Pittsburgh rode two veteran power bursts and a wave of young arms to a 5-1 win over Colorado. Andrew McCutchen started the scoring with a two-run homer, followed by Jared Triolo’s two-run shot to push the lead to four. Mike Burrows delivered four shutout innings while Carmen Mlodzinski, Kyle Nicolas and Colin Holderman held the Rockies scoreless through eight. Brenton Doyle spoiled the shutout with a ninth-inning solo blast for Colorado.

Fantasy takeaway: McCutchen’s hot stretch should keep him in the middle of the Pirates’ RBI opportunities, Triolo’s power adds a speculative DFS angle, and Burrows’ early effectiveness makes Pirates’ rotation depth worth monitoring. Rockies’ late-resistance aside, Pittsburgh showed late-season potential with a bullpen surge and timely offense.

Paul Skenes is a numbers nerd who treats data as the map to his best performances. He reads velocity, drop and movement off the ribbon boards after every pitch to learn what’s working and what isn’t, yet he publicly shrugs at his win-loss tally. The Pirates’ ace streams six innings of solid work against Toronto, punching out eight while yielding five hits, leaving with a no-decision as Pittsburgh finally grabs the lead late. The night shines a light on the enduring debate: is pitcher wins a meaningful stat at all?

While Skenes dominates (2.16 ERA, elite innings and strikeouts), Pittsburgh’s offense struggles, ranking near the bottom in most major categories. That gap between talent and results fuels the fantasy story: imagine a pitcher who can produce quality starts and strikeouts but can’t always snag wins in a win-starved lineup. The piece also celebrates bullpen milestones—Evan Sisk earns his first big-league win after seven years in the minors, backed by Kyle Nicolas and Dennis Santana as the final outs. Off the field, Skenes stays the consummate professional—sleep routines, diet on the road and a relentless focus on routine—because that discipline could sustain him for years.

As the summer of 2025 unfolds, MLB prospects are making significant waves with recent call-ups and performances. Notably, Jacob Misiorowski made an impressive debut for the Milwaukee Brewers, showcasing potential with a 0.00 ERA. Meanwhile, Daylen Lile and Christian Moore have been called up, adding intrigue to the fantasy landscape. Lile, despite a low batting average, is making contact, while Moore's power potential is evident after hitting 34 home runs in college, positioning him as a potential power threat.

On the pitching side, Grant Taylor is emerging in the Chicago White Sox bullpen after overcoming Tommy John surgery, while Noah Schultz advances to Triple-A, expected to fine-tune his skills before a major league push. These young talents offer a mix of excitement and uncertainty, making them valuable pickups for fantasy managers willing to take risks on upside.