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.
... See More... See Less
Pirates' Connor Joe: Not starting Sunday
Rotowire
Joe isn't in the Pirates' lineup Sunday against Tampa Bay.
Joe will sit out a second consecutive game Sunday following an 0-for-13 stretch spanning his last four contests, prompting another start in right field for Edward Olivares.
... See More... See Less
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.
... See More... See Less
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.
... See More... See Less
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.
... See More... See Less
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.
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.
... See More... See Less
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.
... See More... See Less
Pirates' Connor Joe: Smacks sixth homer
Rotowire
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.
... See More... See Less
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.
... See More... See Less
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.
... See More... See Less
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.
... See More... See Less
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.
... See More... See Less
Pirates' Connor Joe: Starting Sunday
Rotowire
Joe is starting in right field and batting in the leadoff spot for Sunday's game against the Red Sox, Kevin Gorman of TribLive.com reports.
Joe returns to the lineup for Sunday's contest after not starting in the first two games of the series. Joe is slashing .288/.391/.475 with two home runs and 12 RBI to start the season.
... See More... See Less
Pirates' Connor Joe: Takes seat Friday
Rotowire
Joe is out of the lineup for Friday's game versus Boston.
Joe is 4-for-21 over his past seven games and will take a seat for Friday's series opener. Jack Suwinski, Michael Taylor and Bryan Reynolds will start from left to right in the outfield.
... See More... See Less
Pirates' Connor Joe: Cooling off
Rotowire
Joe went 0-for-3 with a walk Wednesday against the Mets.
Joe got off to an excellent start to the season, which helped him earn more playing time than expected while splitting time between right field and first base. He's been in the lineup for six of Pittsburgh's last seven games but has now gone just 4-for-22 in that span. Joe will likely need to turn things around quickly to maintain his playing time against righties, with Edward Olivares being his primary competition for plate appearances.
Joe went 2-for-3 with a walk, a double and two RBI in Monday's win over the Tigers.
Joe opened the Pirates scoring with an RBI infield single in the second inning. He added his second RBI in the fifth inning on a double to left field. The 31-year-old outfielder continues his scorching start to the season, slashing .324/.444/.541 with five doubles, one homer and nine RBI. Joe may also be rounding into a full-time player as he has started against three straight right-handed pitchers.
