Pittsburgh
Pirates

News: Morton allowed just three baserunners, all reaching on singles, in 5.1 innings Tuesday, with a pair of strikeouts en route to picking up his first win of the season.
Impact: This was Morton's second start since returning from the disabled list following Tommy John surgery, and it was a marked improvement from his previous outing, where he gave up seven hits over five innings. He was clearly on a bit of a pitch count Tuesday. Morton was dominant, but threw just 61 pitches. So far he's averaging just over five innings per start since his return, so even if he's pitching fairly well, his ability to help with counting stats will be limited until he can pitch deeper into games.

News: Todd Frazier and Zack Cozart hit upper-deck homers off Liriano, and the Cincinnati Reds moved a season-high 15 games over .500 by beating the Pittsburgh Pirates 4-1 on Monday night.
Impact: Liriano (5-3) hadn't allowed a homer in his seven previous starts.

News: Rodriguez (forearm) will make his first rehab start for Triple-A Indy on Sunday since leaving a game against Atlanta on June 5, the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review reports.
Impact: Manager Clint Hurdle said it's still too soon to predict when Rodriguez might re-join the Pirates' depleted rotation. The lefty is scheduled to throw a bullpen session Thursday. He'll throw curve balls for the first time since his injury.

News: Presley is not in the lineup for Tuesday's game against the Reds.
Impact: Presley started five straight games and picked up six hits over his last four, but manager Clint Hurdle decided to hold him out Tuesday. Garrett Jones will replace Presley in right field, and Gaby Sanchez will take his place in the batting order.

News: Morton went 3-0 with a 0.93 ERA in four starts against the Reds in 2011, his opponent on Tuesday, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.
Impact: Morton will be making his second start since returning from the disabled list following Tommy John surgery, and he gave up two earned runs and seven hits over five innings in his first outing. The Reds slugged four home runs Monday night, and Great American Ballpark isn't exactly a pitcher's paradise, but Morton has worked on his sinker during his off days and will look to keep the ball down (and in the ballpark) when he takes the bump.

News: Manager Clint Hurdle said Mercer will get the "lion's share" of playing time at shortstop prior to Monday's game at Cincinnati, but stopped short of calling him his everyday starter, the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review reports.
Impact: Mercer started for the fifth time in six games Monday, going 1-for-2 with a double and a walk, raising his average to .293. Hurdle stated the Bucs will "bundle" opportunities for Clint Barmes when the situation is right. Mercer is a fine pickup at a middle infield slot now that he's assured of regular at-bats; his stick offers good pop.

News: Marte (oblique) went 0-for-5 with two strikeouts in his return to the lineup Monday.
Impact: In his first start since last Wednesday, Marte failed to record a base knock, but he did make a spectacular catch to rob Brandon Phillips of multiple bases. The most important thing is that he played all nine innings a day after playing three innings off the bench, so perhaps the oblique injury is indeed behind him.

News: Martin drove in the Pirates' lone run in a 2-for-3 performance against the Reds on Monday.
Impact: Some lower body soreness led to Martin's removal from Sunday's lineup, but he came out Monday and collected multiple hits. Martin's in a real power drought, however, with just one long ball since April 30, after smacking six in the first month of the season.

News: Liriano held the Reds to two runs on five hits and two walks, with six strikeouts over six innings Monday, but he was stuck with 4-1 loss.
Impact: The quality start was Liriano's sixth in eight outings this season, but he was out-dueled by Mike Leake and took the tough-luck loss Monday night. While he did give up two homers in the game, the only two long balls he's surrendered in 48.0 innings this season, Liriano still sports a 2.44 ERA on the year. He'll go on the road to face the Angels his next time out.

News: Pirates manager Clint Hurdle said Rodriguez (forearm) felt good while throwing from a mound Monday, Bill Brink of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.
Impact: The Pirates have not yet determined the next step for Rodriguez, but the left-hander has now tossed two bullpens without issue. Perhaps he'll be cleared to begin a rehab assignment, or the team could opt for some more side work.

News: Marte was back in the lineup Monday batting leadoff.
Impact: He was out of the lineup the last four games with a strained left oblique.

News: Alvarez snapped a 2-all tie when he connected off Zack Greinke (3-2) for a three-run homer in the fifth inning of Sunday's 6-3 win over the Dodgers.
Impact: Alvarez leads the Pirates with 15 homers.

News: Cole won again, getting home run help from Pedro Alvarez and pitching the Pittsburgh Pirates past the Los Angeles Dodgers 6-3 Sunday.
Impact: Cole (2-0) allowed three runs on seven hits and no walks in 5 2-3 innings. The top pick from the 2011 draft won in his big league debut last week.

News: Contreras agreed to a minor league contract with the Pirates on Monday, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.
Impact: Contreras was released by the Pirates last week, but the Pirates decided to bring him back just a couple days later. He will pitch for Triple-A Indianapolis for the time being.

News: Presley, who is 8-for-18 with four extra-base hits against Reds starter, Mike Leake, will bat second and play right field Monday night in Cincinnati.
Impact: Presley had three hits and a homer Sunday and will look to stay hot against Leake. He figures to see fairly constant playing time against righties while he's hot.

News: Martin (lower body) is back in the lineup for Monday's game against the Reds.
Impact: Martin was a late scratch from Sunday's lineup, but his inclusion in Monday's starting nine is an indication that his setback was only minor. Martin will start behind the plate and bat fifth against Reds starter Mike Leake.

News: Marte (oblique) is in the lineup for Monday's game against the Reds.
Impact: Marte has not started a game since June 12, but he will return to the lineup a day after playing the final four innings in Sunday's game. As he usually does, Marte will play left field and bat leadoff Monday night.

