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Stats

Esmerlyn Valdez crushes two homers vs. Brewers

Esmerlyn Valdez.jpg

Esmerlyn Valdez

PIT Right Fielder #55

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Esmerlyn Valdez went 3-for-4 with two home runs and six RBI to lead the Pirates to a 7-6 win over the Brewers in the first game of Saturday’s doubleheader.

Valdez took Milwaukee starter Brandon Sproat deep with a 421-foot blast to center field in the early stages of the contest before propelling Pittsburgh ahead with a seventh-inning grand slam off Brewers relief ace Aaron Ashby. The power-hitting 22-year-old rookie also added a run-scoring single just for good measure. It was his first career multi-homer performance and gives him nine round-trippers through just 26 games this season. He’ll continue to strike out more than fantasy managers would prefer, creating some batting average risk once his near-.400 BABIP inevitably regresses, but the power is real enough to justify the gamble.

- George Bissell

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White Sox 'nailed' draft with Cholowsky, Thome

The desk shares rapid reactions to the first round of the 2026 MLB Draft, where the White Sox left with two excellent prospects, the Marlins got value, and the Rockies added to a rising farm system.

Up Next

White Sox ‘nailed’ draft with Cholowsky, Thome

NYY draft pick Dietz can be ‘front of rotation’ SP

White Sox draft Landon Thome, son of HOFer Jim

Schaffner has ‘traits to build on’ with Red Sox

Reds select draft’s ‘most polarizing’ prospect

Marlins get ‘steal’ with Lombard at No. 14

Athletics add OF Burress to loaded young core

Rays’ Emerson models game after Crawford, Seager

Flora becomes first SP taken in 2026 MLB Draft

Pirates take Curiel with ‘surprise’ No. 5 pick

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Oneil Cruz

PIT Center Fielder #15

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Pirates general manager Ben Cherington said that Spencer Horwitz (hamstring) and Oneil Cruz (hand fracture) are still expected back in July.

Cherington mentioned that both players “are progressing well in Florida, but both will be sidelined until after the All-Star Break.” The team hopes that they will both be back in the lineup “not too long after the break.” Cruz has been out since June 10 with non-displaced fractures in his hand. He was originally expected to miss “at least one month,” which will be in the middle of this week. He could likely begin a rehab assignment in the next couple of weeks and, assuming he can swing without pain, be back in the Pirates lineup soon after. With both Horwitz and Cruz back, the Pirates may have to be creative to find at-bats for surging Esmerlyn Valdez and Tyler Callihan.
Esmerlyn Valdez

PIT Right Fielder #55

Esmerlyn Valdez is hitting cleanup for the fourth consecutive game on Saturday against the Nationals.

Valdez has been on a tear since returning to the majors back on June 11, hitting .411 (19-for-46) with four homers and 11 RBI across 15 games. The most encouraging aspect of his recent performance is that he’s struck out just a shade over 25 percent of the time during that span. The 22-year-old projects as a streaky power hitter given his strikeout issues in the upper minors. However, he’s in a groove right now and should continue batting in the heart of Pittsburgh’s lineup. Those factors alone make him a worthy of a speculative roster spot in all fantasy formats.
Esmerlyn Valdez

PIT Right Fielder #55

Esmerlyn Valdez hit an RBI triple and went 2-for-4 with two other RBI as the Pirates beat the Phillies on Thursday.

Valdez’s single up the middle in the first got the Pirates on the board, and his triple scooted under Justin Crawford’s glove in center and pinballed around, staking the Pirates to a 2-1 lead in the fifth. He added a sacrifice fly later in the contest. His expected batting average so far is just .258 -- so his .316 average will likely come down a bit -- but the power is absolutely real and has given him some real fantasy value so far.
Esmerlyn Valdez

PIT Right Fielder #55

Esmerlyn Valdez failed to homer Tuesday but did go 2-for-3 with a walk in the shutout loss to the Phillies.

The rest of the Pirates combined for three hits and two walks against Cristopher Sánchez and company. Valdez had homered in four straight games coming into the night.
Esmerlyn Valdez

PIT Right Fielder #55

Esmerlyn Valdez is in right field and hitting second on Tuesday against the Phillies.

