Isiah Kiner-Falefa

Fantasy News

• Pirates' Isiah Kiner-Falefa: Aggressive on basepaths early

  Rotowire Mar 30, 2025

  Kiner-Falefa went 2-for-3 with two walks and two stolen bases Saturday against the Marlins. Kiner-Falefa was expected to lead off for a significant portion of spring, but he's instead hit ninth in all three of Pittsburgh's games. He's still found a way to be productive and has benefited from the team's aggressiveness on the basepaths by swiping three bases on three tries. Kiner-Falefa is likely to provide little other production, but he could be a streaming option for stolen bases.

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• Pirates' Isiah Kiner-Falefa: Expected to be primary shortstop

  Rotowire Mar 10, 2025

  Kiner-Falefa has started nine games at shortstop during spring training and is projected to begin the season as the Pirates' primary starter at the position, Kevin Gorman of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review reports. Kiner-Falefa has served as a utility player for much of his career, though 28 of his 50 appearances came at shortstop after being acquired by the Pirates. He struggled to a .587 OPS across 215 plate appearances in Pittsburgh, so there's no guarantee he'll maintain that playing time throughout the 2025 campaign. Nick Gonzales and Liover Peguero are both capable at the position defensively and have made appearances at shortstop this spring.

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• Pirates' Isiah Kiner-Falefa: Sitting Sunday

  Rotowire Sep 29, 2024

  Kiner-Falefa is absent from Sunday's lineup against the Yankees. Jared Triolo will start at third base and bat sixth in Pittsburgh's regular-season finale. As a member of the Pirates this season, Kiner-Falefa slashed .240/.265/.322 with eight stolen bases, one home run and 10 RBI across 215 plate appearances.

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• Pirates' Isiah Kiner-Falefa: On bench Sunday

  Rotowire Sep 22, 2024

  Kiner-Falefa is not in the lineup for Sunday's game against the Reds. Nick Gonzales will take over at shortstop and atop the batting order against right-hander Hunter Greene. Kiner-Falefa occupies those spots most days, and he's provided a .286 average this month as the Pirates' primary leadoff hitter, though it's been a rather empty batting average (five doubles, no homers, three RBI in his last 19 games).

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• Pirates' Isiah Kiner-Falefa: Taking seat Tuesday

  Rotowire Sep 17, 2024

  Kiner-Falefa is not in the lineup for Tuesday's game in St. Louis. Kiner-Falefa had been at shortstop and leading off for the Pirates' last six contests, but he will begin Tuesday's game on the bench. Nick Gonzales is getting a start at shortstop and will also be at the top of the batting order.

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• Pirates' Isiah Kiner-Falefa: Tallies three hits

  Rotowire Sep 15, 2024

  Kiner-Falefa went 3-for-5 with an RBI single and two runs during Sunday's 4-3 win over the Royals. Kiner-Falefa participated in three of the Pirates' four runs Sunday, notching his seventh game this season with at least three hits. The utility player has one homer, six stolen bases and a pair of triples in 39 games with the Pirates. He's 11-for-32 (.296) during his last seven games.

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• Pirates' Isiah Kiner-Falefa: Not starting Monday

  Rotowire Sep 9, 2024

  Kiner-Falefa is absent from Monday's lineup against the Marlins. Kiner-Falefa will hit the bench after he started each of the Pirates' last four games against the Nationals, going 5-for-18 with four runs scored and two RBI. Alika Williams gets the start at shortstop and bats ninth in Kiner-Falefa's stead.

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• Pirates' Isiah Kiner-Falefa: Out of Pittsburgh lineup

  Rotowire Sep 2, 2024

  Kiner-Falefa is absent from the lineup for Monday's game versus the Cubs. Alika Williams will start at shortstop and bat ninth, while Nick Gonzales will be elevated to the leadoff spot. Kiner-Falefa is slashing only .223/.263/.321 since joining the Pirates, but this is his first day off since he arrived in Pittsburgh.

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• Pirates' Isiah Kiner-Falefa: Swipes two bags in win

  Rotowire Sep 1, 2024

  Kiner-Falefa went 1-for-5 with two stolen bases in Saturday's 3-0 win over the Guardians. IKF took full advantage of his one trip on the basepaths, swiping second and third base after a ninth-inning single. Kiner-Falefa has taken over at shortstop and as the leadoff hitter for Pittsburgh and has six steals in 26 games, but he hasn't provided much production otherwise since joining the team at the trade deadline, slashing just .220/.254/.321 with one homer, seven RBI and 11 runs.

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• Pirates' Isiah Kiner-Falefa: Taking over as everyday shortstop

  Rotowire Aug 26, 2024

  Manager Derek Shelton said Monday that Kiner-Falefa will serve as the Pirates' primary shortstop for the rest of the season, Noah Hiles of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports. With Oneil Cruz having struggled defensively at shortstop in 2024 after a fractured ankle cut his 2023 season short, the Pirates are planning to transition him to center field over the final month of the campaign. Cruz's move to the outfield keeps an everyday spot in the infield available for Kiner-Falefa, who might have otherwise been at risk of moving into a utility role when Ke'Bryan Hayes (back) returned from the injured list at some point in September. As a member of the Yankees in 2023, Kiner-Falefa made just one start at shortstop, but he should carry eligibility at the position in fantasy leagues in 2025 after having already made 16 starts at shortstop this season prior to Shelton's announcement Monday.