News: Wilson posted a pair of shutout appearances over the weekend, rebounding from back-to-back outings in which he allowed earned runs.
Impact: Wilson touched 100 mph and was sitting in the high 90s against the Dodgers. He notched his sixth hold Sunday to go along with five relief wins. Pittsburgh continues to use him in high leverage situations, with only closer Jason Grilli and eighth-inning setup man, Mark Melancon, ahead of him in the pecking order.

News: Mercer started at shortstop Sunday for the fourth time in five games, going 2-for-4 against the Dodgers.
Impact: He's 10-for-25 since June 4. Mercer projects as more of a .250 hitter with decent power at the shortstop position than as a player with a high batting average potential (even though he's hitting .289 currently). He'll need to continue to produce offensively as fellow shortstop Clint Barmes remains the superior option from a defensive perspective.

News: Despite his struggles from the right side of the plate, Walker has no intention of abandoning his switch-hitting, the second baseman tells the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
Impact: Walker is hitting .280 from the left side of the dish this season, but just .190 when he turns around. All five of his home runs have come as a left-hander as well. It's something to keep if you're looking at daily matchups. The next left-handed pitcher the Pirates are scheduled to face is the Angels' Jason Vargas on Saturday, June 22.

News: Cole earned his second big-league win in as many starts Sunday, limiting the Dodgers to three runs in 5.2 innings. He allowed seven hits and zero walks while striking out one, the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review reports.
Impact: He's spotting a 95-mph pitch-to-contact fastball as his primary pitch. Cole, who threw only 15 off-speed pitches out of 80, has yet to throw his slider - one he's used to record strikeouts in the minors. "I haven't thrown (the slider) in a while," Cole said. "I'm just sticking with (the curveball) right now. It could change by my next start. Maybe the other one feels good. It's a luxury to have two." Despite the fact that the righty has just three strikeouts in his first two starts, the upside for additional punchouts remains great.

News: McDonald (shoulder) will likely pitch out of the bullpen whenever Pittsburgh activates him from the disabled list, according to the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review.
Impact: McDonald has struggled to a 5.76 ERA and 1.65 WHIP in 29.2 innings of four rehab starts. He has reportedly displayed a less-than-stellar attitude during his stint, and his stock continues to fall within Pittsburgh's pitching pecking order. There's a chance he could still help fantasy owners down the road, but right now he's really struggling.

News: Alvarez stroked his 15th home run Sunday -- a three-run shot -- against the Dodgers and Zack Greinke.
Impact: The third baseman, who ranks second in the majors among all those at the position in homers (Miguel Cabrera leads with 18), had gone 1-for-14 against Greinke prior to his dinger.

News: Marte (oblique) went 0-for-2 Sunday after entering the game as part of a sixth-inning double-switch.
Impact: The fact that he played four innings in left field rather than simply pinch hitting bodes well for his availability in the coming week. Marte had missed the team's last three games prior to Sunday with a sore left oblique.

News: Rodriguez (forearm) will throw a side session before the team decides whether he is ready for a rehab assignment, the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review reports.
Impact: Rodriguez checked out fine after his first session and would likely be green-lighted for the rehab assignment if he makes it through his next one without any issues. The Pirates rotation has been absolutely ravaged by injuries this season, as evidenced by Francisco Liriano currently serving as the team's No. 1 starter despite opening spring training competing for the fifth spot in the rotation.

News: Martin was scratched from Sunday's lineup with lower body soreness, MLB.com's Tom Singer reports.
Impact: Because Martin was listed in the initial lineup, it doesn't seem like the injury is especially concerning. He'll look to make his return Monday against the Reds with Mike McKenry handling the catching duties Sunday.

News: Marte (oblique) is not in the lineup Sunday, MLB.com Tom Singer reports.
Impact: With his fourth straight absence from the lineup, Marte appears to be in serious jeopardy of landing on the disabled list. The club has been rather mum regarding his progress from the injury, but if it's preventing him from comfortably swinging, he'll require some extended rest.

News: Gomez (forearm) said he felt "great" after throwing a bullpen session Saturday, Bill Brink of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.
Impact: In a rehab start for Triple-A Indianapolis on Thursday, Gomez allowed two runs (one earned) on three hits and three walks with three strikeouts over three innings. He said he was able to command all of his pitches during Saturday's bullpen session, and if the club decides Gomez will work out of the bullpen upon his return, they could opt against sending him out for another rehab start.

News: Marte (oblique) could land on the DL, if he's unable to play by the end of the weekend, the Pittsburgh Tirbune reports.
Impact: Marte will miss his third game in a row Saturday due to a left oblique strain. As long as he remains out, Alex Presley will cover left field and bat leadoff.

News: Snider is out of the Pirates' lineup Saturday against the Dodgers, MLB.com reports.
Impact: Snider's absence will place Brandon Inge in right field, where he'll hit eighth in the order. With just five hits in June, Snider's batting line has dropped all the way to .230/.297/.343 in 178 at-bats in 2013.

News: Jones is out of the Pirates' lineup Saturday versus the Dodgers, MLB.com reports.
Impact: With the Dodgers trotting out lefty Clayton Kershaw, Jones will sit down in favor of Gaby Sanchez, who will cover first base and bat cleanup. Before Friday's 0-for-3 performance, Jones had notched hits in five of six outings, boosting his slash line to .266/.316/.436 on the season.

News: Zagurski was designated for assignment Saturday, MLB.com reports.
Impact: After yielding five runs in one inning Thursday, Zagurski's line in six games with the Pirates is particularly horrendous - a 15.00 ERA, 3.00 WHIP, and 5:8 K:BB ratio in six frames. Thus, he was the logical candidate to afford room in the Pirates' rotation for Saturday's starter, Brandon Cumpton.

