Taylor went 1-for-4 with a solo home run Sunday against the Nationals.
Taylor has started consecutive games with lefties on the mound, though he hasn't been in the lineup against a right-hander since Aug. 25. He did manage to pop his fifth home run of the season and first since July 30 with lefty Patrick Corbin on the mound Sunday.
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Pirates' Michael Taylor: Shifting back to bench role
Rotowire
Taylor will start in center field and bat eighth in Sunday's game against the Guardians.
Though he'll enter the lineup for the series finale, Taylor didn't start in any of the previous three contests and looks like he'll operate mainly as a fourth or fifth outfielder moving forward. With Andrew McCutchen returning from the injured list Friday and taking back primary duties at designated hitter, Oneil Cruz is now likely to see the bulk of his starts in center field moving forward, closing off Taylor's main path to playing time.
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Pirates' Michael Taylor: Still on roster, starting Tuesday
Rotowire
Taylor will start in center field and bat eighth in Tuesday's game versus the Cubs.
Taylor was placed on outright waivers Sunday, but he went unclaimed and will remain on the Pirates' active roster for the time being. Oneil Cruz's move to center field for Pittsburgh is imminent, but he will serve as the designated hitter for the second game in a row Tuesday while Taylor patrols center field.
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Pirates' Michael Taylor: Placed on waivers
Rotowire
The Pirates placed Taylor on outright waivers Sunday, Robert Murray of FanSided.com reports.
Taylor will now be available to be claimed by the 29 other teams in the league, though the outfielder may not have many suitors after compiling a .196/.257/.284 slash line over 280 plate appearances in 100 games with the Pirates this season. If he goes unclaimed, Taylor could remain on the Pirates' roster since he can refuse an outright assignment to the minors due to having accrued more than five years of MLB service time.
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Pirates' Michael Taylor: Absent from lineup again
Rotowire
Taylor is not in the starting lineup for Saturday's game against Cincinnati.
Taylor has struck out in 11 of his last 18 plate appearances, and he will sit for a second straight game. Ji Hwan Bae will start in center field and bat ninth.
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Pirates' Michael Taylor: Getting night off
Rotowire
Taylor is out of the lineup for Friday's game against the Reds.
After starting seven of the Pirates' last eight games, Taylor will take a seat Friday. In his place, Ji Hwan Bae will bat ninth and play center field.
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Pirates' Michael Taylor: Out of Tuesday's lineup
Rotowire
Taylor is not in the lineup for Tuesday's game against the Padres.
Taylor started the previous six games but will receive a day off after going 6-for-23 with two walks, two doubles and three runs during that span. Ji Hwan Bae will take over in center field and bat ninth Tuesday in San Diego.
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Pirates' Michael Taylor: Back on bench in Bae's return
Rotowire
Taylor is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Diamondbacks.
Taylor had started in center field in each of the Pirates' last four games, but he'll likely shift back into a short-side platoon role now that the lefty-hitting Ji Hwan Bae (knee) is back in the lineup Sunday. After he was withheld from the lineup in each of the past four contests while managing knee discomfort, Bae made an appearance off the bench in Saturday's 4-2 win and checked out fine, so he'll get the green light to start in the series finale.
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Pirates' Michael Taylor: Homers again Tuesday
Rotowire
Taylor went 1-for-4 with a two-run home run in Tuesday's 6-2 win over the Astros.
Taylor gave the Pirates some breathing room with his sixth-inning homer. He's doubled his homer total for the year over the last two days, hitting one in each of his last two games to give him four on the year. The veteran outfielder is up to a .209/.269/.314 slash line with 19 RBI, 26 runs scored and nine stolen bases across 216 plate appearances. If he can build on his recent improvements at the plate, Taylor will likely see an increased role.
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Pirates' Michael Taylor: Slugs key homer in win
Rotowire
Taylor went 2-for-3 with a three-run home run and a stolen base in Monday's 5-3 win over the Astros.
Taylor put the Pirates ahead with his ninth-inning blast. The outfielder could be in line for extra playing time after Joshua Palacios (hamstring) and Ji Hwan Bae (knee) left Monday's contest early. For the season, Taylor has a .209/.269/.299 slash line, three homers, 17 RBI, 25 runs scored and nine steals over 212 plate appearances.
