Pittsburgh is giving Konnor Griffin another real chance to settle back in, and that starts with another night at shortstop against the Phillies.
The Pirates rookie will start at shortstop for the second straight game on July 1 at Citizens Bank Park, the first time he has done that since his injury. Griffin only returned to the team on June 26, and he’s still working his way back from a right forearm flexor injury that had kept him from throwing at shortstop without pain.
He’ll also lead off for the third game in a row, continuing to hold a major spot in the lineup at age 20.
Griffin has already been eased back carefully. He started at shortstop in two games against the Cincinnati Reds at PNC Park - the series opener on June 26 and the series finale on June 28 - but sat out June 27. In the Phillies series opener on June 29, he served as the designated hitter.
The Pirates sent him on a rehab assignment with Double-A Altoona, but only for one game on June 24 before bringing him right back. He could have stayed there longer to build up more, but the club needed his bat and speed in the majors.
So far, he’s shown both. Griffin opened his return with a leadoff home run, has five hits in 18 at-bats, added a stolen base and even dropped down a successful bunt.
He is not all the way back as the everyday shortstop yet, but the direction is clear.
"Yeah there's a plan," Pirates manager Don Kelly said about Griffin pregame. "Going back-to-back today and still building him back up to be able to go every single day, nine innings at short."
The Pirates’ lineup also looks more like its usual self after the 8-0 loss to Philadelphia on June 30, when they rolled out seven right-handed batters and two switch-hitters against left-hander Cristopher Sánchez, who worked seven scoreless innings with nine strikeouts.
Second baseman Brandon Lowe, first baseman Ryan O'Hearn and center fielder Jake Mangum are all back in the lineup, batting second, fifth and eighh, respectively.
Bryan Reynolds will move to designated hitter for the 11th time this season and stays in the three spot, while Tyler Callihan is back in left field for the fourth time and hits eighth.
Esmerlyn Valdez, who batted second the day before, moves to fourth and has been on a tear over his last eight games, posting a .542/.607/1.208 slash line for an 1.815 OPS.
Henry Davis remains behind the plate for the second straight game with right-handed starter Paul Skenes on the mound for Pittsburgh.
In Other News...
Pirates Dream Trade Comes With One Massive Catch
The idea of the Pirates swinging big for Adley Rutschman has all the appeal of a true deadline dream. If the Orioles decide the catcher is available, Pittsburgh would be looking at a player with a proven offensive track record and the kind of defensive reputation that can change the feel of a pitching staff. Former Pirates infielder Josh Harrison has already weighed in on the fit, and journalist Noah Hiles has pointed out why the fit makes sense for a club that has spent years searching for stability behind the plate.
The catch is that this is not the kind of trade to treat as a simple star-for-prospect swap. Rutschman is still in arbitration, which means his value does not stop at this summer, and any deal would likely come with a steep cost in young talent. The Pirates also have their own catching picture to sort through, with Endy Rodrguez offering offense and Henry Davis still searching for more at the plate, so adding Rutschman would reshape the depth chart even before the price tag comes into focus. [Read more 🡒]
Pirates Suddenly Have A Paul Skenes Problem They Can't Ignore
Paul Skenes has gone from overpowering opposing lineups to looking alarmingly human, and the latest stumble only sharpened the concern inside a Pirates rotation that has leaned on him heavily. In his most recent start, he was tagged for eight runs in four innings, a harsh line for a pitcher whose fastball has long been the headline. Even more jarring, the velocity has backed up from the premium power he showed earlier in the season, the kind of drop that immediately gets attention in Pittsburgh.
The Pirates now have to decide how seriously to treat what they are seeing and how much risk they want to take on with one of the most important arms in the organization. A closer look at his workload and condition is clearly on the table, and any delay in finding answers only increases the pressure on the rest of the staff. If Skenes cannot get back on track quickly, the ripple effects could be felt by Bubba Chandler, Jared Jones, Braxton Ashcraft and Mitch Keller, all of whom would suddenly matter even more. [Read more 🡒]