Joe is out of the lineup for Monday's game against the Marlins.
After a stretch of five consecutive starts, Joe has now hit the bench in consecutive games for the Pirates. Joe will likely be in store for a short-side platoon role the rest of the way, barring Pittsburgh losing additional everyday players to injury.
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Pirates' Connor Joe: Slugs ninth homer
Rotowire
Joe went 3-for-4 with a solo home run two RBI and two walks Wednesday against the Cubs.
He got the start in right field in place of Bryan De La Cruz, and Joe delivered his second home run in his last three appearances. Though his playing time has come primarily against lefties, Rowdy Tellez (undisclosed) exited Wednesday's game early, and Joe would be the likely replacement if Tellez is out for an extended period.
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Pirates' Connor Joe: Filling in for resting De La Cruz
Rotowire
Joe will start in right field and bat fifth in Wednesday's game against the Cubs, Danny Demilio of PittsburghBaseballNow.com reports.
After filling in for the left-handed-hitting Rowdy Tellez at first base while southpaw Justin Steele was on the hill for Chicago, Joe will retain a spot in the lineup in the series finale while the Cubs send righty Kyle Hendricks to the hill. Joe will be stepping in in right field in place of Bryan De La Cruz, who appears to be getting some routine maintenance after starting in each of the last eight games. Joe's opportunities to make starts against right-handed pitching are still expected to remain fairly limited during the final month of the season.
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Pirates' Connor Joe: Racks up three hits
Rotowire
Joe went 3-for-4 with a run scored in Tuesday's 6-2 win over the Astros.
Joe notched his first multi-hit game since June 26. The 31-year-old is batting a meager .224 (11-for-49) in July, and just two of those hits have gone for extra bases. For the season, he's slashing .244/.325/.383 with seven home runs, 31 RBI, 42 runs scored and two stolen bases across 332 plate appearances. Joe got the start in right field Tuesday, but he'll likely be back in a short-side platoon role at first base once outfielder Bryan De La Cruz reports to the Pirates after they acquired him in a trade with the Marlins earlier in the day.
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Pirates' Connor Joe: Back on bench in Reynolds' return
Rotowire
Joe is out of the lineup for Monday's game against the Astros.
Joe had picked up starts in three of the Pirates' last four games, but his run of regular playing time will likely come to an end after Bryan Reynolds (personal) reinstated from the bereavement list Monday. The Pirates should still clear a spot in the lineup for the right-handed-hitting Joe against left-handed pitching more often than not.
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Pirates' Connor Joe: Out of lineup Friday
Rotowire
Joe is absent from the starting nine for Friday's game against the Diamondbacks.
Joe has started four of the Pirates' six games following the All-Star break, facing two left-handed pitchers and two right-handers, but he will be idle Friday against righty Zac Gallen. With Bryan Reynolds on the bereavement list, Joe could see a minor bump in playing time in the short term. In 317 plate appearances, he's slashing .243/.328/.389 with seven home runs.
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Pirates' Connor Joe: Stuck in lengthy slump
Rotowire
Joe went 0-for-3 with a strikeout Saturday against the Mets.
Joe has been limited exclusively to a short-side platoon role at first base since Rowdy Tellez has gotten improved results at the plate, though Joe has also split time with Edward Olivares and Joshua Palacios in right field. Joe will likely continue to lose plate appearances so long as he remains cold at the dish, as he's hit only .176 with one home run, five RBI and seven runs scored since June 1 and across 74 at-bats.
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Pirates' Connor Joe: Losing work against right-handers
Rotowire
Joe is out of the lineup for Monday's game against the Reds.
Joe is on the bench for the Pirates' third straight matchup with a right-handed starting pitcher (Carson Spiers) and looks to have faded into a short-side platoon role. Edward Olivares looks to have overtaken Joe as the Pirates' preferred option in right field versus righties.
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Pirates' Connor Joe: Day off Saturday
Rotowire
Joe isn't in the Pirates' lineup for Saturday's game versus Tampa Bay.
Joe has gone 0-for-13 with four strikeouts in his last four games, and he'll now get a day to regroup Saturday. His absence will open up a spot in right field for Edward Olivares to start while batting seventh.
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Pirates' Connor Joe: On bench against righty
Rotowire
Joe is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Rockies.
Joe is sitting against a right-handed starting pitcher (Dakota Hudson) for the second time in four games, perhaps indicating that his standing as an everyday player could be on shaky ground. After producing a .794 OPS through the first two months of the season, Joe is slashing .167/.271/.310 since the beginning of June.
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Pirates' Connor Joe: Heading to bench Thursday
Rotowire
Joe is out of the lineup for Thursday's game against the Cardinals.
