MLB Player News

Joe is out of the lineup for Thursday's game against the Cardinals.

Joe will take a seat for the series finale along with two of the other Pirates' everyday players in Andrew McCutchen and Nick Gonzales. Though he's been one of the Pirates' better hitters for much of the season, Joe has fallen into a 2-for-27 skid at the plate over his last eight games.

Williams (wrist) will begin a rehab assignment with Triple-A Indianapolis on Thursday.

Williams has been absent for most of this month with a right wrist sprain but is feeling well enough to test himself in a game setting. He's eligible for activation from the 10-day injured list at any time and shouldn't need a lengthy rehab assignment, given his brief absence.

The Pirates optioned Ryan to Triple-A Indianapolis on Thursday.

Ryan had just been called up Tuesday and didn't make an appearance during his most recent stint with the big club. He was removed from the 26-man active roster to make room in the bullpen for right-hander Dennis Santana, who will be available for Thursday's game agains the Cardinals after being claimed off waivers from the Yankees earlier this week.

Marsh (hamstring) will begin a rehab assignment with Double-A Reading on Thursday.

Marsh has been working out with Reading in recent days and is ready to test out his strained right hamstring in a game setting. The outfielder shouldn't require too many rehab games before being activated since he just landed on the 10-day injured list June 3. A return early next week at the start of the Phillies' homestand seems like a sensible target for Marsh.

Waldrep will make his next start Sunday against the Rays in Atlanta, Justin Toscano of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports.

Atlanta had held off from listing Waldrep among its probable pitchers following his MLB debut this past weekend against the Nationals, but the fact that the rookie wasn't immediately demoted following his first start always suggested that he was sticking around in the big-league rotation. Waldrep was touched up for seven runs while striking out only one over 3.2 innings against the Nationals, but he had cruised through the first three frames before unraveling in the fourth. Though Waldrep displayed plenty of upside during stops with Double-A Mississippi and Triple-A Gwinnett earlier this season, he'll still carry plenty of risk as a fantasy option Sunday, even in a favorable matchup at home.

McCutchen isn't in the lineup for Thursday's contest in St. Louis.

The Pirates are giving Bryan Reynolds a start in the designated hitter slot while Jack Suwinski plays left field and Michael Taylor handles center field. McCutchen has struggled in his career against the Cardinals' starting pitcher for Thursday's game, Lance Lynn, going 13-for-57 with a 21:1 K:BB.

Gonzales is absent from the lineup for Thursday's game in St. Louis.

Gonzales looks to be getting a routine maintenance day after he had started in every game for the Pirates dating back to May 13. The second-year infielder recorded a double in both of the first two games of the series, giving him 12 extra-base hits through 119 plate appearances on the season. Jared Triolo will get the nod at second base Thursday while Gonzales rests.

Murphy is out of the lineup for Thursday's game against the Orioles.

Murphy will get a breather for Thursday's matinee after he caught eight innings of Atlanta's 4-2 loss Wednesday night while going hitless across four at-bats. Travis d'Arnaud will spell Murphy behind the plate.

Abrams went 2-for-5 with a double, a home run, two runs scored and two RBI in Wednesday's 7-5 win over the Tigers.

The shortstop launched a solo shot off Reese Olson in the third inning to get the Nationals on the board. Abrams has shaken off his May slump, hitting safely in six straight games with six of his seven hits (three doubles, a triple and two homers) during that stretch going for extra bases. On the season, the 23-year-old is slashing .248/.296/.472 with 11 homers, 10 steals, 34 RBI and 38 runs in 61 contests.

Finnegan gave up a solo home run and struck out one in the ninth inning Wednesday to record his 19th save of the season in a 7-5 win over the Tigers.

Riley Greene took Finnegan deep with one out to make things interesting, but the right-hander slammed the door shut from there. Finnegan has served up three homers in his last 10 appearances, a worrying trend, but those account for the only three earned runs he's allowed during that stretch. On the season, he sports a 1.91 ERA, 0.85 WHIP and 30:10 K:BB through 28.1 innings.