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Cruz will start in center field and bat eighth in Tuesday's game against the Reds.
It's the first start for Cruz against a left-handed pitcher since Aug. 2 of last season, as he was out of the lineup the final 12 times the Pirates faced a lefty last year and the first time they went up against a southpaw in 2026. The left-handed-hitting Cruz is a career .174/.249/.315 hitter against southpaws.
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Pirates' Henry Davis: Not starting Tuesday's game
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Davis is absent from the lineup for Tuesday's game versus the Reds.
Davis has started all three games versus right-handers but will yield to Joey Bart at catcher for the second time in two games against lefties. The former No. 1 overall pick is 2-for-11 with a 2:3 BB:K in the early going this season for Pittsburgh.
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Pirates' Jared Triolo: Grabbing seat Tuesday
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Triolo is not in the lineup for Tuesday's contest in Cincinnati.
Triolo batted leadoff the other time the Pirates faced a lefty, but he will begin this one on the bench. Nick Gonzales is at shortstop and Nick Yorke is handling third base for Pittsburgh against southpaw Brandon Williamson.
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Pirates' Edward Florentino: Out to begin season
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Florentino is sidelined with a left ankle injury.
He suffered the injury in February and has resumed baseball activities, but Florentino is expected to be sidelined into April. Once healthy, the 19-year-old Florentino could get assigned to High-A Greensboro after he logged a 143 wRC+ in 54 games at Single-A to close 2025.
Brannigan (nose) was placed on the 7-day injured list Monday.
Brannigan suffered a fractured nose during spring training and will need some more time before returning to game action. The injury isn't considered significant, so he figures to be back on the field in the near future for Double-A Altoona.
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Pirates' Braxton Ashcraft: Six strong innings Monday
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Ashcraft (0-1) took the loss Monday against the Reds, allowing two runs on four hits and four walks in six innings. He struck out three.
The right-hander was saddled with a tough-luck loss, logging a quality start in his season debut. The four walks allowed matched a career high for Ashcraft, but it was still a fine showing overall at hitter-friendly Great American Ball Park. Ashcraft's next start is scheduled to come over the weekend at home versus the Orioles, and he'll be trying to reach the 90-pitch mark after tossing 87 pitches Monday.
Pirates' Ronny Simon: Healthy at Triple-A Indianapolis
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Simon (shoulder) has reached base six times and stolen a base in his first two games with Triple-A Indianapolis.
Simon was slow-played during spring training after having left shoulder surgery last October, but he avoided the minor-league injured list. Slated to turn 26 in April, Simon is not on the 40-man roster but could get a look at some point if the Pirates are in need of a utility player.
Pirates' Carmen Mlodzinski: Strikes out eight in no-decision
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Mlodzinski did not factor into the decision in Sunday's 4-3 extra-inning win over the Mets, allowing two runs on six hits and no walks with eight strikeouts over 4.1 innings.
Mlodzinski threw 55 of 85 pitches for strikes and generated just eight whiffs while mostly keeping the Mets in check. The 27-year-old posted a career-high 99 innings last season working as both a starter and reliever, so he likely won't go deep into games often early in 2026. He's slated for a home matchup against the Orioles next weekend.
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Pirates' Brandon Lowe: Homers in win
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Lowe went 2-for-3 with a solo home run and two walks in Sunday's 4-3 extra-inning win over the Mets.
Lowe reached base four times, highlighted by a solo shot that put the Pirates up 2-1 in the third inning. The 31-year-old has now homered three times in as many games to open the campaign, reaching base in seven of his 14 plate appearances. He should see near-everyday run in the heart of the order and has topped the 20-homer mark in each of the four seasons in which he's played over 100 games.
Pirates' Spencer Horwitz: Settling in at first base
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Horwitz will start at first base and bat sixth in Sunday's game against the Mets.
Heading into spring training, the 28-year-old's role was somewhat muddled following the offseason additions of Marcell Ozuna, Ryan O'Hearn and Brandon Lowe, but Horwitz looks to have settled into a strong-side platoon role at first base. He's occupied the position for the Pirates' first two games against right-handed pitchers, with O'Hearn spelling him Saturday when the Mets sent lefty David Peterson to the hill.
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Pirates' Marcell Ozuna: Receiving breather Sunday
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Ozuna is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Mets.
The veteran slugger will receive the afternoon off after he started the Pirates' first two games of the season and went 1-for-9 with a walk. With Ozuna on the bench, Bryan Reynolds will cede left field to Jake Mangum and shift to designated hitter.
Soto walked one and struck out three across 1.1 scoreless innings Saturday against the Mets.
Soto has appeared in each of Pittsburgh's first two games of the season and has racked up five strikeouts across 2.1 innings of work. He entered the game with two outs in the seventh inning and also worked around a leadoff walk to complete the eighth frame. Soto could figure into save chances this season, though Dennis Santana did follow him into the game in the ninth inning on Saturday.
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Pirates' Dennis Santana: Clean ninth inning
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Santana allowed one walk but no hits across one scoreless inning in Saturday's game against the Rockies.
Santana has pitched in both of Pittsburgh's games to begin 2026, and he has yet to allow an earned run. His usage Saturday was particularly notable, as he entered the game in the ninth inning with the score knotted at 0-0. Manager Don Kelly noted shortly before the new season began that Santana may not get every save chance, though Santana's clearly still a high-leverage arm for the Pirates and should work in plenty of save situations.
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