The Reds exploded for 14 runs, stamping a decisive road win at Pittsburgh as Elly De La Cruz kicked things off with an RBI single and Miguel Andujar followed with a three‑run homer. Cincinnati never let up, with Noelvi Marte and Spencer Steer padding the cushion and Steer delivering a two‑run double before later adding a two‑run homer for insurance. Pittsburgh battled back briefly, tying the game on timely hits and a Kasper-like run, but the Reds pulled away late with a multi‑run eighth. The slugfest underscored Cincinnati’s breakout push and highlighted several players fantasy managers will want to chase down the stretch.

Key contributors for Cincinnati: De La Cruz, Andujar, Marte, and Steer supplied the offense in waves, while Yohan Ramírez yielded early damage before the bullpen steadied. For Pittsburgh, Jack Suwinski and Bryan Reynolds contributed, Isiah Kiner-Falefa lined a two‑run double and Spencer Horwitz added a run‑scoring single, but the late surge by Cincinnati overwhelmed the Pirates. The final 14‑8 tilt leaves Cincinnati at 62‑57 and Pittsburgh at 51‑68, with the Reds asserting themselves as legitimate playoff hopefuls in this intraleague showdown.

Fantasy takeaway: buy into Reds bats now—De La Cruz, Marte, Andujar, and Steer have multi‑hitter upside, while the depth of Cincinnati’s lineup supports weekly streaming. For Pittsburgh, streaming opportunities are slimmer but situational plays like Suwinski and Reynolds can still help in deeper formats, especially when they face righty‑heavy matches. Target the Reds’ ongoing power surge and monitor bullpen usage as Cincinnati looks to push this run production trend forward.

The Cincinnati Reds outslugged the Pittsburgh Pirates 14-8 to take a 2-2 split in the four-game set. Miguel Andújar delivered his first Reds homer, a three-run shot that sparked a four-run second inning, and he helped spark a decisive rally in the sixth. Spencer Steer and Noelvi Marte each collected three hits and four RBIs, with Steer delivering a go-ahead two-run double in the sixth and a two-run homer in the eighth, while Marte added a tiebreaking double in the sixth and belted a three-run homer in the ninth. Elly De La Cruz and Andújar started the sixth with back-to-back singles to breathe life into Cincinnati. Pittsburgh mounted a late charge, cutting the deficit to 9-8 in the eighth, but Graham Ashcraft struck out Jared Triolo with a runner aboard to quell the threat. The Reds piled on with a five-run ninth as Marte launched a three-run homer. The game featured 30 total hits, with Isiah Kiner-Falefa leading Pittsburgh with three hits and two RBIs. Reds pitcher Zach Littell gave up four runs in 1 1/3 innings, while Cincinnati starter Zach Littell and Scott Barlow (6-0) were part of a rocky early stretch for the Reds' bullpen. Cincinnati stretched its streak of not being swept in 40 straight series dating back to last season, and now heads into a three-game home set with Philadelphia behind Andrew Abbott in a marquee pitching matchup against Taijuan Walker.

The Pittsburgh Pirates are charting a course towards 2026, marked clearly by their recent trade decisions. The organization parted with closer David Bednar and third baseman Ke'Bryan Hayes, signaling a transition from immediate competition to a long-term strategy. This shift is felt particularly by pitcher Paul Skenes, the team's standout this season with a remarkable 2.02 ERA and 154 strikeouts, who expressed a commitment to winning despite the challenges ahead.

Skenes emphasized that progress will not solely be measured by wins and losses. Instead, the focus will be on development and building a stronger team for the next season. The team has already identified the need to bolster its offense and sees the trades as a step towards acquiring better hitters in the offseason. However, the decision to retain veterans like Isiah Kiner-Falefa and Tommy Pham has drawn mixed reactions.

The New York Yankees are actively exploring potential trades as the MLB deadline approaches, eyeing five players from the Pittsburgh Pirates. Among these prospects is Ke'Bryan Hayes, who would strategically address the Yankees' third base vacancy. While the Yankees consider alternatives like Eugenio Suárez and Ryan McMahon, Hayes presents a significant upgrade. Additionally, they are interested in acquiring hard-throwing relievers David Bednar and Dennis Santana, as well as the promising starter Mitch Keller. Former Yankees utility player Isiah Kiner-Falefa is also on their radar as a versatile option. The likelihood of completing multiple trades is slim, but at least one deal with the Pirates seems plausible.

Pittsburgh Pirates' Isiah Kiner-Falefa was denied a hit by an incredible diving catch from Chicago White Sox center fielder Luis Robert Jr. during a recent game, as noted by starting pitcher Jonathan Cannon. Robert's defensive prowess, particularly in center field, has raised questions about his future with the Sox as the July 31 trade deadline approaches. The White Sox currently sit at 33-65, prompting speculation about potential trades. Assistant GM Josh Barfield indicated that the team may be active in the market, especially for pitching, with Adrian Houser being a standout performer since joining the Sox.

The White Sox management is considering how to balance the protection of their young pitchers with acquiring assets that can help the team in the future. Manager Will Venable also emphasized the need to keep players focused amidst trade rumors, recognizing that such distractions can impact performance. The recent placement of All-Star pitcher Shane Smith on the IL adds to the urgency for the Sox to evaluate their roster strategies.