Valdez has been moved up to the prime spot in the lineup behind future franchise cornerstone Konnor Griffin as he draws his fifth start in the last six games for Pittsburgh. He’ll attempt to extend his home run streak to a remarkable fifth consecutive game on Tuesday night against Phillies ace Cristopher Sánchez at hitter-friendly Citizens Bank Park. The power-hitting 22-year-old rookie is going to strike out a bunch, but his over-the-fence pop is extremely real. He was the star of last year’s Arizona Fall League and simply hasn’t stoped demolishing baseballs ever since. He’s shown enough in-game pop and is playing often enough to merit a roster spot in deeper fantasy leagues.
Esmerlyn Valdez

PIT Right Fielder #55

Esmerlyn Valdez went 2-for-3 with a two-run homer and two walks versus the Phillies on Monday.

Valdez has homered in four straight games, including in his only at-bat as a pinch-hitter on Saturday against the Reds. Getting more playing time because of Spencer Horwitz’s injury, he’s now 13-for-45 with six homers, even though he has struck out 19 times in his young career. Because of the swing-and-miss issues, he’s probably not going to remain strong enough against righties to keep playing regularly as a 22-year-old rookie. However, this is a lot of fun right now. His homer tonight was hit 411 feet off Aaron Nola, and his other hit was a 111-mphy double versus Tim Mayza.
Esmerlyn Valdez

PIT Right Fielder #55

Esmerlyn Valdez went 3-for-4 with a double, a home run, and two RBI in a win over the Reds on Sunday.

Valdez has started three of the last four games since Spencer Horwitz (hamstring) landed on the injured list and Ryan O’Hearn started playing more first base. Valdez also had a pinch-hit home run in the one game he didn’t start. In those four games, he’s gone 6-for-12 with three home runs, four RBI, and a 4/1 K/BB ratio. He’s worth an add in deeper formats if he’s going to play this often, especially if your team needs power.
Esmerlyn Valdez

PIT Right Fielder #55

Esmerlyn Valdez is starting in right field and batting sixth against the Mariners on Thursday.

With Spencer Horwitz (hamstring) sidelined, Ryan O’Hearn is likely to be the primary first baseman for the Pirates, which could open up right field at-bats for Valdez. The 22-year-old has gone just 5-for-30 in his 11 MLB games with two doubles, two home runs, and six RBI. He was hitting .255/.388/.526 with 13 home runs and 38 RBI in 56 games at Triple-A and has some intriguing power potential. He remains only an option in NL-only formats in the short-term.
Bryan Reynolds

PIT Left Fielder #10

Bryan Reynolds was a late scratch from the Pirates’ starting lineup on Friday night due to left groin discomfort.

He’s considered day-to-day. Esmerlyn Valdez replaced Reynolds in Friday’s lineup in left field and he’ll bat seventh against Rockies’ left-hander Kyle Freeland.
Ryan O'Hearn

PIT Right Fielder #29

Ryan O’Hearn is not in the Pirates’ starting lineup for Thursday evening’s showdown against the Dodgers.

O’Hearn will get a breather with left-hander Justin Wrobleski toeing the slab for the opposition. Esmerlyn Valdez will start in his place in right field and will bat sixth for the Pirates on Thursday night at PNC Park.

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Ryan Waldschmidt

AZ Left Fielder #73
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Ryan Waldschmidt will likely be available off the bench Saturday, according to manager Torey Lovullo.

Waldschmidt had a CT scan this morning that confirmed there was no break in the thumb he injured on a bunt attempt Friday. The Diamondbacks have Tommy Troy starting in center tonight.
- Matthew Pouliot

Injury

Source: Kyle Glaser

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Zac Gallen

AZ Starting Pitcher #23
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Zac Gallen has been scratched from his scheduled start Sunday due to elbow inflammation.

