Pittsburgh Pirates DVOA, Stats, & MLB Rankings

San Francisco Giants catcher Joey Bart was designated for assignment on Sunday, removing the 27-year-old from the 40-man roster. The team brought up right-hander Daulton Jefferies as a corresponding move. Bart, the No. 2 overall pick from the 2018 draft, was never able to put things together with the Giants. He slashed a paltry .219/.288/.335 with 11 homers in 162 games across four years. The Giants will now have to either waive or trade Bart as he does not have any minor-league options remaining. Perhaps a change of scenery will do Bart some good, but his dynasty value is lower than it has ever been.

Pittsburgh Pirates shortstop Oneil Cruz and catcher/outfielder Henry Davis will start on the bench for Sunday's series finale versus the Miami Marlins. Alika Williams is playing the 6 and batting eighth, while Jason Delay will do the catching for Pittsburgh while hitting in the nine-hole. Neither Williams nor Delay will be particularly attractive DFS sleepers on Sunday against Marlins left-hander Trevor Rogers. Cruz went 5-for-14 with a home run, two RBI and three runs scored in the first three games of the season before getting his first day off. The 25-year-old missed most of last year due to a fractured ankle but is one of the bright young ascending talents in the game at the shortstop position. Davis started behind the dish for the Bucs for each of their first three games, going 2-for-12 with a run scored and three walks.

Pittsburgh Pirates left-hander David Bednar (lat) struck out one over a scoreless inning in Saturday's 9-3 win over the Miami Marlins. Bednar was unavailable for Opening Day due to a lat injury but made his season debut on Saturday. The southpaw looked sharp, needing just 14 pitches to make quick work of the Marlins. The 29-year-old remains Pittsburgh's primary closer after racking up 39 saves in 2023. In the team's only save opportunity this season, the Pirates turned to Jose Hernandez, but Bednar was unavailable in the Opening Day win over Miami. With Bednar back on the mound, fantasy managers can safely start him in all leagues.

Pittsburgh Pirates outfielder Jack Suwinski is getting the start in left field on Saturday opposite Miami Marlins left-hander Ryan Weathers. It's a rare start for the lefty-swinging Suwinski against a southpaw but the Marlins have started a lefty in each of the three games to begin this series as Pirates skipper Derek Shelton looks to get Suwinski a start. He enjoyed a fine 2023 season that saw him hit .224 with 26 homers, 74 RBI, and 13 stolen bases but he also hit just .200 with only two homers and a .608 OPS against left-handed pitching. However, he also ranked righties for an .856 OPS and big-time .271 isolated power. Add in the speed and Suwinski remains a quality fantasy asset, even on the strong side of a platoon.

Pittsburgh Pirates third baseman Ke'Bryan Hayes went 2-for-3 in Friday's 7-2 win over the Miami Marlins, continuing his hot start to the year with two RBI and two runs scored. Hayes lined a double to left to score Bryan Reynolds in the third inning, later hitting a sacrifice fly to bring Connor Joe around for an insurance run during the eighth frame. After going 2-for-4 in Thursday's victory, the former top prospect and first-round pick keeps giving fantasy managers plenty to get excited about in the early goings. Hayes closed spring training with a scalding .412/.434/.647 triple-slash line, three home runs, three doubles, and nine RBI through Grapefruit League 51 at-bats. If he can finally find some consistency with the bat, the 2023 Gold Glover could crush his 201 NFBC ADP. Hayes gets Marlins lefty Ryan Weathers on Saturday, and he'll have a good chance to stay hot after hitting .294 with an .847 OPS in 160 at-bats against left-handed pitching last year.