News: McCutchen went 2-for-4 with a two-run double and a run scored in a 3-0 win Friday night.
Impact: McCutchen's opposite-field hit gave Pittsburgh an early lead, and his tag up on a short pop fly behind first base gave his team its third and final run. His OPS has steadily increased in each of the season's three months -- .731 to .885 to .926 -- respectively.

News: Marte missed his second straight game Friday with a strained left oblique, the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review reports.
Impact: The outfielder said Friday that he's not sure how much more time he will miss, but keep in mind that he went on the disabled list with a similar ailment last August.

News: Barmes went 0-for-3 on Friday and has just seven hits in his last 55 at-bats since May 17.
Impact: The defensive-minded shortstop has posted a 0:15 BB:K ratio over that span. Jordy Mercer figures to continue stealing at-bats from Barmes, at least until the veteran comes out of his current tailspin.

News: Burnett (calf), who is wearing a walking boot, figures to need two or three weeks of rest due to his Grade 1 calf tear, the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review reports. "Hopefully, I can get back sooner than later and not have this turn into a six-week thing," Burnett said.
Impact: Based on the time frame, it appears Burnett may be back shortly before the All-Star break. The righty currently ranks third in the NL with 99 strikeouts to go with 3.12 ERA and 1.13 WHIP.

News: Marte (ribs) is not in the starting lineup Friday against the Dodgers.
Impact: A sore rib cage led to Marte's removal from Thursday's lineup, and while that was initially deemed a precaution, the 24-year-old will sit again Friday. Alex Presley is getting another start in left and leading off against right-hander Stephen Fife.

News: Grilli notched his 24th save with a scoreless ninth inning against the Dodgers in a 3-0 win Friday night.
Impact: He allowed two hits and struck out two while dropping his ERA to 0.91 on the season. He has been incredibly consistent as the Pirates closer, and the surprising Buccos are giving him plenty of chances. The Pirates' biggest concern might actually be having too many chances as the soon to be 37-year-old could wear down if overworked as the season progresses.

News: Locke was locked in again Friday night spinning seven shutout innings in a 3-0 win over the Dodgers. He allowed just two hits, walked one and struck out five in running his record to 6-1 on the season.
Impact: The southpaw has allowed just four earned runs in his last six starts - and three of those came in one outing - while lowering his ERA to an impressive 2.19 on the year. He was lifted for a pinch hitter after an efficient seven innings (75 pitches, 48 for strikes) and sometimes doesn't pitch deep into games because of inconsistent command. He has good but not great stuff so his peripherals are likely to rise, but he's a good one to ride while this lasts.

News: Burnett said Friday that he's been diagnosed with a Grade 1 tear in his calf, Bill Brink of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.
Impact: The right-hander was spotted in a walking boot Friday, a day after hitting the disabled list. Apparently he has a tear in the calf, and while Grade 1 is the least severe grade of tear, it's still uncertain how long Burnett will be on the shelf.

News: Wilson has struggled in his last two relief outings, allowing eight hits and five earned runs in 2.1 innings, the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review reports.
Impact: "I think it's just he set the bar so high so soon," manager Clint Hurdle said. "His numbers are going to (even out). You do have to monitor the role he's in. We've been very careful with the workloads. That's the challenge that comes at this level - sometimes, you've got to wear it and get through it." Fantasy owners might want to sit Wilson while he works through his struggles. For the season, the lefty holds a 5-0 record with a 2.41 ERA and 1.02 WHIP with 35 strikeouts in 37.1 innings.

News: Burnett is wearing a walking boot over his torn right calf and isn't sure when he'll be ready to return. Burnett injured the calf while working out Wednesday and was placed on the 15-day disabled list a day later by Pittsburgh.
Impact: The 36-year-old Burnett is 4-6 this season with a 4.00 ERA. He threw a season-high 112 pitches in a win over the Chicago Cubs last Saturday but said the injury is not related. The right-hander is the fourth member of Pittsburgh's starting rotation to go on the disabled list this season, joining Wandy Rodriguez, Jeanmar Gomez and James McDonald.

News: Tabata (oblique) has been hitting off a tee and is tentatively scheduled to begin a rehab assignment June 21, the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review reports.
Impact: Tabata has been out since May 24 with a strained oblique and may be able to return before the end of June. Travis Snider has gone ice cold, so Tabata could get a crack at the starting job in right field once he's ready.

News: Walker had two hits - including a homer - and three RBIs in a 12-8 win over San Francisco on Wednesday.
Impact: Walker had been 5 for 32 (.156) with one extra-base hit over his previous 10 games.

News: McCutchen had three hits and three RBIs in a 12-8 win over San Francisco on Wednesday.
Impact: McCutchen has gone 8 for 14 with three doubles over his last four games.

News: Mercer went 3 for 5 to help Pittsburgh beat San Francisco 12-8 on Wednesday.
Impact: Mercer is 6 for 14 with three doubles over his last three games.

News: Marte had four hits and scored four runs in a 12-8 victory over San Francisco on Wednesday.
Impact: Marte is 8 for 17 with a homer over his past four games.

News: Contreras (back) was released by the Pirates on Thursday.
Impact: The Pirates needed to clear a roster spot for Thursday starter Charlie Morton's return from the 60-day DL, and the injured Contreras was the chosen casualty. The 41-year-old should get a look from another club once his back is no longer an issue.

News: Morton (elbow) was activated from the disabled list Thursday.
Impact: Morton will get the starting nod Thursday against the Giants just 364 days after undergoing Tommy John surgery, hitting the absolute low-end on that recovery timetable. He looked relatively sharp during his three rehab starts across three levels and should enjoy a somewhat lengthy stay in the rotation with five other Pirates starters currently on the disabled list.

