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The Pirates recalled Simon from Triple-A Indianapolis on Saturday.
Simon was sent down to Triple-A on Friday following Ryan O'Hearn's return from the injured list, but the former will turn around and rejoin the big club with Esmerlyn Valdez (hamstring) landing on the IL. Simon logged just one plate appearance during his previous week-long stint with the Bucs and will likely continue to serve as bench depth until Valdez is healthy.
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Pirates' Esmerlyn Valdez: Lands on IL
Rotowire
The Pirates placed Valdez on the 10-day injured list Saturday with a strained left hamstring.
Valdez made an early exit from Friday's contest after injuring himself while running out of the batter's box, and he'll now officially remain out of action until at least Sept. 23. Jake Mangum is set to start in right field Saturday against the Cubs and could see regular playing time until Valdez returns. Meanwhile, Ronny Simon will come up from Triple-A to replenish Pittsburgh's outfield depth.
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Pirates' Nick Gonzales: Getting breather Saturday
Rotowire
Gonzales isn't in the lineup for Saturday's game against the Cubs.
Gonzales will get a break Saturday after going 9-for-33 (.273) with two RBI and a run scored through his first nine games of September. Jacob Gonzalez will start at the hot corner as a result and bat eighth.
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Pirates' Rafael Flores: Day off Saturday
Rotowire
Flores isn't in the lineup for Saturday's game against the Cubs.
Flores has recorded a base hit in each of his last six games, but the Pirates will keep him on the bench to begin Saturday's affair. Henry Davis will take over behind the dish and bat ninth.
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Pirates' Esmerlyn Valdez: Sitting out Saturday
Rotowire
Valdez (hamstring) isn't in the lineup for Saturday's game against the Cubs.
The Pirates have yet to provide an update on Valdez's status after he exited Friday's game with a left hamstring injury, though he will need at least one day off to recover. Jake Mangum will start in right field Saturday and could continue to do so if Valdez needs to spend time on the IL.
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Pirates' Wilber Dotel: Handed loss in bullpen game
Rotowire
Dotel (1-5) took the loss Friday, giving up three runs on four hits over two innings as the Pirates were routed 12-2 by the Cubs. He struck out one without walking a batter.
Pittsburgh went with a bullpen game to fill the spot of Braxton Ashcraft (arm) in the rotation, and Dotel was the first of three pitchers to work multiple innings at Wrigley Field as all three got tagged for at least three runs. Dotel has been relatively effective in a long relief role since the All-Star break, posting a 3.86 ERA, 1.35 WHIP and 16:5 K:BB over his last nine appearances and 16.1 innings.
Pirates' Esmerlyn Valdez: Leaves game with hamstring injury
Rotowire
Valdez was removed from Friday's contest against the Cubs with left hamstring discomfort, Aiden Stepansky of MLB.com reports.
Valdez grounded out to shortstop in the top of the sixth inning and almost immediately came up limping after exiting the batter's box. The Pirates could have more information on his status after the game, but it's an injury that could end the rookie's season. Valdez was 0-for-3 with a pair of strikeouts in the game before exiting.
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Pirates' Brandon Lowe: Sitting out versus left-hander
Rotowire
Lowe is not in the lineup for Friday's game against the Cubs.
The left-handed hitter will begin the festivities on the bench as the Cubs send southpaw Shota Imanaga to the bump. Nick Gonzales will handle second base in place of Lowe and bat sixth for the Pirates.
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Pirates' Wilber Dotel: Picking up first MLB start
Rotowire
Dotel is slated to start Friday's game against the Cubs at Wrigley Field, Dominic Campbell of SI.com reports.
Stepping into the rotation spot vacated by the injured Braxton Ashcraft (arm), Dotel will be taking the hill on two days' rest and hasn't covered more three innings in any appearance in the majors or minors since the All-Star break. Khristian Curtis and Antwone Kelly are both well-rested arms capable of covering multiple frames out of the bullpen once Dotel's day is done.
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Pirates' Ronny Simon: Dispatched to Indianapolis
Rotowire
The Pirates optioned Simon to Triple-A Indianapolis on Friday.
Simon had just been recalled Sunday and received only one plate appearance this week. He's clearing off the roster to make room for the return of Ryan O'Hearn (quadriceps) from the injured list.
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Pirates' Ryan O'Hearn: Making return from IL
Rotowire
The Pirates activated O'Hearn (quadriceps) from the 10-day injured list Friday.
Sidelined since late July with a left quadriceps strain, O'Hearn has been cleared to return after going 1-for-7 with one double and a 1:2 BB:K in two rehab games with Triple-A Indianapolis. The 33-year-old has authored a .270/.334/.454 slash line with 17 home runs over 96 contests this season. Manager Don Kelly said Friday that O'Hearn will likely be limited to first base and designated hitter down the stretch so as not to risk aggravating his quad issue in the outfield, per Aiden Stepansky of MLB.com. O'Hearn is not in the lineup Friday against Cubs lefty Shota Imanaga.
Pirates' Oneil Cruz: Responsible for all scoring in victory
Rotowire
Cruz went 3-for-4 with a home run and an additional RBI in Thursday's 2-0 win over the White Sox.
Cruz knocked in both runs that were scored in the contest, drilling a solo homer to center field in the fourth inning and adding an RBI single in the eighth. He was also the only player to record multiple hits in the low-scoring affair. Cruz's long ball was his first since Aug. 25, though he did bat a healthy .326 during the 12 games between homers. Due to a hand fracture that sidelined him for two months this summer, he's played in just 84 contests this year but has put up big numbers, posting a career-best .848 OPS with 18 home runs, 56 runs, 62 RBI and 27 stolen bases.
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Pirates' Mason Montgomery: Locks down another save
Rotowire
Montgomery earned a save against the White Sox on Thursday, allowing one hit with one strikeout and no walks over one scoreless inning.
Montgomery was summoned in the ninth inning with Pittsburgh up 2-0. He gave up a leadoff single to allow the tying run to come to the plate but retired each of the next three batters, getting the final out on a strikeout. Montgomery has notched a save each of the past two days and already has five saves through the first 10 days of September. He's been a revelation as the Pirates' closer and has now gone 20 straight contests without giving up an earned run. Over that stretch, Montgomery has earned three wins, gone 10-for-10 in save chances and posted a 30:4 K:BB over 19.1 innings.
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Pirates' Jared Jones: Fires seven excellent frames
Rotowire
Jones (4-6) earned the win over the White Sox on Thursday, allowing one hit and issuing two walks while striking out eight batters over seven scoreless innings.
Jones limited Chicago to just one knock -- a Colson Montgomery double. He racked up a whopping 20 whiffs and struck out eight while throwing an efficient 90 pitches over seven frames in his longest start of the season. It's been an up-and-down campaign for Jones in his first year back from elbow surgery, and his 4.10 ERA through 18 starts is far from dominant. However, the right-hander has kicked off September in fine form, tossing 13 shutout innings while posting a 17:3 K:BB across his first two starts of the month. He'll look to keep rolling his next time out, which is projected to be a matchup against Milwaukee at home.
Pirates' Antwone Kelly: Recalled from Indianapolis
Rotowire
The Pirates recalled Kelly from Triple-A Indianapolis on Thursday.
The 23-year-old righty will rejoin the big club to give the Pirates extra bullpen help following Braxton Ashcraft's (arm) move to the injured list. Kelly has coughed up five earned runs in 8.1 big-league innings this season and will likely work in a multi-inning relief role as long as he's up with Pittsburgh.
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