John Candelaria throws last traditional no-hitter in Pirates history, beats Dodgers on Clark Candy Night John Candelaria holds the distinction of throwing the last traditional no-hitter in Pittsburgh Pirates history, defeating the Los Angeles Dodgers with nine innings of dominant pitching on August 9, 1976. The game, played at Three Rivers Stadium, was also Clark Candy Night, a tribute to Candelaria’s nickname. Fans received candy bars as part of the celebration, and the no-hitter marked a career-defining moment for the 22-year-old pitcher. Candelaria, in his second Major League season, approached the vice president of D.L. Clark Company, the sponsor of Clark Candy Night, with a business proposal after the game. “I remember saying, ‘I pitched a no-hitter on Clark Bar Candy Night. Can we do something?’” he recalled. The executive responded with humor, telling him, “Kid, that’s a great idea. Now get out of here.” This anecdote highlights Candelaria’s early awareness of his marketability. The game itself was a tightly contested affair. The Pirates won 2-0 on a fifth-inning double by Bill Robinson, while Dodgers starter Doug Rau struggled to navigate the Pittsburgh lineup. Candelaria walked Steve Yeager in the third inning, struck out seven batters, and faced 30 total hitters, using 100 pitches to complete the no-hitter. The Pirates had not recorded a no-hitter since 1907, making this achievement significant. Candelaria emphasized the intensity of the moment, stating, “The only thing I was thinking about was not letting them score because the game was that close. We could lose if I gave up a couple of runs.” He also criticized modern pitchers who claim ignorance of a no-hitter, asserting, “Any pitcher who tells you he doesn’t realize he has a no-hitter going is lying. You’re a pitcher.#los_angeles_dodgers #pirates #john_candelaria #three_rivers_stadium #clark_candy_night
MLB Trade Rumors: Yankees, Rays Scouting Catcher; Pirates, White Sox Complete Trade Major League Baseball’s trade deadline remains weeks away, but teams are already preparing for potential roster changes. The Yankees and Rays are actively scouting Minnesota Twins catcher Ryan Jeffers, while the Pirates and White Sox finalized a trade that will impact the 2026 MLB Draft. The Yankees have struggled at the catching position this season. Their current options, primarily Tyler Wells, have combined to hit .175/.252/.272. This performance has prompted the team to seek a replacement, with Jeffers emerging as a target. The 29-year-old catcher, who returned from a hamate bone injury sidelined since May 18, went 1 for 4 with a double in Friday’s Angels-Twins game. For the season, Jeffers has a .294/.408/.540 line with seven home runs in 38 games. His career OPS+ is 109 across parts of seven MLB seasons. The Twins, currently three games behind first place in the AL Central and one game behind the third AL wild card spot, may be reluctant to trade Jeffers. However, the Yankees’ interest has drawn attention, with the Rays also scouting him on Friday. The Pirates and White Sox completed a trade that affects the draft. The Pirates acquired reserve infielder Jacob Gonzalez, a 24-year-old rookie and former No. 15 overall pick in 2023, and lefty reliever Brandon Eisert from the White Sox. In exchange, the Pirates sent the White Sox the 34th overall pick in Saturday’s MLB Draft and minor league reliever Jaden Woods. Gonzalez is expected to serve as the regular shortstop while phenom Konnor Griffin recovers from a thumb injury. Eisert, 28, has an ERA+ of 88 and an FIP of 4.52 over parts of three MLB seasons. The White Sox now hold the Nos. 1, 34, and 41 picks in the draft, retaining competitive-balance picks. Woods, 24, has an ERA of 4.#yankees #rays #white_sox #pirates #twins
Cubs vs. Pirates MLB Prediction and Betting Insights for April 10, 2026 The Chicago Cubs will host the Pittsburgh Pirates in a three-game series starting on Friday, April 10, 2026. The matchup, set for 2:20 p.m. ET at Wrigley Field, features two teams with contrasting records. The Pirates enter the series with a 7-5 overall record, having split their last four games and posting a 3-3 road record. The Cubs, meanwhile, sit at 6-6, with a 3-3 home record in 2026. The game will be highlighted by the starting pitching matchup, with Chicago’s Shota Imanaga (0-1, 4.50 ERA) facing Pittsburgh’s Carmen Mlodzinski (0-0, 4.00 ERA). Imanaga has allowed just one earned run in 26 innings against the Pirates this season, while Mlodzinski has yet to record a win in 2026. The Cubs are favored on the money line at -143, meaning bettors would need to wager $143 to win $100, while the Pirates are listed at +120. The over/under total for the game is set at 6.5 runs. SportsLine’s Projection Model, which has historically performed well in MLB betting, simulated the game 10,000 times and concluded the total would likely exceed 6.5 runs. The model’s analysis suggests the Pirates have a strong chance to push the total over, as they’ve gone Over in four of their last five games. The Cubs, meanwhile, have also leaned toward the Over in five of their last six Friday games. The model’s projections for individual player performance add depth to the prediction. For the Pirates, Oneil Cruz, Bryan Reynolds, and Ryan O’Hearn are expected to collectively contribute over 1.8 total bases, while the Cubs’ Alex Bregman and Michael Busch are projected to exceed 1.7 total bases. The model’s simulation also indicated a high likelihood of the total runs surpassing 8.7, with the Over hitting 71% of the time.#wrigley_field #cubs #pirates #shota_imanaga #carmen_mlodzinski