News: Burnett (calf) was placed on the 15-day DL on Thursday.
Impact: In the matter of one day, Burnett went from apparently healthy for Friday's start directly to the 15-day DL. The Pirates likely won't have an idea on his return date until he resumes throwing, which probably won't happen for at least a few days. The Pirates now have a full rotation worth of starters on the DL, with Burnett joined by Wandy Rodriguez, James McDonald, Jeff Karstens and Jeanmar Gomez.

News: Marte was scratched from Thursday's lineup with a sore rib cage, the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review reports.
Impact: The Pirates will likely do their due diligence and give Marte an MRI if the injury lingers heading into Friday's game, but at the very least, he'll be held out Thursday as a precaution. Alex Presley replaces him in left field as well as in the leadoff spot.

News: Martin is not in the lineup for Thursday's game against the Giants.
Impact: Martin has had sustained success against Giants starter Matt Cain in his career, picking up 10 hits in 34 at-bats, but he will get a day off having played in every game this month. Michael McKenry will get the start behind the plate in Martin's place.

News: Barmes is not in the lineup Thursday for the second straight day.
Impact: Barmes was expected to lose some playing time Jordy Mercer, and the latter will start again Thursday after picking up three hits in Wednesday's game.

News: Locke's next scheduled start will move up a day to Friday thanks to an injury to A.J. Burnett's calf, the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review reports.
Impact: Thanks to an off day earlier in the week, Locke will still be going on five days' rest against the Dodgers.

News: Burnett will miss his scheduled start Friday against the Dodgers due to a right calf injury, the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review reports.
Impact: While there was no indication Burnett suffered any sort of injury during his 112-pitch start last Saturday against the Cubs, the calf injury evidently surfaced thereafter and will cause him to miss at least one start. The Pirates will likely examine him further and make a determination on whether he'll need to miss any starts beyond Friday. Jeff Locke has been bumped up a day to start in his place.

News: Marte went 4-for-5 with four runs scored and two stolen bases Wednesday night against San Francisco.
Impact: He's distanced himself from a month-long slump in the last week or so. With 20 stolen bases. Marte's on pace to eclipse his career high in steals -- he swiped 26 bags as a minor leaguer back in 2010.

News: Mercer went 3-for-5 with two runs scored against the Giants on Wednesday.
Impact: He has 10 hits in 23 at-bats against lefties and should see more and more starts against southpaws going forward. Mercer is likely the leading candidate to start at short for the Bucs in 2014, but he's got to show better range to get his fantasy-worthy bat in the lineup on a regular basis.

News: Morton's first start of the season Thursday is the only start he's guaranteed, manager Clint Hurdle tells the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review.
Impact: "This won't be an opportunity to bring guys back and give them three or four starts and hope they get better each time," Hurdle said. The Pirates have a wealth of options at the back end of their rotation, with Morton, James McDonald and Jeanmar Gomez all nearing a return to health. Morton remains the best option of this group, so Thursday's outing should go a long way towards determining his future value.

News: Marte hit his first homer since May 5 on Tuesday against the Giants.
Impact: He also stole his third base in as many games, giving him a team-leading 18 in 2013. The outfielder stole between 20 and 26 bases in the minors from 2008 to 2012. Marte has struggled immensely over the last month but has strung together a modest three-game hitting streak.

News: Alvarez is batting .300 with four homers in 30 at-bats in June.
Impact: Alvarez, who hit seven homers and drove in 20 runs last June, has lifted his batting average to its highest mark (.216) since April 3. He's listed in Wednesday's lineup, even though the Giants are starting lefty Barry Zito. Play him while he's hot.

News: McCutchen went 3-for-5 with three RBI and two runs scored Wednesday against San Francisco.
Impact: McCutchen is suddenly 8-for-14 in his last four games, and has his average up to .297. The reliable center fielder should continue putting up big numbers as the we get closer to the All-Star break.

News: Liriano improved to 5-2 Wednesday as he gave up four earned runs on eight hits over six innings against San Francisco.
Impact: Liriano has been a pleasant surprise for the Pirates so far, as he's now 5-2 with a 2.36 ERA. He induced 13 ground ball outs in this one, as the Giants did most of their damage after Liriano was out of the game. If he's somehow still available in your league, chances are he won't be for long. He draws the Reds on the road in his next start in what could prove to be a tough assignment.

News: After McDonald (shoulder) allowed five runs over six innings at Triple-A Indianapolis on Tuesday, manager Clint Hurdle suggested McDonald will remain in the minors a little longer before returning to the majors. "That's not good enough," Hurdle said. "You want more separation in the off-speed pitches. More improvements need to be made."
Impact: Hurdle was particularly irked by McDonald's lack of quick outs during the outing, as only eight of the 15 batters he retired came in three pitches or less. McDonald also showed a lack of variance in his off-speed pitches, which might explain why he was shelled for eight hits during the outing. With Charlie Morton set to come off the disabled list and join the rotation Thursday and Jeanmar Gomez also working his way back from injury, the Pirates don't have much incentive to rush McDonald back to the rotation.

News: Gomez (forearm) will begin a rehab assignment Thursday with Triple-A Indianapolis, the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review reports.
Impact: Gomez has recovered quickly from his forearm injury, so he may not need more than a couple minor league appearances before rejoining the Pirates. Gomez worked as a starter prior to the injury, but with several of his fellow injured starters nearing a return, and top prospect Gerrit Cole joining the mix, he will likely pitch out of the bullpen when he is activated.

News: Cole has been announced as the starter for Sunday's game against the Dodgers, the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review reports.
Impact: The Pirates did not originally commit to more than one start in the majors for Cole, but following his impressive debut Tuesday, in which he gave up just two earned runs over 6.1 innings, he will remain in the rotation for another turn. Cole's status beyond this weekend remains uncertain, but if he keeps pitching as his talent suggests he can, he could force his way into the rotation long term.

