MLB Player News

Manager Derek Shelton said Monday that Kiner-Falefa will serve as the Pirates' primary shortstop for the rest of the season, Noah Hiles of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.

With Oneil Cruz having struggled defensively at shortstop in 2024 after a fractured ankle cut his 2023 season short, the Pirates are planning to transition him to center field over the final month of the campaign. Cruz's move to the outfield keeps an everyday spot in the infield available for Kiner-Falefa, who might have otherwise been at risk of moving into a utility role when Ke'Bryan Hayes (back) returned from the injured list at some point in September. As a member of the Yankees in 2023, Kiner-Falefa made just one start at shortstop, but he should carry eligibility at the position in fantasy leagues in 2025 after having already made 16 starts at shortstop this season prior to Shelton's announcement Monday.

The Pirates activated Gonzales (groin) from the 10-day injured list Monday.

Gonzales missed a month of action with a left groin strain but is ready to roll after going 5-for-15 with one home run in four rehab contests with Triple-A Indianapolis. The 25-year-old will operate as the team's primary second baseman down the stretch. Gonzales has slashed .258/.293/.387 with five home runs and three steals in 65 games for the Pirates in 2024.

The Phillies recalled Kennedy from Triple-A Lehigh Valley on Monday.

After the Phillies acquired him from the Tigers on June 7, Kennedy was optioned to Lehigh Valley, with whom he produced a .961 OPS over 254 plate appearances before getting a call-up Monday. He'll provide the Phillies with an extra right-handed bat off the bench while Weston Wilson (personal) is away from the team while on paternity leave.

Kiner-Falefa went 3-for-4 with a double and a run scored Sunday against the Reds.

Kiner-Falefa broke out of a quiet seven-game stretch, during which he went only 2-for-27 with a 25 percent strikeout rate. Nevertheless, he remains Pittsburgh's leadoff hitter with Andrew McCutchen (knee) sidelined and has eight runs scored and six RBI across 21 starts since joining the Pirates at the trade deadline.

McNeil is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Padres, Tim Healey of Newsday reports.

McNeil has an .854 OPS with five doubles and three homers through 19 games in August, but he'll sit Sunday against San Diego lefty Martin Perez. Jose Iglesias will man the keystone and bat seventh in the series finale.

Triolo is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Reds.

After starting in each of the last eight games while going 4-for-23 with two home runs and six walks against five strikeouts, Triolo will hit the bench for the series finale. Alika Williams will replace Triolo in the starting nine, manning second base while batting eighth.

Alvarez (illness) has appeared in Triple-A Gwinnett's last four games, going 8-for-17 with two home runs, two walks, two stolen bases, six RBI and six runs.

Alvarez missed five days' worth of action while recovering from a bout with pneumonia, but he's shown no signs of being slowed down by the illness since rejoining the Gwinnett lineup. Though Alvarez struggled mightily in his first exposure to the majors back in July, he's continued to wield a hot bat at Gwinnett since making the jump to the International League in June. Over 199 plate appearances at Triple-A, Alvarez is slashing .311/.422/.521 with nine home runs and eight stolen bases.

Guillorme started at second base and went 0-for-2 with two walks, a run scored and a stolen base in Saturday's 4-1 win over Boston.

Guillorme, who was signed last Tuesday, made a third consecutive start -- all against right-handers -- and appears to have moved into a platoon at second base with Kevin Newman for as long as it takes Ketel Marte (ankle) to return. Marte is not yet asymptomatic, manager Torey Lovullo told Arizona Sports on Friday, so there could be plenty of opportunities for Guillorme in the short term. The utility infielder is 2-for-10 with four walks, one RBI, two steals and two runs scored in his first three games with the Diamondbacks.

Estrada went 2-for-4 with one RBI, one stolen base and one run scored in Saturday's 4-3 win over the Mariners.

Estrada has gone 6-for-20 (.300) over five games since he returned from a wrist injury. The theft was just his second of the year, an unusually low mark after he topped 20 steals the previous two years. Part of the issue has been a lack of opportunity -- Estrada is slashing just .221/.251/.352 over 92 contests this season. He's added nine home runs, 46 RBI, 43 runs scored, 15 doubles and two triples. Per Statcast, his sprint speed is at 28.0 feet per second, which is just slightly below last year.

Stott went 4-for-4 with a double and two runs scored in Saturday's 11-2 win over the Royals.

Stott has hit safely in eight of his last 11 games, going 12-for-38 (.316) in that span, though just two of those have been multi-hit efforts. The second baseman has also been lacking in terms of run production, as he has just four RBI over 18 contests in August. For the season, he's at a .243/.315/.358 slash line with nine home runs, 47 RBI, 56 runs scored and 25 stolen bases through 118 games. Stott has seen a reduced role versus left-handed pitchers this year, with Edmundo Sosa often taking over at second base against southpaws.