--LHP Donnie Veal, a rookie Rule 5 draft pick with control problems, has not pitched since April 19. 

The Pirates got one of their three injured regulars back Friday when center fielder Nate McLouth returned to the lineup after missing six games with a strained oblique muscle in his right side. 

Maybe the Pirates won't ever beat Milwaukee again. 

Jeff Karstens is not sure what to fix because he does not yet know what is broken. 

The numbers say thePirates' pitching ranks as the best in the major leagues. 

ThePirates' bullpen unraveled in the final two innings Monday night and handed the Milwaukee Brewers a 7-4 victory. 

Too many home runs. 

Today on 

Oh, no, not them again. 

--SS Jack Wilson swung a bat Sunday for the first time since going on the disabled list April 25 and said he felt no pain. 

The Pirates got one of their three injured regulars back Friday when center fielder Nate McLouth returned to the lineup after missing six games with a strained oblique muscle in his right side. 

The Pirates will face their nemesis Monday night when they open a two-game home series against Milwaukee. 

If Nate McLouth's first at-bat felt like dej? vu, it was because he faced the same circumstances a night earlier. 

Right-hander Johnny Cueto suffocated thePirates' offense Sunday, allowing just four singles in eight innings, as the Cincinnati Reds cruised to a 5-0 victory. 

Looking for a silver lining after suffering back-to-back shutouts to Milwaukee and Cincinnati,Pirates manager John Russell took a back-to-basics approach by emphasizing the importance of pitching and defense.