News: Cole allowed two runs and seven hits over 6 1-3 innings in an 8-2 win over the Giants on Tuesday.
Impact: The 22-year-old right-hander had two strikeouts and did not walk a batter while earning his first major league victory.

News: Alvarez went 3 for 3, including a homer and three RBIs, in an 8-2 win over San Francisco on Tuesday.
Impact: Alvarez has four homers and eight RBIs while hitting .321 over his last eight games.

News: McCutchen went 2 for 3 with a double in an 8-2 win over San Francisco on Tuesday.
Impact: McCutchen may be heating up, going 5 for 9 with two doubles over his last three games.

News: Marte hit his sixth homer - his first since May 5 - in an 8-2 victory over the Giants on Tuesday.
Impact: Marte is 4 for 12 over his last three games.

News: Barmes is not in the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Giants.
Impact: Barmes was expected to lose some of his playing time to Jordy Mercer but has still started five of the past six games. A more even split of the workload seems likely going forward, though Barmes is still expected to start more often than not.

News: Morton (elbow) is expected to make his season debut Thursday for the Pirates.
Impact: Morton holds a 3.79 ERA in 19 innings in four Triple-A starts. The Pirates will call on the righty to serve as a third or fourth starter capable of eating innings. Historically, Morton has pitched much better against right-handed lineups than left-handed batting orders, something to keep in mind when deciding whether to start or sit the sinkerballer.

News: The Pirates have called up Cole from Triple-A Indianapolis, and he will make his MLB debut against the Giants on Tuesday.
Impact: The move was obviously expected, as it's been talked about for over a week now. Cole was 5-3 over 12 games for Indianapolis, with a 2.91 ERA and a 47:28 K:BB ratio through 68 innings. If you haven't already heard, he's one of the top pitching prospects in baseball and should be added immediately, if you have a lazy league and he's still available.

News: Rodriguez (forearm) was placed on the 15-day DL on Tuesday.
Impact: Rodriguez was removed from his last start on June 5 and is still dealing with tightness in his left forearm. Charlie Morton is expected to take Rodriguez's place in the rotation Thursday.

News: Cole gave up two earned runs on seven hits with no walks and two strikeouts in 6.1 innings, getting the win in his major league debut Tuesday against the Giants.
Impact: Considered by many as a top-10 prospect in all of baseball, and certainly one of the top pitching prospects in the game, the former No. 1 overall pick started the game by striking out Gregor Blanco on a 99 mph heater to an eruption from the home crowd, which was only topped when Cole broke a 0-0 tie with a two-RBI single in the second inning. He threw primarily two pitches, his four-seam fastball (64 times, sitting at 97 mph and topping out at 100 mph) and his slider (14 times), while using his change-up just twice. One knock on Cole has been his inability to miss as many bats as his impressive stuff would dictate, due to the lack of life on his fastball, and his reluctance to use his off-speed stuff. This was the case Tuesday, as Giants hitters swung and whiffed just eight times against Cole, leading to his two strikeouts. Still, just based on pure upside, Cole should be owned in most formats until he proves he shouldn't be, and he'll have quite a showdown in his next start, Sunday at home against Clayton Kershaw and the Dodgers.

News: The Pittsburgh Pirates have put Rodriguez on the 15-day disabled list because of tightness in his forearm, clearing the way prized pitcher Gerrit Cole to make his major league debut.
Impact: Rodriguez left his previous start in the first inning last Wednesday at Atlanta with the injury. He was scheduled to throw off a mound Monday, but that session was canceled after he still felt discomfort from playing catch a day earlier.

News: Hughes has inflammation in his right shoulder and should be OK after resting during his DL stint, the Pittsburgh Tribune reports.
Impact: Hughes' MRI on Saturday didn't reveal anything sinister, meaning his stay in the DL will likely be minimal. He's eligible to be activated on June 21.

News: Cole will make his major league debut on Tuesday night when the Pirates host defending World Series-champion San Francisco Giants. The 22-year-old Cole was Pittsburgh's top pick in the 2011 draft and sprinted through the minors.
Impact: Cole went 5-3 with a 2.91 ERA in 12 starts with Triple-A Indianapolis this spring before being called up to fill the spot in the rotation left by an injury to starter Jeanmar Gomez. Cole's fastball tops out at 99 mph but Indianapolis manager Dean Treanor says Cole has evolved into a better all-around pitcher over the last few months.

News: Alvrez was 2 for 4 in Pittsburgh's 6-2 win over Chicago on Saturday, homering and driving in three runs.
Impact: Alvarez has three homers in his last six games.

News: Burnett recorded his first win since May 3 on Saturday, limiting the Cubs to two runs and four hits over 8 1-3 innings in the Pirates' 6-2 victory.
Impact: Burnett had been 0-4 with a 3.92 ERA over his previous six starts.

News: Mercer has worked his way into the lesser part of a timeshare with starter Clint Barmes at shortstop, the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review reports. "If Mercer is gonna stay here, Mercer's gotta play here," manager Clint Hurdle said. "It's pretty simple, from the standpoint, for his development."
Impact: The Pirates intend to start Mercer more often against lefties. Thus far, he has seven hits -- including three doubles and three dingers -- in 20 at-bats against southpaws, and a .222 mark in 54 at-bats versus righties. Mercer makes for a good spot start in daily leagues against left-handed pitching.

News: Barmes could see his playing time decrease a bit with the improved play of fellow shortstop, Jordy Mercer. "They are sharing the position, to some degree, with Barmes taking the higher percentage of the playing time," Hurdle told the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review.
Impact: Barmes is still starting the majority of games, if only because Hurdle continues to play him against right-handed pitchers. For the season, Barmes is batting .206 and has seven hits in his last 51 at-bats.

