MLB Player News

The Pirates are expected to activate Griffin (finger) from the 60-day injured list Friday, Kevin Gorman of TribLive.com reports.

Griffin has rejoined the Pirates in Pittsburgh after going 3-for-11 in three rehab games, and he will return to the active roster Friday on the first day he's eligible. The rookie shortstop has been sidelined for the past two months with a torn sagittal band on his left ring finger. With Griffin taking back over at shortstop this weekend, Jacob Gonzalez could be mixed in some at third base down the stretch for the Pirates.

The Pirates optioned Sisk to Triple-A Indianapolis on Thursday, Aiden Stepansky of MLB.com reports.

Sisk coughed up three runs while recording only one out in his last appearance Tuesday versus the Giants and has an ugly 1:9 K:BB over his last five outings with the big club. Wilber Dotel will absorb Sisk's spot on the active roster.

The Pirates recalled Dotel from Triple-A Indianapolis on Thursday, Aiden Stepansky of MLB.com reports.

The Pirates desperately need a fresh arm to cover innings in the bullpen, and Dotel should be first in line for that assignment. He's collected a 4.71 ERA and 31:13 K:BB over 28.2 frames covering 15 appearances out of the big-league bullpen this season. The Pirates could call on him to cover multiple innings in Thursday's game against the Giants once opener Lake Bachar exits the game.

Valdez is absent from the lineup for Thursday's game against the Giants.

After going 1-for-9 with six strikeouts in the first two games of the series, Valdez will take a seat in Thursday's finale. Bryan Reynolds has shifted over to right field, and Jake Mangum will cover left field for the Pirates.

Bailey is out of the lineup for Thursday's contest against the Blue Jays.

After starting both of the first two games of the series at catcher, Bailey will exit the lineup for Thursday's matinee. Austin Hedges will step in behind the dish and bat eighth in the series finale.

Bradford (0-4) took the loss Wednesday as the Rangers were downed 9-2 by the A's, surrendering five runs on seven hits -- including three home runs -- and a walk over four innings. He struck out three.

It was the southpaw's worst performance since coming off the IL for his season debut in early August after completing his recovery from an internal brace procedure on his elbow. Bradford has been taken deep only once in his first five starts, but Henry Bolte got to him for a pair of two-run shots in this one, while Zack Gelof also tagged him for a solo homer. Bradford saw his ERA inflate from 3.42 to 4.45 as a result, and through 30.1 innings he carries a 1.58 WHIP and 16:7 K:BB. He'll try to bounce back in his next outing, which is scheduled to come on the road early next week in Seattle.

Whitcomb went 1-for-4 with a double in Wednesday's 5-4 extra-inning win over the Pirates.

Whitcomb hit a leadoff double in the fifth inning, marking his second two-bagger of the season. The 27-year-old has appeared in 10 straight games since being recalled from Triple-A Sacramento on Aug. 24, batting .118 with three RBI, two runs scored and a home run in 36 plate appearances during that time. Across 60 plate appearances between Houston and San Francisco this season, he's slashing .123/.138/.316 with eight RBI, four runs scored and three long balls.

Seymour logged a blown save in Wednesday's 5-4 extra-inning win over the Pirates, allowing one run on two hits while striking out one in 1.2 innings.

Seymour entered the game in the seventh inning with two runners on base and one out. The right-hander managed to get through the eighth frame, though he gave up a double and a single as Pittsburgh tied the game at 3-3. Despite Wednesday's stumble, the 27-year-old has fared well over his last 10 outings, posting a 1.38 ERA, 1.00 WHIP and 13:3 K:BB across 13 innings during that time.

Bolte went 3-for-4 with a walk, two home runs, four RBI and a stolen base in Wednesday's 9-2 win over the Rangers.

The rookie outfielder wasn't getting fooled by lefty Cody Bradford, touching him up for two-run blasts in the third and fourth innings as the A's put the game away early. Bolte snapped a 16-game power drought with the performance, but he stayed productive during that span with a .299/.373/.358 slash line. Through his first 375 big-league plate appearances, Bolte is batting .274 with a respectable .739 OPS, eight homers, 15 steals, 30 RBI and 41 runs.

Lopez (6-4) picked up the win in Wednesday's 9-2 victory over the Rangers, allowing two runs on six hits and two walks over six innings. He struck out seven.

The southpaw served up solo shots to Ezequiel Duran in the first inning and Justin Foscue in the second -- the first time Lopez has been taken deep multiple times since May 14 -- but he settled in after that and produced his fourth quality start of the season on 102 pitches (65 strikes). Lopez has been locked in for nearly two months, giving up two runs or fewer in 10 straight outings dating back to July 10 and delivering a 2.28 ERA, 1.05 WHIP and 61:18 K:BB in 51.1 innings over that sparkling stretch. He'll look to tie his career high with his seventh win in his next trip to the mound, which is set to come at home early next week against the Blue Jays.