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Pirates' Michael Taylor: Picks up steal in loss
Rotowire
Taylor went 1-for-3 with a walk and a stolen base in Friday's 4-3 loss to the Diamondbacks.
Taylor entered Friday just 1-for-15 with four walks over his last nine games. He was able to make a small impact from the bottom of the order, though his playing time will likely drop again once Bryan Reynolds returns from the bereavement list. Taylor is slashing just .200/.264/.278 with two home runs, eight steals, 13 RBI and 24 runs scored through 205 plate appearances this year.
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Pirates' Michael Taylor: Homers among four hits in win
Rotowire
Taylor went 4-for-4 with a solo home run and two runs scored in a 14-2 win over the Mets on Friday.
Taylor tallied three singles before hitting a solo home run in the eighth inning to highlight a perfect night at the plate Friday. This outburst was a positive turnaround since he went just 5-for-34 in June and had not homered since May 11. On the season, the outfielder is hitting .210 with two home runs, 12 RBI, 21 runs scored and six stolen bases over 181 plate appearances.
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Pirates' Michael Taylor: First start since activation
Rotowire
Taylor went 1-for-3 with an RBI and a stolen base Saturday against the Twins.
Taylor was away from the team from Tuesday to Thursday while on paternity leave, with Saturday marking his first start since being activated. It was a productive effort, but he figures to serve in a short-side platoon role behind Jack Suwinski in center field.
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Pirates' Michael Taylor: Back from paternity leave
Rotowire
The Pirates activated Taylor from the paternity list Friday, Andrew Destin of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.
Taylor missed the Pirates' series with the Dodgers earlier this week while tending to more important matters, but he's back on the roster for a weekend set versus the Twins. He's not, however, included in Friday's lineup, as Jack Suwinski will patrol center field. Taylor should see regular starts in center field against left-handed pitching.
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Pirates' Michael Taylor: Goes on paternity leave
Rotowire
The Pirates placed Taylor on the paternity list Tuesday, Andrew Destin of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.
Taylor will likely miss the entirety of the three-game series against the Dodgers before returning for the Pirates' weekend series versus the Twins. With Ji Hwan Bae (undisclosed) also headed to the injured list, the Pirates have brought back Jack Suwinski from Triple-A Indianapolis.
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Pirates' Michael Taylor: Sitting again Thursday
Rotowire
Taylor is out of the lineup for Thursday's contest against the Giants, Andrew Destin of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.
Ji Hwan Bae has started in center field against two right-handers since he was recalled from Triple-A Indianapolis earlier this week, with Taylor getting the call versus the lone lefty. Taylor has now been on the bench versus a righty in four straight games, so he could be falling into the short side of a platoon with the lefty-hitting Bae.
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Pirates' Michael Taylor: Taking seat Tuesday
Rotowire
Taylor is absent from the lineup for Tuesday's game versus the Giants.
Ji Hwan Bae -- who was recalled from Triple-A Indianapolis earlier Tuesday -- will get the start in center field. Taylor has just a .544 OPS and a 35.8 percent strikeout for Pittsburgh this season.
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Pirates' Michael Taylor: Not in Friday's lineup
Rotowire
Taylor is out of the lineup for Friday's game against the Cubs, Andrew Destin of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.
Taylor started the previous four games but will receive a day off after he went 2-for-13 with a double, two runs and five strikeouts during that stretch. Jack Suwinski will shift to center field Friday while Connor Joe starts in right.
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Pirates' Michael Taylor: On bench for series finale
Rotowire
Taylor is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Cubs.
Taylor will sit out the series finale while the Pirates roll out an outfield of Bryan Reynolds, Jack Suwinski and Connor Joe from left to right. Though Joe seems to be encroaching on Taylor's everyday role against right-handed pitching, Taylor might have bought himself a little job security by going 3-for-8 with a home run between the first two games of the series with Chicago.
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Pirates' Michael Taylor: Supplies first homer of season
Rotowire
Taylor went 2-for-4 with a two-run home run and two runs scored in Saturday's 10-9 win over the Cubs.
Taylor had only three extra-base hits -- all doubles -- across his first 102 plate appearances, but he managed his first homer of the campaign in the fourth inning. He remains Pittsburgh's primary center fielder, though he has just a 65 wRC+ with three stolen bases.
