Blue Jays' Isiah Kiner-Falefa: Claimed by Blue Jays
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The Blue Jays claimed Kiner-Falefa off waivers from the Pirates on Sunday, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports.
The 30-year-old was placed on outright waivers by the Pirates on Friday, and the Blue Jays will pay what remains of his $7.5 million salary for 2025. Kiner-Falefa was a lineup regular at shortstop and third base for Pittsburgh but is likely to operate as more of a true utility player in Toronto.
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Pirates' Isiah Kiner-Falefa: Idle for series finale
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Kiner-Falefa is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Red Sox.
Pittsburgh placed Kiner-Falefa on outright waivers Friday, but he proceeded to start the ensuing two games. Cam Devanney will pick up his first career start at third base in place of the veteran infielder.
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Pirates' Isiah Kiner-Falefa: Placed on outright waivers
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The Pirates placed Kiner-Falefa on outright waivers Friday, Noah Hiles of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.
Kiner-Falefa will remain with the Pirates if he goes unclaimed on waivers. The utility player is in the second year of a two-year, $15 million contract he signed with the Blue Jays in 2023. Kiner-Falefa has been Pittsburgh's everyday third baseman since Ke'Bryan Hayes was traded to the Reds near the deadline. He's still eligible to play for Pittsburgh while on waivers.
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Pirates' Isiah Kiner-Falefa: Resting up Monday
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Kiner-Falefa is out of the lineup for Monday's game against the Cardinals.
Kiner-Falefa will retreat to the bench for the series opener in St. Louis after he started in each of the last three contests. Jared Triolo will cover third base Monday in Kiner-Falefa's stead, which opens up shortstop for Liover Peguero.
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Pirates' Isiah Kiner-Falefa: Getting breather
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Kiner-Falefa is absent from the lineup for Wednesday's game versus the Blue Jays.
Kiner-Falefa will receive a day of rest after starting each of the previous eight games. The Pirates will shift Jared Triolo over to third base and install Liover Peguero at shortstop in Wednesday's series finale.
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Pirates' Isiah Kiner-Falefa: Tallies three hits
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Kiner-Falefa went 3-for-5 with a double, two RBI and a run scored Sunday against the Reds.
Kiner-Falefa has started seven of Pittsburgh's last eight games at third base, with Jared Triolo serving as the primary shortstop. While he provides very little power, Kiner-Falefa has performed well across his last 10 starts by collecting 13 hits across 39 at-bats with eight RBI, nine runs scored and two stolen bases. While Liover Peguero has slowly begun to work his way into more playing time, Triolo looks more likely to be at risk of losing starts relative to Kiner-Falefa.
Kiner-Falefa isn't in the lineup for Saturday's game against the Reds.
Kiner-Falefa will get a day to reset after going 3-for-17 with an RBI and three runs scored across Pittsburgh's last five contests. His absence will move Jared Triolo to third base, allowing Liover Peguero to start at shortstop.
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Pirates' Isiah Kiner-Falefa: On bench for series finale
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Kiner-Falefa is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Rockies.
Liover Peguero will move over to shortstop Sunday after a massive three-homer game as the first baseman Saturday, leaving no room in the lineup for Kiner-Falefa. Even if Peguero is handed an everyday role at shortstop over the final two months of the season, Kiner-Falefa could retain playing time by shifting over to third base, where Pittsburgh has an opening after trading Ke'Bryan Hayes to Cincinnati.
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Pirates' Isiah Kiner-Falefa: Knocks in three
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Kiner-Falefa went 3-for-5 with a double, three RBI and two runs scored in Friday's 17-16 loss to the Rockies.
Kiner-Falefa delivered an RBI single in the first inning and followed that up with a two-RBI double four frames later. The performance extended his hitting streak to a modest four games, during which he's delivered five RBI and four runs scored. With Kiner-Falefa staying put with Pittsburgh through the trade deadline, he should remain the team's primary shortstop for the rest of the campaign.
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Pirates' Isiah Kiner-Falefa: Not starting Tuesday
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Kiner-Falefa isn't in the lineup for Tuesday's game against the Giants.
Kiner-Falefa will get a chance to rest his legs after driving in two RBI and scoring during Monday's contest. His absence will allow Liover Peguero to pick up a start at shortstop while batting ninth.
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Pirates' Isiah Kiner-Falefa: Knocks in two
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Kiner-Falefa went 1-for-4 with a double, two RBI and a run scored Monday against the Giants.
