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Reynaldo Lopez RP | ATL
Braves' Reynaldo Lopez: Battles control in no-decision
Lopez came away with a no-decision in Tuesday's 4-2 win over the Red Sox, allowing two runs (one earned) on six hits and four walks over 5.1 innings. He struck out five.
The four free passes were a season high for Lopez, who tossed 54 of 91 pitches for strikes before exiting. The right-hander has failed to last six innings in either of his last two outings after beginning the season with four straight quality starts, but he still sports a 1.53 ERA, 1.13 WHIP and 36:14 K:BB through 35.1 innings. He'll look to tighten things up in his next start, which lines up to come at home early next week against the Cubs.
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Nick Gonzales 3B | PIT
Pirates' Nick Gonzales: Cutting down on strikeout rate
Gonzales has a 17.4 percent strikeout rate across 132 plate appearances with Triple-A Indianapolis.
Gonzales struck out at around a 28 percent clip for most of his stops in the minor leagues, so his current rate stands out positively. He's also posted a .254 ISO and 167 wRC+, albeit in his age-25 season. The Pirates have struggled to score runs consistently in the first full month of the new campaign, and Jared Triolo has only a .043 ISO and 67 wRC+ as the team's current regular second baseman. If Gonzales keeps hitting well, he could get a second shot at the majors in short order.
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Paul Goldschmidt 1B | NYY
Cardinals' Paul Goldschmidt: Absent from Wednesday's lineup
Goldschmidt is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game versus the Mets.
Goldschmidt is hitless in May and the Cardinals have discussed the possibility of giving him a few days off to clear his head and have him work on his approach at the plate. However, it's not yet clear whether his absence from the lineup Wednesday is the first of multiple days off, or just a one-off matter. Alec Burleson will handle first base in Goldschmidt's stead.
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Pedro Pages C | STL
Cardinals' Pedro Pages: Recalled and in Wednesday's lineup
The Cardinals recalled Pages from Triple-A Memphis on Wednesday.
Pages will make his first major-league start Wednesday versus the Mets, serving as the Cardinals' catcher while batting eighth. He will serve primarily as Ivan Herrera's backup over the next several weeks after Willson Contreras (forearm) was placed on the 10-day injured list Wednesday.
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Willson Contreras 1B | BOS
Cardinals' Willson Contreras: Sent to IL with forearm fracture
The Cardinals placed Contreras on the 10-day injured list Wednesday.
Contreras fractured his left forearm when he was struck by J.D. Martinez's bat on a catcher's interference call during Tuesday's 7-5 loss. He will undergo surgery Wednesday to repair the fracture and is expected to miss 6-to-8 weeks. Ivan Herrera will be the Cardinals' primary catcher while Contreras is out, while Pedro Pages has been recalled from Triple-A Memphis to take Contreras' roster spot and serve as the team's No. 2 backstop.
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Ke'Bryan Hayes 3B | CIN
Pirates' Ke'Bryan Hayes: Sitting Wednesday amid slump
Hayes is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Angels.
Hayes will get a breather for the series finale after he had started in each of the Pirates' last 11 games. The 27-year-old went 8-for-42 over that stretch, bringing his batting average down to a career-worst .240 for the season. Jared Triolo will fill in for Hayes at the hot corner Wednesday.
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Edward Olivares RF | PIT
Pirates' Edward Olivares: On bench Wednesday
Olivares is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Angels.
Olivares had started in each of the past four games and went 4-for-15 with a home run, a double and four RBI during that stretch, but he'll hit the bench while right-hander Jose Soriano takes the hill for the Halos. The Pirates still seem to view Olivares as a short-side platoon player, as three of his starts over the last four games came versus left-handed pitching.
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Connor Joe RF | SEA
Pirates' Connor Joe: Earns fifth consecutive start
Joe will start in right field and bat cleanup in Wednesday's game against the Angels.
Joe will be included in the lineup for the fifth game in a row, with the 31-year-old having made three starts at first base and two in right field. He should be a mainstay in the lineup against southpaws as a short-side platoon mate at first base for the lefty-hitting Rowdy Tellez, and Joe has made a strong case to see steady playing time against right-handed pitching as a corner outfielder. Joe enters Wednesday's contest with a team-best 131 wRC+ on the season, while Michael Taylor owns a 53 wRC+ and would seemingly be most at risk of moving out of a near-everyday role, despite being the Pirates' best defensive outfielder.
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Michael Taylor CF | CHW
Pirates' Michael Taylor: Heading to bench Wednesday
Taylor is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Angels.
Taylor will receive a breather for the day game after he went 0-for-6 with three strikeouts while making a pair of starts in center field over the first two games of the series. Jack Suwinski will replace Taylor as the Pirates' starting center fielder Wednesday.