Overview
- Rafael Flores Jr. came off the bench to hit two solo homers, including a ninth‑inning game‑tying shot that set up Brandon Lowe’s walk‑off and spared Paul Skenes a loss in the Pirates’ comeback win.
- Paul Skenes struggled in that start, lasting 4 1/3 innings with four walks and three earned runs on 81 pitches, reinforcing concerns about the starter’s recent inconsistency and workload.
- The Seattle Mariners announced top prospect Kade Anderson will make his major‑league debut Saturday and reinstated reliever Carlos Vargas from the 60‑day injured list to add multi‑inning depth to their bullpen.
- The Boston farm system saw turbulence as High‑A prospect Marcus Phillips was placed on a 7‑day injured list with right elbow inflammation while Griffin Kilander was promoted from High‑A Greenville to Double‑A Portland.
- Other clubs are taking short‑term precautions: the Yankees will scan Ryan McMahon’s jammed thumb to see if he can serve as a bench option, and the Mets dropped a game on a Jake Rogers walk‑off that highlights bullpen fragility.