Aiden Stepansky

Paul Skenes was driving down Perry Highway in Wexford just past seven o’clock Monday night when the Pirates superstar pitcher made a pit stop. It was a Little League field. Skenes signed autographs for over two hours, connecting with Pittsburgh's next generation. For @MLB ⤵️

The 96th All-Star Game

There's a new power bat in the Altoona Curve lineup. Check out my story on Murf from a few weeks back, where he took me through how he's working on his chase rate through...MLB The Show. mlb.com/news/murf-gray…

Braxton Ashcraft unfortunately won't be pitching in the All-Star Game tonight anymore. But as he takes part in the festivities, check out my story on his Texas high school football days that help shaped him. “It's hard to say I made the wrong choice.”

The Pirates are 50-47 at the All-Star break, a position they haven’t been in since 2015. “I just know that the feel in the clubhouse and the way that the game looks that we're putting out there, it looks really good.“ For @MLB⬇️ mlb.com/pirates/news/h…

The Pirates end the first half with a series sweep of the division rival Brewers. Pittsburgh enters the All-Star break just two games out of the final NL Wild Card spot.🎥

The Pirates have a 40.1% chance to make the playoffs. fangraphs.com/standings/play…

Antwone Kelly was optioned to Triple-A Indianapolis after today's game. Just speculating, but that could mean the return of Wilber Dotel after the break.

I asked Paul Skenes what he thinks of where the Pirates are at this point: “Cool. Try to grow that gap between wins and losses. After we're in a good spot. Kind of wish we didn't have an All-Star break at this point because we're playing good baseball. But I'm super confident in our ability to show up after the break. It’s been fun to be a part of. So we'll keep it rolling.”

Final from PNC Park: The Pirates crush the Brewers 14-5 to sweep the series. Paul Skenes went 5.1 innings and allowed two runs. The Pirates scored 10 runs in the fourth inning. Pittsburgh is 50-47, and in the thick of the NL Wild Card race entering the All-Star break.

Antwone Kelly allows a two-run homer to Brice Turang. It's still 14-4 Pirates.

34,087 is the attendance at PNC Park today to see a Pirates sweep and a Jordan Davis concert.

Could see Antwone Kelly going the rest of the way here. He threw six innings in his last outing for Indy, which was nine days ago.

First look at Jacob Gonzalez. He's at first base.

Paul Skenes is done after 82 pitches. In comes Isaac Mattson. Skenes looked to return to winning form ahead of the All-Star break. Here's his last two starts combined: 11.1 IP 4 ER 11 K 2 BB

Pittsburgh finishes the bottom of the fourth with 10 runs, tied for the most in an inning this season.

All nine players have scored in the fourth. There's still only one out. The Pirates are putting a beat down on the NL Central's best. Meanwhile, Paul Skenes has sat in the dugout for 30 minutes but there's no movement in Pittsburgh's bullpen.

The Pirates are pouring it on now as the Brewers will make their second pitching change of the inning. There are still no outs and the bases remain loaded. Pittsburgh leads 9-2 in the fourth. The Pirates look well on their way to a sweep of the NL Central's best.

Robert Gasser is done. The Pirates tag on two runs to start the fourth inning, pushing the lead right back to four. Marcell Ozuna and Henry Davis have five of the six RBI.

Marcell Ozuna goes deep. His second hit of the day. The ball went just over the left field wall in the corner. 338 feet.

The Brewers score two runs on Paul Skenes in the fourth, working off two hits and a walk. 4-2 Pirates.