Why is Oneil Cruz not starting for the Pittsburgh Pirates?

Oneil Cruz has struggled recently, with just 2 hits in his last 31 at-bats, and will come off the bench if he plays against the San Francisco Giants.

How have the Pittsburgh Pirates adjusted their lineup to face the Giants?

The Pirates have made several changes, with Andrew McCutchen returning as the designated hitter and Alexander Canario taking over in center field. Liover Peguero will also start at first base and lead off for the team.

What challenge do the Pirates face against the Giants' starting pitcher Robbie Ray?

Oneil Cruz has struggled against left-handed pitchers this season, hitting just .113/.225/.196 for an OPS of .421. The Pirates have also decided to keep Spencer Horwitz, who has also struggled against lefties, out of the lineup.

Home / Sports / Pirates' Oneil Cruz Benched as Struggles Continue Against Giants

Pirates' Oneil Cruz Benched as Struggles Continue Against Giants

6 Aug

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Summary

Oneil Cruz not in Pirates' lineup, will come off the bench
Cruz has just 2 hits in last 31 at-bats, struggling against lefties
Andrew McCutchen returns as designated hitter, Alexander Canario in center

Pirates' Oneil Cruz Benched as Struggles Continue Against Giants

As the Pittsburgh Pirates prepare to face the San Francisco Giants in the series finale at PNC Park, they will be without one of their key players in the lineup. Oneil Cruz, the Pirates' center fielder, is not starting the game and will instead come off the bench if he does play.

This marks the first time since July 13 that Cruz has not been in the starting lineup. The 22-year-old has struggled in recent games, managing just 2 hits in his last 31 at-bats. His slump has seen him post a dismal slash line of .065/.094/.194 for an OPS of .288.

To address the absence of Cruz, the Pirates have made some changes to their lineup. Andrew McCutchen, the veteran outfielder, returns to the designated hitter role, while Alexander Canario takes over in center field. Canario, who has made just a few starts this season, will bat fifth in the order.

The Giants will be starting left-handed pitcher Robbie Ray, which has been a challenge for Cruz throughout the 2025 season. The young outfielder has struggled against southpaws, hitting just .113/.225/.196 for an OPS of .421.

With Cruz's struggles and the matchup against the lefty Ray, the Pirates have also decided to keep Spencer Horwitz, who has also struggled against left-handed pitching, out of the lineup. Liover Peguero will take over at first base and lead off for the Pirates.

The Pirates will be hoping that these lineup changes can help them bounce back and secure a win against the surging Giants in the series finale.

Disclaimer: This story has been auto-aggregated and auto-summarised by a computer program. This story has not been edited or created by the Feedzop team.