Paul Skenes blunted the AL’s best club over six innings, fanning eight while allowing only two runs as the Pirates pulled away 5-2. Pittsburgh benefited from three Toronto errors and Brendon Little’s wild pitch, flipping a tight game in the seventh when Henry Davis doubled to start the rally and Spencer Horwitz added two hits for insurance.

Vladimir Guerrero Jr. plated a run with a fielder’s choice and Bo Bichette delivered a run-scoring single in the third, but Guerrero exited with left hamstring tightness after a long split, tempering Toronto’s push. The benches briefly cleared when Tommy Pham jawed with Tyler Heineman after a walk. Dennis Santana earned the save; Evan Sisk the victory as Pittsburgh snapped a rough stretch. Up next, Scherzer faces Keller in a marquee duel.

Pittsburgh shuffled its order, moving Spencer Horwitz to the two-hole for the first time this season as Ronny Simon leads off, a bold shake-up in a game that pits the Pirates against Brandon Woodruff and Milwaukee in a bid to stave off a sweep after a 14-0 setback.

Simon, recalled from Triple-A Indianapolis after Oneil Cruz landed on the seven-day concussion IL, brings speed and a track record of spark though his big-league path is still unfolding. Horwitz, who’s usually atop the lineup, now occupies a different slot, while he’s shown strong leadoff value (.284/.345/.450) versus weaker cleanup numbers (.205/.276/.282). Kelly’s lineup shuffle signals a proactive chase for offense and a fresh path to production against Milwaukee.

The shift to second and Simon’s top-of-lineupRole anchor could reshape how the Pirates generate runs in this series, with Horwitz’s leadoff-warmth and Simon’s speed providing multi-positional fantasy upside if the arrangement sticks beyond this game. Monitor how this dynamic evolves as Pittsburgh tries to snap an 11-game Brewers streak and avoid slipping into a longer skid.

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 Pittsburgh Pirates managed to secure a victory against the Colorado Rockies, winning 9-5 after losing the first two games of the series. Spencer Horwitz was the standout player, hitting two home runs, including a three-run shot that contributed significantly to the Pirates' lead. The team started strong with an infield single from Nick Gonzales followed by a powerful 446-foot home run from Tommy Pham, putting the Pirates up 3-0 early. Mitch Keller led the pitching efforts, allowing only one run through five innings before the Rockies responded with back-to-back-to-back homers in the sixth inning.

Troy Melton's big league debut on Wednesday was overshadowed by a powerful offensive performance from the Pittsburgh Pirates, who bested the Detroit Tigers 6-1. Melton, ranked as the Tigers' No. 10 prospect, faced a challenging start, giving up a solo home run to Andrew McCutchen on his second pitch and later a grand slam to Spencer Horwitz. Despite recording seven strikeouts in five innings, the young pitcher left the game with a loss, reflecting on his nerves but also the excitement of finally reaching the majors.

The loss marked the Tigers' ninth in their last ten games, but they still maintain a solid lead in the AL Central. As they prepare to face the division-leading Toronto Blue Jays this weekend, both the team and Melton aim to find their footing again before he is expected to take the mound against the Arizona Diamondbacks on Monday.