MLB Player News

Espinal isn't in the lineup Wednesday against the Cubs.

Espinal has gone 0-for-8 with a walk and a strikeout over his last three games and will head to the bench for the third time in the last four matchups. Whit Merrifield is starting at the keystone and batting ninth.

Gorman isn't starting Wednesday against Cincinnati, Katie Woo of The Athletic reports.

Gorman is out of the lineup for a third consecutive game. He's in the midst of a slump at the plate in which he's hit just .138 with a double, four runs, an RBI, three walks and 11 strikeouts over his last nine games. Albert Pujols will serve as the designated hitter and bat fifth.

Miller isn't in the lineup Wednesday against the Orioles.

Miller started the last two games and went 2-for-6 with a run, a walk and two strikeouts. Josh Naylor will man first base and bat cleanup.

Brujan was recalled from Triple-A Durham on Wednesday, Tricia Whitaker of Bally Sports Sun reports.

Brujan headed to the minors in early July and slashed .302/.378/.460 with four homers, 28 runs, 14 RBI and nine stolen bases over 31 games following his demotion. The 24-year-old should serve as a utility man for the big-league club after Brandon Lowe (triceps) was placed on the 15-day injured list.

Chavis will start at first base and bat seventh in Wednesday's game against the Brewers.

Chavis will pick up his fourth consecutive start Wednesday and looks poised to operate as the Pirates' primary first baseman for the time being following Bligh Madris' recent demotion to Triple-A Indianapolis. Over 23 games in August, Chavis is slashing .243/.254/.457 with four home runs and 10 RBI.

Lowe was placed on the 10-day injured list with a right triceps contusion Wednesday, retroactive to Aug. 28, Tricia Whitaker of Bally Sports Sun reports.

Lowe missed the last three games due to injury and will be given at least another week to recover. Isaac Paredes (undisclosed) and Yu Chang are in line for additional work at second base in Lowe's absence, while Vidal Brujan was called up from Triple-A Durham on Wednesday.

Kemp went 3-for-4 with a two-run double, another two-bagger and two runs in a win over the Nationals on Tuesday.

Kemp enjoyed a much-needed breakout out of the top of the order, and his third-inning two-bagger plated Nick Allen and Cal Stevenson to snap a 4-4 tie. The veteran is still plagued by a lackluster .226/.302/.310 slash line, but he's now laced a career-high 21 doubles and is seven RBI away from eclipsing the career-best 37 he tallied a season ago.

Chavis went 2-for-4 with a solo home run and an additional run scored in a 4-2 win over the Brewers on Tuesday.

Chavis helped power the Pirates to a close victory, which saw him pick up his 14th home run of the campaign. Chavis is slugging .420 in 336 at-bats this season. The number is right in line with his career slugging percentage of .419. Despite having some pop in his bat, the 27-year-old first baseman is reaching base at a very poor .289 clip.

Mathias isn't starting Wednesday against the Astros.

Mathias started four of the last five games and went 7-for-15 with a home run, a double, five RBI and three runs during that time. Adolis Garcia will serve as the designated hitter and bat cleanup.

Garcia went 1-for-4 with a solo home run in Tuesday's 10-6 loss to the A's.

The 22-year-old has hit safely in three straight games since coming off the injured list, but Tuesday's long ball was his first since Aug. 2 and only his fifth of the year. Garcia's 4:51 BB:K through 63 big-league games this season remains an eyesore and he's only 2-for-6 on stolen-base attempts, but he's at least been fairly productive at the plate with a .288/.298/.421 slash line and 27 RBI.