The Pittsburgh Pirates edged out the Chicago Cubs 2-1 in an extra inning thriller at Wrigley Field on Friday. Paul Skenes showcased his talent on the mound, throwing 5.0 scoreless innings before leaving the game without a decision. Isiah Kiner-Falefa's sacrifice fly in the top of the 10th inning proved decisive, securing the victory for the Pirates. The Pirates will look to continue their momentum against the Cubs, who currently lead the NL Central, in Saturday's matchup.

As the Yankees navigate their infield challenges, former Mets GM Zack Scott suggests potential trade targets including Isiah Kiner-Falefa, who has been performing well with the Pirates. Scott notes that Kiner-Falefa's defensive versatility could bring stability to New York’s infield. He also mentions Rockies' Ryan McMahon as a surprising option, while acknowledging the difficulty in acquiring Cardinals' Nolan Arenado due to St. Louis's success. Additionally, Scott considers Mets' Jeff McNeil as a valuable asset for the Yankees' roster needs.

The Yankees are monitoring their infield closely as Jazz Chisholm Jr. returns from injury, allowing DJ LeMahieu to take his preferred spot at second base. If LeMahieu struggles to maintain performance, the Yankees may have to pursue external help to bolster their infield options and maintain competitiveness.

The Pittsburgh Pirates faced another tough loss, going down 7-1 against the Cincinnati Reds, which puts their record at a dismal 15-33 for the season. This performance places them at the bottom of the NL Central and second-to-last in the National League overall, trailing only the Colorado Rockies. Despite their struggles, they have a bright spot in rookie pitcher Paul Skenes, who is a Cy Young candidate with a season ERA of 2.44 and a WHIP of 0.94, ranking among the best in the league.

Rumors are swirling about Skenes' potential trade value, with experts suggesting that although the Pirates might be sellers at the trade deadline, moving him might not be the right move just yet. Other players like Dennis Santana, Isiah Kiner-Falefa, and Joey Bart could attract interest from contenders looking to bolster their rosters.

Paul Skenes showcased his talents with a strong start for the Pirates, while Isiah Kiner-Falefa made an impressive return from injury by hitting his first home run of the season. Despite these efforts, the Pittsburgh Pirates fell to the New York Mets 4-3 in a walk-off defeat at Citi Field.

The game began with Kiner-Falefa's solo shot in the second, giving the Pirates an early lead. However, the Mets quickly equalized in the fourth with Jeff McNeil's RBI double. The Pirates regained the lead in the seventh, only for the Mets to rally back with a groundout from Juan Soto and then a decisive grounder from Pete Alonso to seal the game.