Jared Jones, 24, once struggled in his first six starts after missing last year with a right elbow injury, but since July 2 has been dominant. He became the third Pirates pitcher in 70 seasons to retire at least 30 straight batters, a streak that ended Saturday when Steven Kwan broke it with a hit. Jones earned a season‑high 9 strikeouts in five innings against Cleveland.

His run began in Philadelphia, where after Bryce Harper’s RBI double, Jones retired the final four Phillies. He then pitched six perfect innings versus Atlanta on July 8 and got eight outs in the first inning of the doubleheader opener. The streak matched Jim Bibby’s 1981 feat and recalled Harvey Haddix’s 1959 38‑straight‑batters effort.

Jones went 1‑1 with a 5.76 ERA in his first six outings, opponents hit .270 and homered five times in 25 innings. He underwent an internal‑brace procedure in May 2025 to stabilize a UCL sprain, a quicker recovery than Tommy John surgery. He had a 6‑8 record and 4.14 ERA in his rookie 2024 campaign, compiling 132 strikeouts.

Don Kelly praised his command, noting Jones had "gotten into a good flow" in recent starts. A resurgent Jones could help the Pirates stay in the NL Wild‑Card race, with the club sitting 51‑47, one game behind the Cardinals and Marlins.