The Pittsburgh Pirates are back in town and will be opening a week-long homestand tonight with the Toronto Blue Jays and the Colorado Rockies coming to PNC Park. For some time now, it's been clear that the Pirates won't be making the playoffs this season, but there are still nights when 30,000 fans show up at PNC Park.

Andrew McCutchen made it clear that he's tired of the Pittsburgh Pirates' losing. Could that mean the end is nigh for his tenure with the organization?

THIS DAY IN CUBS HISTORY: Shawon Dunston homered twice off John Smoltz and Mike Harkey threw a three-hit shutout as the Cubs defeated the Braves 7-0. It happened 35 years ago today, Friday, Aug. 17, 1990.

Dansby Swanson hit a tiebreaking sacrifice fly in the eighth inning, and the Chicago Cubs beat the Pittsburgh Pirates 4-3 in the rubber game of the weekend series.

To the extent that Hayes was a disappointment in Pittsburgh, it was only against the expectations that were set for him as a one-time top prospect. Well, that and the fact that the Pirates have failed to build a competent offense for years, forcing Hayes into the middle of the team's lineup when it was clear that wasn't who he was as a player.

Shortstop/outfielder Konnor Griffin, who the Pirates selected within the top 10 of the 2024 draft, will end his season at the Double-A level.

The benches briefly cleared during Pittsburgh's 5-2 win over the Toronto Blue Jays on Monday night. Pham's demonstrable reaction to drawing a walk in the seventh inning elicited a response from Toronto catcher Tyler Heineman, and things escalated from there.