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• Pirates' Isiah Kiner-Falefa: Collects three hits

  Rotowire Aug 26, 2024

  Kiner-Falefa went 3-for-4 with a double and a run scored Sunday against the Reds. Kiner-Falefa broke out of a quiet seven-game stretch, during which he went only 2-for-27 with a 25 percent strikeout rate. Nevertheless, he remains Pittsburgh's leadoff hitter with Andrew McCutchen (knee) sidelined and has eight runs scored and six RBI across 21 starts since joining the Pirates at the trade deadline.

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• Pirates' Isiah Kiner-Falefa: Three hits, homer in win

  Rotowire Aug 18, 2024

  Kiner-Falefa went 3-for-4 with a solo home run and an additional run scored in Saturday's 7-2 win over the Mariners. Kiner-Falefa put the Pirates on top early with a leadoff homer and later added two singles for his first three-hit effort with his new club. The 29-year-old has tallied multiple hits in five of his past 10 games with a home run and three steals. On the season, he is batting .293 with eight long balls, 38 RBI, 37 runs scored and six stolen bases across 361 plate appearances.

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• Pirates' Isiah Kiner-Falefa: First hits with Pittsburgh

  Rotowire Aug 5, 2024

  Kiner-Falefa went 2-for-5 with a double, a triple, two RBI and a run scored Sunday against the Diamondbacks. Kiner-Falefa made his team debut Saturday and went hitless, though he turned things around as a key contributor out of the leadoff spot Sunday. He replaced Andrew McCutchen (quadriceps) atop the order, though Kiner-Falefa looks more likely to settle into the middle of the order as he hit sixth in his team debut and McCutchen does not look likely to miss extended time.

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• Pirates' Isiah Kiner-Falefa: Continuing rehab assignment

  Rotowire Aug 2, 2024

  Kiner-Falefa (knee) will report to Double-A Altoona on Friday to begin a rehab assignment, Noah Hiles of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports. The 29-year-old made two rehab appearances last weekend before being acquired by the Pirates from the Blue Jays, and he'll continue the assignment with his new organization. Kiner-Falefa has been sidelined about a month by a left knee sprain, so he shouldn't require a lengthy stay in the minors and could join Pittsburgh early next week.

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• Pirates' Isiah Kiner-Falefa: Shipped to Pittsburgh

  Rotowire Jul 30, 2024

  The Pirates acquired Kiner-Falefa (knee) from the Blue Jays on Tuesday in exchange for infielder/outfielder Charles McAdoo, Mark Feinsand of MLB.com reports. Kiner-Falefa is currently on the injured list due to a left knee sprain, though he played in two rehab games over the weekend and should soon be ready to be reinstated. The utility man is in the midst of the most productive campaign of his MLB career with seven home runs and a .292/.338/.420 slash line through 82 games. He should see significant action at second base since Nick Gonzales (groin) is facing an extended absence, but Kiner-Falefa could also log starts at the hot corner, given Ke'Bryan Hayes' weak .591 OPS this season.

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• Blue Jays' Isiah Kiner-Falefa: Rehab assignment scheduled

  Rotowire Jul 26, 2024

  Kiner-Falefa (knee) will begin a rehab assignment with Triple-A Buffalo on Saturday, Ben Nicholson-Smith of Sportsnet.ca reports. Kiner-Falefa is slated to be at third base Saturday, designated hitter Sunday and shortstop Tuesday, with a return to the Blue Jays coming after that if all goes well. He's been out since early July with a left knee sprain and has been mentioned as a possible trade candidate. Players can be traded while on the IL, so the fact that Kiner-Falefa isn't scheduled to return until after the deadline wouldn't necessarily preclude a trade.

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• Blue Jays' Isiah Kiner-Falefa: Rehab assignment imminent

  Rotowire Jul 25, 2024

  Kiner-Falefa (knee) is on track to begin a rehab assignment with Triple-A Buffalo on Saturday, Keegan Matheson of MLB.com reports. Kiner-Falefa will be cleared for rehab games as long as he gets through workouts the next couple days with no issues. The utility infielder has been out since early July with a left knee sprain. He shouldn't need too many rehab at-bats before being activated, with a return next week being possible. Kiner-Falefa could take over at shortstop for the Blue Jays while Bo Bichette (calf) is out.

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• Blue Jays' Isiah Kiner-Falefa: Resumes baseball activity

  Rotowire Jul 10, 2024

  Kiner-Falefa (knee) began doing some light running and throwing Tuesday, Arden Zwelling of Sportsnet.ca reports. Tuesday marks the first time Kiner-Falefa has participated in any sort of baseball activity since he landed on the injured list last week due to a sprained left knee. He still has a few boxes to check off before being cleared to return to game action and may also require a minor-league rehab assignment, but the 29-year-old seems to be trending in the right direction.

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• Blue Jays' Isiah Kiner-Falefa: Hitting injured list

  Rotowire Jul 2, 2024

  Kiner-Falefa was placed on the 10-day injured list Tuesday due to a left knee sprain. Kiner-Falefa was scratched from Monday's game with a left knee injury and an MRI revealed he's only dealing with a sprain. Still, the utility player will require an IL stint, opening up a spot on the active roster for Leo Jimenez. Kiner-Falefa is slashing .292/.338/.420 with a 13.2 percent K rate this season.

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• Blue Jays' Isiah Kiner-Falefa: Undergoes MRI on knee

  Rotowire Jul 1, 2024

  Kiner-Falefa is awaiting results of an MRI on his left knee, Scott Mitchell of TSN.ca reports. Kiner-Falefa was a late scratch from Monday's lineup against the Astros after feeling something in his knee while stretching pregame. Ernie Clement was in the lineup for the Blue Jays on Monday at third base, where Kiner-Falefa has been seeing most of his playing time. It's possible an update on Kiner-Falefa's status will be available later Monday.

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