1 month agoPittsburgh Pirates outfielder
Oneil Cruz (illness) is progressing slower during camp due to an illness. Manager Derek Shelton noted that the 26-year-old reported to camp sick, and as a result, the team is opting to exercise caution as he ramps up his activity. The young outfielder has only appeared in one spring game so far and should be expected to gradually see his workload increase over the next few weeks. Fantasy managers should continue to monitor his status in case he faces a setback. Last season, the 26-year-old posted a .259/.324/.449 line with 21 home runs and 22 stolen bases. He generated an elite 54.9 percent hard-hit rate and a 15.7 percent barrel rate, which placed him in the 97th percentile among qualified hitters. When healthy, Cruz should be expected to see an everyday role in center field and is a strong target in standard formats, given his ability to contribute to all five standard categories.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: Andrew Destin
6 months agoPittsburgh Pirates infielder/outfielder
Oneil Cruz and third baseman
Jared Triolo are both out of the lineup for Friday's series finale against the New York Yankees in the Bronx.
Billy Cook will get the start in center field and will bat in the nine-hole, with
Isiah Kiner-Falefa manning third base and batting sixth against Yankees left-hander
Carlos Rodon. Kiner-Falefa has one hit in three career at-bats versus Rodon. The 25-year-old Cruz will get a day of rest against a southpaw pitcher. The Dominican has hit just .227 (32-for-141) against lefties this year with six of his 21 home runs on the season. Cruz recently made the full-time transition from shortstop to center field in Pittsburgh and has also reached the 20-20 milestone for the first time in 2024 in his fourth year in the big leagues. Cruz enters play on Friday slashing .263/.325/.456 with a .781 OPS, 21 homers, 76 RBI and 22 thefts in 143 games.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
6 months agoPittsburgh Pirates outfielder
Oneil Cruz went 2-for-4 with a solo home run and two runs scored in Friday's 8-3 loss to the Reds. The home run was his 20th of the year, giving the 25-year-old his first 20/20 season of his young career. Despite the achievement, Cruz is slashing just .196/.281/.357 in September after a hot August in which he slashed .389/.449/.537. Overall on the season, the Dominican has been productive even with a high strikeout rate (30.9%), putting together a .267-20-75-70-22 line over 138 games with a .336 wOBA and 113 wRC+, making him a solid multi-category contributor for fantasy.
--Jarod Rupp - RotoBallerSource: ESPN
6 months agoPittsburgh Pirates shortstop/outfielder
Oneil Cruz (ankle) is starting in center field and is hitting third for the Bucs on Thursday against the division-rival St. Louis Cardinals and right-hander
Erick Fedde at Busch Stadium. Cruz has been out of the starting lineup since Sunday, when he left the contest against the Kansas City Royals early due to discomfort in his left ankle. The 25-year-old's ankle injury was never considered to be serious, and he got a pinch-hit appearance in Tuesday's game. Cruz is fading down the stretch after just being moved to center field full time in Pittsburgh, but he's on the cusp of his first 20-20 season in his fourth year in the big leagues. In 14 games in September, he's gone 9-for-49 (.184) with a homer, three doubles, six RBI and 17 strikeouts in 56 plate appearances. In three career at-bats against Fedde, Cruz has a homer and one RBI.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
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