Taylor went 1-for-3 with a walk and a stolen base in Friday's 4-3 loss to the Diamondbacks.
Taylor entered Friday just 1-for-15 with four walks over his last nine games. He was able to make a small impact from the bottom of the order, though his playing time will likely drop again once Bryan Reynolds returns from the bereavement list. Taylor is slashing just .200/.264/.278 with two home runs, eight steals, 13 RBI and 24 runs scored through 205 plate appearances this year.
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Pirates' Luis Ortiz: Yields three runs Friday
Rotowire
Ortiz allowed three runs on five hits and three walks while striking out four over five innings in a no-decision versus the Diamondbacks.
This ended Ortiz's stretch of five straight outings -- including four starts -- without allowing more than one run. The right-hander faded in the sixth inning, allowing a solo home run to Joc Pederson and walking Christian Walker before Carmen Mlodzinski completed the Pirates' collapse. Ortiz is now at a 2.75 ERA, 1.14 WHIP and 63:24 K:BB over 78.2 innings through 27 appearances (five starts) this season. His next outing is projected to be at Houston.
Tellez was removed from Friday's game due to back spasms.
Tellez was hit in the hand by a pitch during the first inning, but his removal in the third frame was apparently due to problems with his back. The Pirates are officially labeling him as day-to-day.
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Pirates' Connor Joe: Out of lineup Friday
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Joe is absent from the starting nine for Friday's game against the Diamondbacks.
Joe has started four of the Pirates' six games following the All-Star break, facing two left-handed pitchers and two right-handers, but he will be idle Friday against righty Zac Gallen. With Bryan Reynolds on the bereavement list, Joe could see a minor bump in playing time in the short term. In 317 plate appearances, he's slashing .243/.328/.389 with seven home runs.
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Pirates' Ryan Borucki: Pulled off rehab assignment
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Borucki (wrist) had his rehab assignment paused Friday and he's currently being re-assessed, Alex Stumpf of MLB.com reports.
Borucki has made 10 rehab appearances, yielding seven runs across 9.2 innings. However, he may have suffered a setback in his recovery from carpal tunnel syndrome. A timeline for Borucki to return to Triple-A Indianapolis could become clear after his re-evaluation.
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Pirates' Ji Hwan Bae: Summoned from Triple-A
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The Pirates recalled Bae from Triple-A Indianapolis on Friday.
With Bryan Reynolds (back) getting placed on the bereavement list Thursday, Bae will supply some temporary depth in the outfield. He played center field in all six of his starts with the Pirates this season but could mix in at the corner outfield positions or second base as well. Bae is slashing .355/.434/.497 in 48 games for Indianapolis.
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Pirates' Josh Fleming: Booted from 40-man roster
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The Pirates designated Fleming for assignment Friday.
The left-hander has posted a 4.02 ERA and 17:14 K:BB across 31.1 frames with the Pirates this season. Because he's already been outrighted once before, Fleming could elect for free agency if he clears waivers again.
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Pirates' Hunter Stratton: Back from injured list
Rotowire
The Pirates activated Stratton (triceps) from the 15-day injured list Friday.
Stratton has been out since mid-June with a right triceps strain but has been cleared to return to the active roster following a few rehab appearances. The 27-year-old holds a 4.26 ERA with a 30:5 K:BB over 31.2 innings out of the bullpen this season.
The Pirates placed Reynolds (back) on the bereavement list Thursday.
Reynolds was expected to return to action Friday against the Diamondbacks after being scratched from Wednesday's lineup due back spasms, but he'll instead step away from the team for the next few days to be with his family. The Pirates will add another player to the roster for Friday's game at Arizona.
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Pirates' Jose Rojas: Inks MiLB deal with Pittsburgh
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The Pirates signed Rojas to a minor-league contract Thursday, Alex Stumpf of MLB.com reports.
Rojas slashed .254/.359/.561 with 18 home runs at Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre in the Yankees organization but was released earlier this month in what was likely an opt-out situation. The 31-year-old will give the Pirates some utility depth in the minors.
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Pirates' Rowdy Tellez: Slugs ninth homer
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Tellez went 2-for-3 with a home run and two RBI in Wednesday's 5-0 win over the Cardinals.
The first baseman wasn't even supposed to be in the starting lineup with St. Louis sending southpaw Matthew Liberatore to the mound, but Tellez was a late addition after Bryan Reynolds had his back lock up on him earlier in the day, forcing Connor Joe to the outfield. Tellez took advantage of the opportunity, driving in the Bucs' first run with an RBI single in the second inning before launching a solo shot that chased Liberatore from the game to lead off the fourth. The 29-year-old slugger is up to nine homers on the season, but seven of them have come in his last 21 games -- a stretch in which Tellez is batting .308 (20-for-65) with 17 RBI.
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Pirates' Martin Perez: Blanks Cards for second win
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Perez (2-5) picked up the win in Wednesday's 5-0 victory over the Cardinals, allowing four hits and five walks over six scoreless innings. He struck out two.
The veteran lefty wasn't exactly sharp as he tossed only 51 of 91 pitches for strikes and set a new season high in walks, but Perez was able to avoid hard contact and keep the Cards off the board. It's his first win since April 4, and it was a much-needed bounce-back effort after he got tagged for 11 runs in 8.1 innings over his prior two outings. Perez will take a 5.20 ERA, 1.65 WHIP and 63:32 K:BB through 83 innings on the year into his next start, which is scheduled to come on the road early next week in Houston.
Pirates' Bryan Reynolds: Not expected to miss more time
Rotowire
Pirates manager Derek Shelton said Wednesday that Reynolds (back) is fine and will travel with the club for its road trip that begins Friday, Noah Hiles of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.
Reynolds had to be scratched from Wednesday's lineup versus the Cardinals after his back locked up on him when he was getting out of the car earlier in the day. However, Shelton said it was mostly a matter of the day game not giving Reynolds enough time to get loose and that the outfielder was moving around normally by the time the contest was over. It sounds like Reynolds should be back in the lineup Friday in Arizona following the club's scheduled off day Thursday.
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Pirates' Rowdy Tellez: Late addition to lineup
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Tellez will start at first base and bat eighth in Wednesday's game against the Cardinals.
Though he had been scheduled to receive Wednesday's game off with a lefty (Matthew Liberatore) taking the hill for the Cardinals, Tellez was added to the lineup after Bryan Reynolds (back) was scratched from the starting nine. Connor Joe had been slated to fill in for Tellez at first base but will instead replace Reynolds in the outfield.
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Pirates' Bryan Reynolds: Late scratch due to back spasms
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Reynolds was a late scratch from the lineup for Wednesday's game versus the Cardinals due to back spasms, Alex Stumpf of MLB.com reports.
Reynolds will be examined and treated by the Pirates medical staff and is considered day-to-day for the time being. It's the first time all season that he's been out of the lineup. The Pirates have a scheduled off day, so Reynolds will be afforded some extra rest before their next game Friday in Arizona.
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Pirates' Jack Suwinski: Sitting against southpaw
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Suwinski is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Cardinals.
The lefty-hitting Suwinski will take a seat while southpaw Matthew Liberatore takes the hill for the Cardinals. Michael Taylor will swap in for Suwinski in center field.
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Pirates' Rowdy Tellez: Taking day off against lefty
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Tellez is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Cardinals.
Connor Joe will fill in at first base for the lefty-hitting Tellez, who takes a seat while the Cardinals send southpaw Matthew Liberatore to the mound. Tellez has gotten off to a nice start to the second half of the season, going 3-for-11 with a double, a walk and three RBI through the Pirates' first five games.
