Pirates Pitching Staff Faces Yankees in Crucial Post-All-Star Series

The Pittsburgh Pirates will open a three-game road set at Yankee Stadium on July 20-22, 2026. Right-hander Braxton Ashcraft starts the series opener, left-hander Bubba Chandler takes the mound on July 21, and right-hander Mitch Keller closes the set on July 22. The Yankees will counter with left-hander Ryan Weathers, right-hander Will Warren and veteran Gerrit Cole.

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After a strong first half, the Pirates entered the All-Star break with a 9-3 record for Ashcraft, earning his first All-Star selection. The team’s rotation posted the league’s best first-half ERA among Pirates starters, positioning the club for a competitive second half against a Yankees squad that holds the second-best American League record on the road.

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• Braxton Ashcraft – 19 starts, 9-3 record, 3.43 ERA, 1.11 WHIP, 128 strikeouts to 27 walks over 113.1 innings; a .235 batting-average-allowed (BAA) and a top-15 league ranking in innings pitched and strikeouts.

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• Bubba Chandler – 18 starts, 3-8 record, 4.77 ERA, 1.45 WHIP, 85 strikeouts to 55 walks in 94.1 innings; leads MLB in walks issued (5.25 BB/9) and posts the lowest qualified K/BB ratio (1.55). Recent form shows a 4.34 ERA over his last seven outings, with two-run or fewer performances in five of those games.

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• Mitch Keller – Began the season 4-1 with a 2.87 ERA and six quality starts; recent decline includes a 3-5 record, 5.03 ERA over 56.1 innings, 11 home runs allowed and a 2.03 WHIP. His last start on July 9 yielded three runs, a home run, and lasted only three innings.

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Analysts caution that Ashcraft’s heavy innings load could strain his historically injury-prone arm, despite his All-Star nod. Chandler’s persistently high walk rate raises doubts about his ability to sustain a starter role without improved command. Keller’s recent mechanical issues and inflated ERA have prompted calls for immediate adjustments before facing a potent Yankees lineup.

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• “The Pirates travel to face the New York Yankees in a three-game series at Yankee Stadium, taking on the team with the second-best record in the American League on the road.” — Dominic Campbell, writer

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• “Pittsburgh has their starting pitchers ready for this matchup, with Braxton Ashcraft taking the mound in the series opener on July 20, Bubba Chandler making the start on July 21 and then Mitch Keller closing it out on July 22.” — Dominic Campbell, writer

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• “Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect Ashcraft comes back from a stellar first half, where he earned his first All-Star nod of his young MLB career.” — Dominic Campbell, writer

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The Pirates must capitalize on Ashcraft’s early start, stabilize Chandler’s command and restore Keller’s mechanics to remain competitive in the series. Success in New York could set the tone for the remainder of the second half, as the club aims to solidify a playoff-contending position.

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