Joe will take a seat for the series finale along with two of the other Pirates' everyday players in Andrew McCutchen and Nick Gonzales. Though he's been one of the Pirates' better hitters for much of the season, Joe has fallen into a 2-for-27 skid at the plate over his last eight games.
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Pirates' Connor Joe: Timely hit against Twins
Rotowire
Joe went 1-for-5 with a triple and two RBI on Sunday against the Twins.
Joe delivered his lone hit of the game in the fifth inning to give the Pirates a brief lead. He has five RBI and seven runs scored across his last 10 games, though that production has primarily come due to timely hitting as he is just 7-for-38 overall in that span. Joe remains a near everyday player for Pittsburgh, playing primarily in right field against right-handed pitching while shifting to first base against lefties.
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Pirates' Connor Joe: Exits starting nine
Rotowire
Joe is not in the lineup for Thursday's contest versus the Dodgers.
It's the first time since May 13 that Joe has been absent from the Pirates' starting nine. Rowdy Tellez will occupy first base and Edward Olivares will patrol right field while Joe gets some rest.
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Pirates' Connor Joe: Scores three runs
Rotowire
Joe went 2-for-4 with two doubles and three runs scored Friday against Atlanta.
Joe doubled in the first and third innings and came around to score on each occasion. The performance marked his first multi-hit game in his last six starts and his first extra-base knock in eight contests. With Jack Suwinski optioned to Triple-A Indianapolis on Friday, Joe's status as a regular in the lineup should be cemented.
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Pirates' Connor Joe: Smacks sixth homer
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Joe went 1-for-3 with a walk, a solo home run and two runs scored Tuesday against the Brewers.
Joe returned to the lineup after sitting Monday and has started nine of Pittsburgh's 12 games in May. He's hit .294 with three home runs, seven runs scored and seven RBI in that span, and he lifted his sixth long ball of the season Monday. Joe should continue to get regular run at both first base and in right field as one of the Pirates' more productive hitters.
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Pirates' Connor Joe: Back on bench Monday
Rotowire
Joe is out of the lineup for Monday's game against the Brewers.
Joe isn't quite an everyday player for the Pirates, but he's been one of the more productive hitters in a struggling lineup this season and is gradually starting to earn steadier playing time versus right-handed pitching. He'll take a seat against Brewers righty Colin Rea in the series opener in Milwaukee, however, as the Pirates trot out a starting outfield of Bryan Reynolds, Michael Taylor and Jack Suwinski from left to right. Meanwhile, Rowdy Tellez will draw the start at first base and Andrew McCutchen will serve as Pittsburgh's designated hitter.
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Pirates' Connor Joe: Delivers extra-inning HR
Rotowire
Joe went 2-for-4 with a two-run home run and an additional run scored during Sunday's 5-4 extra-inning loss to the Cubs.
Joe spearheaded the Pirates' comeback effort, plating Oneil Cruz on a leadoff homer in the bottom of the 10th inning. However, his long ball wasn't enough, as Pittsburgh trailed by three entering the frame. Joe has gone yard in back-to-back games, bringing his season total up to five homers in 134 plate appearances.
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Pirates' Connor Joe: Smacks key homer
Rotowire
Joe went 1-for-5 with a three-run home run Saturday against the Cubs.
Joe lifted a three-run home run in the third inning, his fourth long ball of the campaign. He's hit well overall this season, which has helped him move from a short-side platoon role to a role as a near-everyday player. Joe has started eight of Pittsburgh's last 10 games, filling in for Rowdy Tellez at first base against lefties and for Michael Taylor in the outfield against righties.
Joe will start in right field and bat cleanup in Wednesday's game against the Angels.
Joe will be included in the lineup for the fifth game in a row, with the 31-year-old having made three starts at first base and two in right field. He should be a mainstay in the lineup against southpaws as a short-side platoon mate at first base for the lefty-hitting Rowdy Tellez, and Joe has made a strong case to see steady playing time against right-handed pitching as a corner outfielder. Joe enters Wednesday's contest with a team-best 131 wRC+ on the season, while Michael Taylor owns a 53 wRC+ and would seemingly be most at risk of moving out of a near-everyday role, despite being the Pirates' best defensive outfielder.
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Pirates' Connor Joe: Launches third homer
Rotowire
Joe went 2-for-4 with a solo home run during Tuesday's 5-2 loss to Oakland.
Joe tagged Alex Wood for a solo shot in the first inning, marking his third long ball in 100 plate appearances this season. He's on pace to exceed his career-high home run total of 11, which he achieved in 472 plate appearances last season. During his last five games, Joe is batting 6-for-19 (.316) with a pair of doubles and Tuesday's home run.