News: Locke gave up just one earned run on one hit over 5.2 innings against the Cubs on Sunday, but walked a whopping seven.
Impact: Locke was able to dance around trouble for the most part, but the lack of control proved to be his undoing as he was removed after throwing 100 pitches (52 strikes) in just 5.2 innings. He'll look to get back into the win column in his next start, at home against the Dodgers.

News: Hughes (shoulder) received an MRI on Saturday, the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review reports.
Impact: The results of Hughes' exam weren't immediately available, but he's nonetheless set for a re-evaluation early this week. He was placed on the DL on Friday with shoulder inflammation.

News: Morton (elbow) is in line to start for the Pirates on Thursday if Wandy Rodriguez (forearm) is forced to miss the start, the MLB.com's Tom Singer reports.
Impact: Rodriguez is set to throw a bullpen session Monday, so the Pirates likely won't have a clear idea until that time if Morton's services will be needed. Morton has been solid over four rehab starts at Triple-A Indianapolis, posting a 3.79 ERA over 19 innings.

News: Cole was officially named Tuesday's starter against the Giants, Michael Sanserino of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.
Impact: The Pirates were hesitant about bringing Cole up before his "Super 2" arbitration date, but it seems they decided it was time to throw in the towel and see what the 22-year-old can do at the major league level. In 12 starts for Triple-A Indianapolis this season, Cole posted a 2.91 ERA with a 47:28 K:BB ratio over 68.0 innings. He'll oppose right-hander Tim Lincecum in his first career big league start.

News: The surgery Karstens (shoulder) underwent Friday involved debridement of both the rotator cuff and labrum, Tom Singer of MLB.com reports.
Impact: Following Friday's procedure, Karstens is expected to need close to three months before being able to begin a throwing program. The right-hander's season appears to be over, but he will have plenty of time to try and get right before the start of the 2014 campaign.

News: Contreras (back) will make his first rehab appearance Monday for Triple-A Indianapolis, where he's scheduled to toss one inning, the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review reports.
Impact: Contreras is eligible to be activated on June 12, and his return shouldn't be much further behind. The 41-year old has thrown just five innings this season and faces an undetermined role upon activation.

News: Gomez (forearm) threw 20 fastballs Friday and plans to throw on the side again Monday before beginning a rehab assignment, the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review reports.
Impact: Barring any setbacks, Gomez will begin his rehab with a four-inning, 60-pitch outing Thursday. While his return appears to be on schedule, his role upon joining the Pirates' pitching staff remains in question.

News: Manager Clint Hurdle was non-committal when asked whether Cole might stay in the Pirates' rotation after his Tuesday start. "I don't know, we will give him the opportunity to pitch Tuesday night and see where it takes us," Hurdle said.
Impact: "Super 2" arbitration is still in play, and there's a chance Pittsburgh could send Cole down after his Tuesday start, regardless of performance, for a short time. For his part, Cole has pitched well recently for Triple-A Indy, with seven shutout innings in both of his last two starts, and a 2.91 ERA and 1.05 WHIP in 68 innings overall.

News: Martin belted his seventh homer of the year, and first since April 31, against the Cubs on Saturday.
Impact: Six of his seven home runs have come on the road, though the Bucs play six times at PNC Park in the coming week. Only Minnesota's Joe Mauer (2.6) has posted a higher WAR among catchers than Martin (2.5) heading into Saturday.

News: Marte went 2-for-4 on Saturday after starting the month of June in a 4-for-35 funk.
Impact: While his batting slump actually pre-dates the beginning of the month, the outfielder hasn't forgotten his running game. Marte stole his sixth base in his last 15 contests Saturday afternoon.

News: Alvarez went 2-for-4 with three RBI, including his 13th homer, against the Cubs on Saturday.
Impact: Alvarez has hit three home runs in seven June starts. Furthermore, he continues his success in day games. The third baseman now has six dingers in 22 games, and 24 since the beginning of 2012 (most in the majors).

News: Burnett twirled 8.1 innings of two-run ball Saturday, beating the Cubs for his first victory since May 3.
Impact: A ninth-inning Alfonso Soriano dinger ruined the righty's bid for a shutout. Burnett threw 112 pitches, yet struck out only five batters, while his strikeout numbers are coming down a bit after leading the league in strikeouts in April. His 3.12 ERA and 1.13 WHIP reflect his performance better than his 4-6 record.

News: The Pittsburgh Pirates have put pitcher Jared Hughes on the 15-day disabled list because of inflammation in his right shoulder.
Impact: Hughes was called up by the Pirates from the minors on Monday. He and appeared in two games and allowed two runs in 2 2-3 innings.

News: Liriano walked five but was able to limit the damage, scattering two hits over seven innings during Friday's 2-0 road win over the Cubs.
Impact: Liriano, who struck out eight, improved to 4-2 with a 1.75 ERA since coming off the DL last month. He's fanned 47 over 36 innings.

News: Tabata (oblique) has not yet resumed baseball activities, the Pittsburgh Tribune reports.
Impact: Tabata is eligible to return from the disabled list Saturday but will in fact not do so in the short term. A recent root canal delayed his recovery from a strained left oblique, which is seemingly keeping him from coming off the DL.

News: Karstens (shoulder) underwent surgery Friday, the details of which have yet to be released.
Impact: Karstens hasn't pitched at all for the Pirates in 2012, and now it looks like he may be done for the season. The organization is expected to release details of the surgery in the next day or so.

News: Hughes was placed on the 15-day DL on Saturday due to shoulder inflammation, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.
Impact: Since his call-up on June 3, Hughes has allowed two runs with a 1:1 K:BB ratio in 2.2 innings. The remainder of the bullpen will likely continue to log significant innings in his absence.

