Pittsburgh Pirates DVOA, Stats, & MLB Rankings

Pittsburgh Pirates outfielder Oneil Cruz (back) made a late exit during Saturday's game against the Atlanta Braves. Cruz appears to have tweaked his back during the ninth inning of this contest. As a result, Cruz was removed from the contest and replaced by Matt Gorski in center field. Before exiting, Cruz was 0-for-4 with a walk, stolen base, and a run scored. The team is considering Cruz day-to-day with back tightness, so fantasy managers shouldn't expect him to miss much time. Gorski will likely see more time in center field if Cruz misses some action. Fantasy managers will have to check back on Sunday for an update on Cruz.

Pittsburgh Pirates infielder Isiah Kiner-Falefa (hamstring) has been cleared to participate in baseball activities and is expected to begin running the bases later this weekend. The 30-year-old has been sidelined since the start of the month with a right hamstring strain. However, given his current progress, fantasy managers should not expect Kiner-Falefa to be sidelined for an extended period. If the 30-year-old does not face any setbacks this weekend, he may not need to embark on a rehab assignment before returning from the 10-day injured list. Through his first 30 games of the season, Kiner-Falefa has held a .280/.333/.330 slash line with six stolen bases. When he is cleared to return, he should be the everyday shortstop in Pittsburgh.

Pittsburgh Pirates first baseman/catcher Endy Rodriguez (finger) has shed his cast and has been cleared to begin playing catch. Rodriguez has been recovering from a laceration on his right index finger since April. It appears the 24-year-old has progressed well and can begin ramping up his baseball activity. Through his first 15 games of the campaign, Rodriguez held a .178/.260/.244 slash line with three doubles, two RBI, and a 12:5 K:BB. Under the hood, he generated a solid 45.5% hard-hit rate and was able to draw walks at a 10.0% rate. If he continues to progress well, Rodriguez could be cleared to embark on a rehab assignment before the end of the month. When he is cleared to return to Pittsburgh, fantasy managers should expect Rodriguez to compete for time at first base and as the No. 2 backstop behind Joey Bart.

The San Diego Padres have traded outfielder/first baseman Connor Joe to the Cincinnati Reds on Friday. In exchange, the Padres will receive right-hander Andrew Moore and cash considerations. The 32-year-old outfielder was hitless in nine plate appearances before getting traded. Joe doesn't have great career stats, but is someone who could be a contributor off the bench. The Reds are in need of some depth with Jake Fraley (calf) and Tyler Callihan (forearm) both injured right now. The move to Cincinnati should hopefully give Joe more playing time, but he's still unlikely to be a viable fantasy option.

Boston Red Sox relief pitcher Aroldis Chapman held on for his fifth save on Wednesday, keeping the Texas Rangers at bay in a 6-4 win. Chapman was a little shaky in this one, allowing a homer and a walk in his inning of work. Fortunately, he had a three-run lead to work with and was able to hold on. The lefty has looked rejuvenated this season, going 5-for-5 in save opportunities with a stellar 2.19 ERA, 1.05 WHIP, and 18 strikeouts in 12 IP. He is clearly Boston's best reliever and should get the bulk of the save opportunities, although they have shown a tendency to use him in non-save situations when multiple lefties are coming up to hit. Still, Chapman remains the favorite for saves in Beantown.