The Pirates’ catching situation took another hit Wednesday, with Endy Rodríguez landing on the 10-day injured list because of left hip inflammation.
Pittsburgh made the move on Aug. 13, retroactive to Aug. 10, which rules Rodríguez out for at least the next week or so. He had been listed as day-to-day after the Pirates scratched him from the lineup before their Aug. 8 game against the New York Mets at PNC Park, and he had not been in uniform over the previous two days.
Rodríguez is not the only roster shuffle the Pirates made before their series finale against the Miami Marlins at loanDepot Park. The club also recalled third baseman Jack Brannigan and right-handed reliever Isaac Mattson from Triple-A Indianapolis, while left-handed reliever Evan Sisk was optioned.
This is Rodríguez’s second trip to the injured list this season. He went on the IL on July 8, retroactive to July 6, with a left glute strain. That absence lasted three weeks and cost him 15 games before he returned for the Arizona Diamondbacks’ series opener at PNC Park on July 27.
When he came back, Rodríguez gave Pittsburgh a real lift at the plate. In that stretch, he hit .286/.324/.457 with an .781 OPS, collecting 10 hits in 35 at-bats with two home runs, four RBI and four stolen bases.
The bigger picture has been a frustrating one. Rodríguez has dealt with a long injury trail since making his MLB debut in 2023, and he has played only 18 games for the Pirates over the past two seasons. He underwent reconstructive surgery on his ulnar collateral ligament and flexor tendon on Dec. 12, 2023, after an injury in winter ball, then missed almost all of the 2024 season.
His 2025 season has also included a laceration to his right index finger after taking a curveball from Pirates starting pitcher Paul Skenes in the dirt off of his throwing hand on April 14, 2025. He later returned, but eventually required season-ending surgery on the ulnar nerve in his right elbow.
The Pirates brought Rodríguez up on May 12 and he quickly established himself as their best-hitting catcher, earning the starting job. He could be back as soon as the club’s next road trip, which opens with a three-game series against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodgers Stadium on Aug. 21.
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Pirates Lineup Just Took Another Hit They Couldnt Afford
The Pirates had to reshuffle again after placing catcher Endy Rodriguez on the injured list because of inflammation in his left hip, another hit to a roster that has already been under plenty of strain. Pittsburgh turned to Triple-A for the immediate fix, bringing up right-hander Isaac Mattson to take Rodriguezs spot, while also making a second round of moves to keep the roster balanced.
The rest of the transaction sheet showed the kind of constant churn that has become familiar for a club trying to cover its bases. Left-hander Evan Sisk was optioned to Triple-A Indianapolis, and infielder Jack Brannigan was recalled, leaving the Pirates to sort out both the short-term catcher situation and the larger domino effect that comes with losing a regular piece. [Read more 🡒]
Paul Skenes Sudden Drop Is Raising A Bigger Pirates Concern
Paul Skenes has gone from instant franchise centerpiece to a pitcher the Pirates are suddenly trying to understand better. The first overall pick in the 2023 MLB Draft came into the majors with the kind of early rsum that brought All-Star recognition and awards almost immediately, but his recent stretch has been rough enough to turn every outing into a talking point around the club. His ERA has climbed, and he has had multiple games in which he has allowed several runs, a sharp change for a pitcher who arrived with so much momentum.
The bigger concern now is less about one bad start than what might be behind the drop. Around the game, there is already a split in the theories, with some wondering whether he has added weight and lost some of the velocity that helped make him so dominant, while others are looking at the workload on his arm. For Pittsburgh, that leaves an uncomfortable question hanging over one of its most important young players, because the answer could shape much more than the next turn through the rotation. [Read more 🡒]