News: Presley was recalled from Triple-A Indianapolis on Saturday, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.
Impact: Presley was sent down to Indianapolis last Sunday but finds himself back in a reserve role among the Pirates' outfielders. In 14 major league at-bats this season, he's recorded just four singles and one run scored.

News: Rodriguez will throw a bullpen session on Monday before the team decides if he will go on the disabled list.
Impact: Manager Clint Hurdle said before Friday's game against the Chicago Cubs that Rodriguez has no "acute structural damage to the ligament" in his throwing arm. Even so, the Pirates will wait to see how his arm responds during Monday's session before making a decision. Rodriguez recorded only one out in Pittburgh's 5-0 loss at Atlanta on Wednesday before leaving with tightness in his left forearm.

News: The Pirates have no listed starting pitcher for Tuesday, leading to speculation that Cole could make his major-league debut at home against the Giants.
Impact: Cole has pitched better for Triple-A Indy lately, and the likes of Charlie Morton and James McDonald have apparently been ruled out for Tuesday. Pittsburgh does not want to recall Cole prior to the "Super 2" arbitration date, which makes for an interesting decision on the Pirates' end.

News: Rodriguez (forearm) will attempt to throw a bullpen session on Monday.
Impact: He's not out of the woods, but it's encouraging that tests revealed Rodriguez hasn't suffered any ligament damage to his left arm.

News: Rodriguez (forearm) is unlikely to make his next scheduled start Tuesday, June 11, according to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
Impact: Rodriguez will get some extra rest and is targeting June 13 as his next start. Pittsburgh will consider "internal options" for the spot start June 11, which happens to be the day top prospect Gerrit Cole is slated to throw for Triple-A Indianapolis.

News: Barmes is not in the lineup for Friday's game against the Cubs, according to the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review.
Impact: Barmes has started five of the last six games, but he will give way to Jordy Mercer on Friday afternoon.

News: Jones is not in the lineup for Friday's game against the Cubs, according to the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review.
Impact: Jones has totaled just eight at-bats against left-handers all season, so it should come as no surprise that he is sitting out against Cubs southpaw Travis Wood. Gaby Sanchez will get the start at first base Friday afternoon.

News: Tests on Rodriguez's forearm revealed only inflammation, and he should avoid a trip to the disabled list, according to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
Impact: Rodriguez recorded just one out Wednesday against Atlanta before being removed, but for now, owners can breath a sign of relief. He will throw Friday and should be good to go barring any setbacks.

News: Morris threw 3.2 innings of scoreless relief Wednesday in longest stint of his short major-league career.
Impact: Morris has value to the Pirates as a reliever, but he could also be stretched out to start. The righty began his pro career as a starter with Los Angeles and Pittsburgh before being converted to a reliever in 2011. Either way, he's getting batters out with excellent command of his slider. His capacity with the Pirates figures to grow as the season progresses, regardless of his role. Morris has allowed only two earned runs in his last 17 innings of relief.

News: Marte went 0-for-3 Wednesday and is batting .188/.271/.247 in his last 98 plate appearances.
Impact: Marte continues to search for his leveling-out area. With only four extra-base hits (three doubles, one triple) and one RBI in his last 23 games, he's not driving the ball. The outfielder has already been hit by pitches 13 times and will have to watch those types of injuries going forward. Marte isn't in jeopardy of losing his starting job, but he needs a shot of confidence at the plate right now. He holds a .345 BABIP, a fairly high number offset by his outstanding speed.

News: Cole earned his fifth win at Triple-A Indianapolis Wednesday, tossing seven shutout innings while allowing three hits and issuing one walk with three strikeouts.
Impact: Dating back to his start on May 25, Cole has pitched 19 consecutive scoreless innings. The 6'4 right-hander is certainly one to keep an eye on in the coming weeks especially given the injury-plagued Pittsburgh rotation.

News: Morris threw 3.2 scoreless innings against the Braves on Wednesday in relief of Wandy Rodriguez (forearm).
Impact: Morris kept the Pirates in the game following the early departure of Rodriguez, who recorded just one out, but the Braves were able to extend their lead upon Morris' exit. Still, it was a sixth consecutive scoreless appearance for Morris, who's proving to be a valuable long relief guy for Pittsburgh.

News: Locke allowed runs to cross against him for the first time in four starts on Tuesday, yielding three runs and six hits over 5 2-3 innings in Pittsburgh's 5-4 loss at Atlanta.
Impact: Locke (5-1, 2.45 ERA) had thrown 18 1-3 shutout innings over his previous three starts.

News: McDonald (shoulder) is set to make his next rehab start Thursday at Triple-A Indianapolis, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.
Impact: McDonald is expected to cover around five innings for Indianapolis, throwing about 80 pitches during the outing. Should he exit the outing without any flare-ups of his shoulder injury, there's a good chance he'll be activated from the DL heading into next week.

News: Rodriguez has left his start against the Atlanta Braves with an apparent injury to his pitching arm after recording only one out. The Pittsburgh Pirates made no immediate announcement on why Rodriguez left.
Impact: The left-hander pointed to his forearm or elbow when visited by manager Clint Hurdle and a Pittsburgh trainer in the first inning Wednesday. After a brief discussion on the mound, Rodriguez was removed from the game. Rodriguez gave up two hits and a run and hit Braves first baseman Freddie Freeman with his 14th and final pitch.

News: Morton (elbow) will start for Triple-A Indianapolis on Saturday, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette's Michael Sanserino reports.
Impact: Morton will likely be activated from the disabled list some time next week, and with injuries piling up in the Pittsburgh rotation, there should be a spot available for him.

News: Rodriguez was removed from Wednesday's game in the first inning with tightness in his left forearm.
Impact: The Pirates did not provide further information, so it remains to be seen how much time the setback will cost Rodriguez. However, this appears to be another blow to a Pirates squad that already has four starters on the disabled list.