He’s likely to go on the IL, with Mitch Bratt being called up to start in his place against the Dodgers. Gallen is just 3-9 with a 6.34 ERA through 19 starts this season. He’s been even worse while losing each of his last four starts, posting a 9.67 ERA and striking out just 11 in 22 1/3 innings. He’s on a one-year, $22.05 million contract after struggling to find a multiyear deal in free agency last winter.
- Matthew Pouliot

Injury

Source: Nick Piecoro
Mitch Bratt
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Bo Bichette

NYM 3rd Baseman #19
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Bo Bichette walked as a pinch-hitter Saturday and was lifted for a pinch-runner.

Bichette was out of the lineup for a second straight game against the Red Sox because of right leg soreness. He was obviously available to hit, but as soon as he reached, the Mets replaced him with Tyrone Taylor at first base.
- Matthew Pouliot

Injury

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Casey Schmitt

SF Left Fielder #10
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Casey Schmitt went 1-for-4 with a three-run homer to lead the Giants to a 4-2 win over the Rockies on Saturday.

Schmitt broke a tie game in the sixth inning, taking Kyle Freeland deep for a three-run blast to lead the Giants to a win. The home run was number 19 for Schmitt. The 27-year-old slugger has had a breakout season so far, slashing .280/.309/.500 with 42 runs scored, 50 RBI, and seven steals across 366 plate appearances.
- Jorge Montanez

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Kyle Karros

COL 3rd Baseman #12
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Kyle Karros went 1-for-4 with a solo homer against the Giants on Saturday.

Karros cut into the Giants’ lead with a solo homer off JT Brubaker in the eighth inning, a 435-foot blast to left field. It was his ninth of the season while hitting .266/.364/.445 with 47 runs scored and 34 RBI across 319 plate appearances.
- Jorge Montanez

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JT Brubaker

SF Relief Pitcher #34
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JT Brubaker allowed one run over two innings with two strikeouts to convert a save against the Rockies on Saturday.

Brubaker was summoned in the top of the eighth with a three-run lead. He gave up a solo homer to Kyle Karros before returning for the ninth to close it out. He got the job done with a strikeout and two groundouts, securing the win for the Giants with his first save. Caleb Kilian was presumably unavailable after pitching in back-to-back games, but he will likely get the next save chance.
- Jorge Montanez

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Tyler Mahle

SF Starting Pitcher #54
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Tyler Mahle allowed one run and struck out four batters over seven innings in a win over the Rockies on Saturday.

Mahle tossed a scoreless first inning, then gave up a run in the second on a triple and a balk. He’d settle in to give the Giants seven frames of one-run ball, scattering five hits and three walks while striking out four batters. The 31-year-old right-hander holds a 5.35 ERA, 1.47 WHIP, and a 71/32 K/BB ratio at the All-Star break.
- Jorge Montanez

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Kyle Freeland

COL Starting Pitcher #21
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Kyle Freeland allowed four runs with nine strikeouts over six innings in a loss against the Giants on Saturday.

Freeland had allowed just one hit through four shutout frames before giving up a run on two hits in the fifth inning. The Giants ruined an otherwise solid start in the sixth as Casey Schmitt took Freeland deep for a three-run blast. Freeland would end his day after six with nine punchouts. The 33-year-old left-hander holds a 7.36 ERA, 1.57 WHIP, and a 79/18 K/BB ratio at the break.
- Jorge Montanez

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Blake Snell

LAD Starting Pitcher #7
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Blake Snell threw two innings to hitters on Saturday and is set to begin a rehab assignment next week.

Everything went fine today. Snell, making his way back from surgery to remove loose bodies from his elbow, figures to make at least four rehab starts. The Dodgers are thinking about October here and not so much about getting him back to make starts in July
- Matthew Pouliot

Injury

Source: Sonja Chen

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Yoshinobu Yamamoto

LAD Starting Pitcher #18
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Yoshinobu Yamamoto will not pitch in the All-Star Game, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said Saturday.

Yamamoto was an All-Star last year but was ineligible to pitch in the game after starting the Sunday before the game. This year, he’s eligible and will attend but will not pitch. Roberts gave no reason for the decision. Yamamoto is pitching tonight against the Diamondbacks.
- Matthew Pouliot

Source: Bill Plunkett

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