March 30, 2025
Pittsburgh Pirates third baseman
Ke'Bryan Hayes is not in the starting lineup on Sunday for the series finale at loanDepot Park against the Miami Marlins.
Jared Triolo will make the start at the hot corner and will bat seventh against Marlins right-hander
Max Meyer. Through the first three games of the 2025 season, Hayes, who had a disastrous 2024 campaign that ended early due to injury, has gone 2-for-13 with two stolen bases and two runs scored for the Bucs. If the 28-year-old doesn't show any improvement with his bat in the early going this year, there's a chance that Triolo could steal more and more playing time from him at third base. Triolo, meanwhile, comes into Sunday's finale having played in just one game while going hitless in his four at-bats with one strikeout. He has never faced Meyer in his career.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
March 15, 2025
Pittsburgh Pirates third baseman
Ke'Bryan Hayes (side) is starting on Saturday afternoon. Hayes will cover the hot corner and bat at the top of the lineup. Hayes has been held out of action since the first week of the month due to left side tightness. Fantasy managers should continue monitoring his status, but seeing him return to the lineup suggests he will not be in danger of missing Opening Day. The 28-year-old is expected to be Pittsburgh's everyday third baseman. Last season, the former 32nd-overall selection posted a .233/.283/.290 line with four home runs and 11 stolen bases. He generated a low .279 xwOBA but showed a strong eye at the plate as he held an 18.9 percent strikeout rate. Hayes is known for being an elite defender which will keep him in the starting lineup. Fantasy managers should view Hayes as a depth corner infielder in deeper formats.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: Pittsburgh Pirates
March 13, 2025
Pittsburgh Pirates third baseman
Ke'Bryan Hayes (side) has resumed full baseball activities. Pirates senior director of sports medicine Todd Tomczyk noted, "We envision him being available for game activity in the coming days as well." Fantasy managers should continue to monitor his status but should expect him to return to the starting lineup very soon. Hayes has been dealing with left side tightness over the past two weeks. When healthy, he should have an everyday role as the starting third baseman. Last season, the former 32nd-overall pick held a .233/.283/.290 line with four home runs and 11 stolen bases. He generated a weak .279 xwOBA but showed a strong eye at the plate as he held an 18.9 percent strikeout rate. Fantasy managers should view him as a depth corner infield option that has more value in points leagues given his low strikeout rate.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: Noah Hiles
March 11, 2025
Pittsburgh Pirates third baseman
Ke'Bryan Hayes (side) is dealing with "left side tightness." He has not been in a spring contest since March 5. However, Hayes was seen taking ground balls on Monday and is expected to step in the batter's cage on Tuesday. Fantasy managers should continue to monitor his status as a setback could put him in danger of missing Opening Day. Last season, the 28-year-old had his campaign cut short due to a back injury. Across 96 games, Hayes held a .233/.283/.290 slash line with nine doubles and four home runs. He generated a weak .279 xwOBA and a .327 xSLG which were both well below the average marks. However, he is an elite defender as he placed in the 90th percentile in Outs Above Average. If he were to miss time,
Jared Triolo would likely see an uptick in playing time.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: Noah Hiles
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