News: Rodriguez left Wednesday's game in the first inning with a left arm injury, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.
Impact: The extent of Rodriguez's injury will not be known until he is examined by team doctors, but expect an update on his status as more details become available. Rodriguez was replaced in the game by Bryan Morris.

News: Tabata (oblique) has yet to begin a rehab assignment, and seems unlike to be activated from the 15-day DL when eligible on Saturday June 8.
Impact: Tabata's rehab was halted by a root canal, but there's been no word of any additional setbacks. He likely won't need too many minor league swings before rejoining the Pirates, but his return figures to be pushed back a week.

News: Mercer started Tuesday's game in Atlanta at second base, before sliding over to shortstop, finishing 1-for-4 with a double and a run scored.
Impact: Mercer has now appeared at all infield positions in his 67 game career, and the Bucs are making an effort to keep him in the lineup. He's slumping however, going just 5-for-23 in his last 10 appearances, striking out 10 times. his average is down to .246.

News: Melancon was saddled with his first loss of the season Tuesday at Atlanta, after giving up the winning run in the bottom of the tenth inning.
Impact: Melancon recorded just one out, walked one and hit a batter, before Andrelton Simmons won it for the Braves with a double. Melancon has given up only four runs in 30.1 innings this year, but two of those have come over his past 4.1 frames.

News: Walker is not in the lineup for Tuesday's game against the Braves.
Impact: Walker had not been given a day off since his return from the disabled list on May 13 so this is likely just a day to rest. In the 21 games since being activated from the DL he has hit .269/.374/.462 with three home runs and four doubles. Jordy Mercer will take his spot at second base on Tuesday.

News: Locke gave up three earned runs on six hits and two walks with seven Ks in 5.2 innings Tuesday in Atlanta.
Impact: Locke's scoreless starts streak ended at three with Tuesday's no-decision. He hadn't been overwhelmingly excellent over that stretch (a 1.03 WHIP), but it was about as impressive as Locke will likely look anytime soon. He matched a season high with seven strikeouts Tuesday.

News: Burnett was knocked around for six runs and eight hits - including three homers - over five innings in a 7-2 loss at Atlanta on Monday.
Impact: It was Burnett's fourth straight losing decision. He owns a 3.92 ERA over six starts since his last win on May 3.

News: McCutchen is back in the lineup Tuesday, batting third against the Braves.
Impact: McCutchen's slumped a bit lately, going 5-for-26 since May 27. He got the day off Monday, even though he's hit well against Kris Medlen. The center fielder missed a game a couple weeks ago with a sore right knee, and it wouldn't be surprising to find out he's still not 100 percent.

News: Martin will start in right field and bat fifth Tuesday against Atlanta lefty Mike Minor.
Impact: Martin has a double in three at-bats against Minor. He's never appeared in the outfield in his eight major league seasons. The right-handed hitter has six dingers to his credit in 2013, but hasn't gone deep since April.

News: Snider is not in the lineup for Tuesday's game against the Braves.
Impact: Snider has played nearly every day over the last couple weeks with the Pirates last facing a left-hander May 18, but he will open on the bench Tuesday with southpaw Mike Minor getting the nod for the Braves. Russell Martin of all people will get the start in right field for the Pirates.

News: Martin and manager Clint Hurdle have been ejected from the Pirates' game against the Atlanta Braves.
Impact: The ejections came after umpire Dan Iassogna called two balls on pitches from A.J. Burnett to Braves pitcher Kris Medlen in the fourth inning on Monday night. Burnett complained about the ball one call, and Iassogna stepped in front of the plate to warn the right-hander.

News: Irwin was placed on Pittsburgh's major league 60-day disabled list after being reinstated from the Triple-A Indianapolis disabled list.
Impact: The move was made to clear room on the 40-man roster as the Pirates selected the contract of Ryan Reid from Indianapolis.

News: The Pirates recalled right-hander Jared Hughes and selected the contract of Reid, each from Indianapolis, before Monday night's game against the Atlanta Braves.
Impact: The move comes after Pittsburgh placed Jeanmar Gomez on the disabled list and optioned Alex Presley to Indianapolis.

News: The Pirates recalled Hughes and selected the contract of right-hander Ryan Reid, each from Indianapolis, before Monday night's game against the Atlanta Braves.
Impact: The move comes after Pittsburgh placed Jeanmar Gomez on the disabled list and optioned Alex Presley to Indianapolis.

News: Pittsburgh optioned Presley to Triple-A Indianapolis on Monday.
Impact: Presley was recalled from Indianapolis last Friday and is hitting .357 in eight games.

News: The Pirates have placed Gomez on the 15-day disabled list with an inflamed and strained right forearm.
Impact: Gomez was removed from Sunday's 5-4 win over the Cincinnati Reds with the injury after giving up four runs in the first inning. He is 2-0 with a 3.07 ERA in 12 games, including seven starts.

News: Presley had three hits for the Pirates in a 2-0 loss to Cincinnati on Saturday, one day after being recalled from Triple-A Indianapolis.
Impact: It was the outfielder's seventh three-hit performance in 182 career games.

News: Walker had two hits in Thursday's 11-inning win over Detroit.
Impact: Walker is 6 for 13 against the Reds, the Buc's next foe.

News: Martin had two hits in Thursday's 11-inning win over Detroit.
Impact: Martin owns a .803 OPS that is the second-best mark of his career.

News: Locke was solid in Thursday's 11-inning win over Detroit.
Impact: Locke lasted 5 1-3 innings innings and allowed seven hits.

News: Walker was 2 for 4 and homered for the second straight day in Pittsburgh's 5-3 win over Detroit on Wednesday.
Impact: Walker now has at least two hits in five of six while going 11 for 25 with three homers. He had one home run in his previous 33 games this season.