MLB Player News

Vogelbach is out of the lineup for Tuesday's game against the Marlins.

Since lefty Daniel Castano is on the hill and the lefty-hitting Vogelbach started in each of the previous three games, manager Derek Shelton likely viewed Tuesday as a good opportunity to give Vogelbach a breather. Yoshi Tsutsugo will serve as the Pirates' designated hitter.

Belt (knee) went 3-for-3 with a double in Monday's 4-3 loss to the Diamondbacks.

Belt missed Sunday's game with knee tenderness, but it was never expected to be a long-term absence. The first baseman was perfect at the plate Monday in his second straight multi-hit effort before he was lifted for pinch hitter Austin Slater in the eighth inning. Belt has gone 6-for-7 across his last three games. He's still batting a mediocre .232, but he's posted a .745 OPS with six home runs, five doubles, 15 RBI, 19 runs scored and a stolen bases in 48 contests. Belt should continue to play regularly versus right-handed pitchers, but he's often been on the bench against southpaws.

Ruf isn't starting Monday's game against the Diamondbacks, Alex Pavlovic of NBC Sports Bay Area reports.

Ruf went 1-for-5 with a run and two strikeouts during Sunday's series finale against the Padres, and he'll be out of the lineup for the second time in the last three games. Brandon Belt is serving as the designated hitter while Luis Gonzalez enters the lineup in right field.

Soler (pelvis) will report to Double-A Pensacola on Tuesday to begin a rehab assignment, Christina De Nicola of MLB.com reports.

After landing on the injured list July 1 with bilateral pelvis inflammation, Soler was sent to the Marlins' spring training facility in Jupiter, Fla. to conduct his rehab program. He appears to have made good progress in the past week and a half, and since he hasn't been shut down for an extended period, he may only need one or two games in the minors to get his timing back at the plate. Once Soler is reinstated from the IL, Bryan De La Cruz and Jon Berti will lose out on opportunities in the corner outfield.

Belt (knee) is starting Monday's game against the Diamondbacks, Alex Pavlovic of NBC Sports Bay Area reports.

Belt was removed from Saturday's matchup against San Diego due to knee tenderness, and he sat out Sunday's series finale. However, he'll serve as the designated hitter and bat cleanup against Arizona on Monday.

Hummel was optioned to Triple-A Reno on Monday.

Hummel lost out on some playing time recently and went 0-for-13 with an RBI and four strikeouts over his last five games. He should see more consistent at-bats in the minors, while Jake McCarthy was called up to provide additional outfield depth for the Diamondbacks.

Vogelbach went 1-for-5 with a three-run home run Sunday against the Brewers.

Even with the return of Kevin Newman and Yoshi Tsutsugo, Vogelbach has remained a regular in the Pittsburgh lineup. He's dictated that with his performance, as he's maintained a .355 average with two home runs, eight RBI and three runs scored across nine games in July. For the season, Vogelbach has 12 homers with a .241/.339/.459 line across 254 plate appearances.

Ford was optioned to Triple-A Gwinnett on Monday.

Ford failed to get an at-bat while in the big leagues after being called up Friday and he will now return to Triple-A on Monday. The first baseman will remain a top candidate for a potential call up moving forward.

Pederson is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Padres, Maria I. Guardado of MLB.com reports.

Since the Padres are bringing a southpaw (MacKenzie Gore) to the hill, Pederson will be one of five left-hitting players on the bench for the series finale, with Brandon Belt (knee), Brandon Crawford, Luis Gonzalez and LaMonte Wade joining him in the dugout. Yermin Mercedes will cover Pederson's usual spot in left field.

Mercedes will start in left field and bat third in Sunday's game against the Padres, Maria I. Guardado of MLB.com reports.

Mercedes will pick up his fifth start in nine games since being called up from Triple-A Sacramento a week ago. He'll likely see regular work versus left-handed pitching, but Mercedes' opportunities to play against right-handers should dwindle once Brandon Belt (knee) is cleared to rejoin the lineup and when Tommy La Stella (illness) is activated from the COVID-19-related injured list.