis Cardinals by 43-4. Despite their season-high six-game winning streak, the Pirates are 38-50 — including 26-24 since Don Kelly was promoted from bench coach on May 8 after manager Derek Shelton was fired. Pittsburgh was 14 games behind the NL Central-leading Chicago Cubs entering play on Wednesday. The Pirates became the first team since at least 1901 to score 43 runs or more and allow four runs or fewer in a six-game span.
July 3, 2025 4:39 am
NEW YORK (AP) — The Los Angeles Dodgers will have three fan-elected starters in the All-Star Game, with first baseman Freddie Freeman and catcher Will Smith joining designated hitter Shohei Ohtani as winners in final ballot totals. Detroit will have three fan-picked starters for the first time since 2007 after second baseman Gleyber Torres along with outfielders Riley Greene and Javier Báez were voted in at their positions for the July 15 game at Atlanta’s Truist Park. Pete Crow-Armstrong and Kyle Tucker of the Chicago Cubs were picked for the NL outfield along with Ronald Acuña Jr. of the host Braves.
