Pittsburgh Pirates DVOA, Stats, & MLB Rankings

Pittsburgh Pirates second baseman Nick Gonzales (groin) will join Triple-A Indianapolis in Nashville later this week and start a minor-league rehab assignment next week. The Pirates put Gonzales on the 10-day injured list at the end of July due to a strained left groin, but he's apparently feeling much better and will resume playing in games next week. Barring a setback, it's possible that the 25-year-old will return to starting duties at the keystone in Pittsburgh by next weekend. However, with the recent trade acquisition of utility infielder Isiah Kiner-Falefa, Gonzales may be in more of a battle for playing time than he was before his injury. The former seventh overall pick in 2020 out of New Mexico State didn't make his 2024 debut until May 10 and has hit .258 (64-for-248) with five home runs, 39 RBI and 28 runs scored in 65 games in just his second year in the majors.

Pittsburgh Pirates rookie right-hander Jared Jones (lat) and outfielder Joshua Palacios (hamstring) are going to start their minor-league rehab assignments with Triple-A Indianapolis this week, according to a source. The expectation is that Jones will make a rehab start for Indy on Thursday. The 23-year-old Jones will finally get back on a mound for game action after missing more than a month with a Grade 2 right-lat strain. Because the Pirates want to limit the youngster's innings in his first MLB season, they haven't exactly been rushing him back, and Jones is likely to need at least a few rehab starts before being activated from the injured list. Barring setbacks, though, he could be back for fantasy managers before the end of August. Jones has a bright future ahead of him after posting a 26.4% strikeout rate, 3.56 ERA and 1.11 WHIP in his first 16 big-league starts this year.

Pittsburgh Pirates shortstop Oneil Cruz (illness) was sick and unavailable to play in the series-opening loss to the visiting San Diego Padres on Tuesday, according to manager Derek Shelton. With Cruz not feeling well, there's a chance he could miss a second straight game against the Padres on Wednesday, so fantasy managers need to be on the lookout before putting the 25-year-old back into their starting lineups. Cruz missed his first game of the second half of the season on Tuesday. Since the All-Star break, he's been hot offensively, slashing .300/.354/.583 with three home runs and 12 RBI in 15 games, so if he returns on Wednesday, get him back into your lineups immediately. With Cruz out on Tuesday, the recently acquired Isiah Kiner-Falefa got the start at the 6 for the Bucs and went 1-for-4 with a strikeout in the 6-0 loss.

Pittsburgh Pirates shortstop Oneil Cruz will head to the bench on Tuesday for the series opener against the visiting San Diego Padres. With Cruz getting a day off, Isiah Kiner-Falefa will draw the start at the 6 in Pittsburgh and will bat fifth against Padres right-hander Dylan Cease. The 25-year-old Cruz will get a breather after starting 17 straight games for the Bucs. Since the All-Star break, Cruz has hit an even .300 (18-for-60) with three home runs, six doubles, a triple, 12 RBI, five walks, 23 strikeouts and four stolen bases in 15 games played. He's already played in a career-high 100 games and has matched his career-high with 17 homers while posting a career-high 11 thefts. Kiner-Falefa, who was acquired from the Blue Jays at last week's trade deadline, has gone 2-for-8 with a double, triple and two RBI in his first two games in Pittsburgh.

Pittsburgh Pirates outfielder/designated hitter Andrew McCutchen (quadriceps) is serving as the DH and is batting leadoff on Tuesday in his return to the lineup for the series opener against the visiting San Diego Padres and right-hander Dylan Cease. McCutchen suffered a quad injury in Saturday's game and didn't play on Sunday, but he's feeling better now after a scheduled day off on Monday. Fantasy managers will probably want to keep the 37-year-old veteran on the bench against one of the hottest pitchers in baseball right now in Cease. Additionally, McCutchen hasn't provided much for fantasy managers in his 16th big-league season in 2024, hitting .228 (81-for-355) with 13 homers, 31 RBI and 56 runs scored in 95 games played.