Kiner-Falefa narrowly missed a home run on a fly ball to center field in the second inning, though he still managed to drive in two after it bounced off the wall. Like many of the Pirates' regulars, he has struggled to produce much at the plate in July, going just 15-for-66 with six RBI and four runs scored across 21 games. Kiner-Falefa is also a trade candidate, so he may begin to lose out on playing time if he is dealt to a contender.
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Pirates' Isiah Kiner-Falefa: Four hits in Sunday's win
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Kiner-Falefa went 4-for-4 on Sunday against the Twins.
Kiner-Falefa singled in all four of his plate appearances Sunday, marking his first multi-hit effort in his last 12 starts. He still has a .274 average for the season, though his production has otherwise been empty -- he has just one home run, 23 RBI and 26 runs scored in 83 games.
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Pirates' Isiah Kiner-Falefa: Knocks in two runs
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Kiner-Falefa went 1-for-3 with a two-run single in Wednesday's 5-0 win over St. Louis.
Kiner-Falefa doubled the Pirates' lead in the seventh inning with a two-run single that brought Ke'Bryan Hayes and Tommy Pham home. Kiner-Falefa has recorded at least one hit in seven of his last eight games and has gone 8-for-27 (.296) with one steal and five RBI over that span.
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Pirates' Isiah Kiner-Falefa: Drives in pair in win
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Kiner-Falefa went 1-for-3 with two RBI in Wednesday's 5-0 win over the Cardinals.
Kiner-Falefa came through in a big spot, lining a two-run single in the seventh inning to extend the lead. The hit was his sixth in the past five games, and he continued a productive stretch in which the 30-year-old has gone 8-for-27 (.292) with a triple and five RBI over his last eight contests.
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Pirates' Isiah Kiner-Falefa: Out of Sunday's lineup
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Kiner-Falefa is not in the lineup for Sunday's game against the Mets.
Kiner-Falefa will head to the bench after a run of 17 straight starts, during which he struggled to a .200/.237/.255 slash line at the plate. Jared Triolo will fill in at shortstop Sunday for the Buccos.
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Pirates' Isiah Kiner-Falefa: On base twice in win
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Kiner-Falefa went 1-for-3 with a triple, an RBI and a walk Monday against the Brewers.
Kiner-Faelfa delivered the game-winning run on an RBI triple in the sixth inning, his first extra-base hit since June 10. He's had a tough month, going 13-for-64 with five RBI, one stolen base and one run scored across 20 games. Despite the struggles, Kiner-Falefa remains the Pirates' everyday shortstop.
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Pirates' Isiah Kiner-Falefa: Belts home run in return
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Kiner-Falefa went 2-for-4 with a solo home run in Monday's 4-3 loss to the Mets.
Kiner-Falefa slashed .302/.327/.377 with two stolen bases and three RBI in the 15 games prior to his stint on the 10-day injured list due to a right hamstring strain. He picked up where he left off Monday, smashing a solo home run to left-center field off David Peterson in the second frame. Kiner-Falefa added a single in the sixth frame to log his seventh multi-hit game of the season, and he has a career-best .704 OPS over 113 plate appearances this year.
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Pirates' Isiah Kiner-Falefa: Reinstated from IL
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The Pirates reinstated Kiner-Falefa (hamstring) from the 10-day injured list Monday.
Kiner-Falefa was placed on the 10-day injured list May 1 due to a right hamstring strain. He quickly resumed baseball activities and was able to run the bases over the weekend, and he's recovered enough that a rehab assignment is not needed. Kiner-Falefa slashed .280/.333/.330 with six stolen bases and seven RBI prior to his injury, and he should be back in the Pirates' starting lineup against the Mets on Monday. Liover Peguero was optioned to Triple-A Indianapolis in a corresponding move.
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Pirates' Isiah Kiner-Falefa: Resumes activity
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Kiner-Falefa (hamstring) has resumed baseball activity and is expected to run the bases this weekend, MLB.com reports.
Kiner-Falefa has been sidelined since early May with a right hamstring strain, though he was never expected to be out long. He's eligible to return Sunday, but he may need a few additional days before being activated.
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Pirates' Isiah Kiner-Falefa: Remains out Saturday
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Kiner-Falefa (lower body) isn't in the starting lineup for Saturday's game against San Diego.
Kiner-Falefa will begin on the bench for a third consecutive contest as he continues do deal with a lower-body injury. It's not yet clear how much time the versatile veteran will miss, but at this point there's been no word of an extended absence. Jared Triolo will make a third straight start at shortstop in Kiner-Falefa's stead Saturday.
