Spencer Horwitz leaves game with hamstring injury

Cherington mentioned that both players “are progressing well in Florida, but both will be sidelined until after the All-Star Break.” The team hopes that they will both be back in the lineup “not too long after the break.” Cruz has been out since June 10 with non-displaced fractures in his hand. He was originally expected to miss “at least one month,” which will be in the middle of this week. He could likely begin a rehab assignment in the next couple of weeks and, assuming he can swing without pain, be back in the Pirates lineup soon after. With both Horwitz and Cruz back, the Pirates may have to be creative to find at-bats for surging Esmerlyn Valdez and Tyler Callihan.

Horwitz left Wednesday’s game with hamstring discomfort and now finds himself on the injured list; although, there is no set timeline for his return right now. The 28-year-old is hitting .280/.386/.455 with 10 home runs, 36 runs scored, and 33 RBI in 74 games this season as a key member of the Pirates lineup. Ryan O’Hearn should play a lot of first base with Horwitz sidelined.

Horwitz scored three runs for the first time this season. He’s far from a prototypical leadoff man with his fourth-percentile sprint speed, but he’s hitting .281 with a .389 OBP this season. He’s even getting the job done in limited action against lefties, amassing a .383 OBP in 47 plate appearances.

Horwitz’s homer notably came off left-hander Jack Dreyer, a two-run blast in the bottom of the eighth that gave Pittsburgh a couple of insurance runs they ended up needing. The lefty-swinging first baseman doesn’t start against every southpaw, but he isn’t a strict platoon hitter and bats leadoff against righties.

Horwitz delivered some of the only offense Pittsburgh could muster against Bryce Elder. The first baseman has now led off against 12 consecutive right-handed pitchers, notable considering the Pirates entered Sunday ranked fourth in runs per game. Horwitz has more walks than strikeouts this season and makes for a nice batting average play in roto when combined with non-zero power and a premium lineup slot.

It wraps up a 5-for-14 weekend series for Horwitz, who homered on Saturday. The first baseman has worked his way into everyday playing time for the Pirates, including seven straight starts leading off against right-handers. Horwitz leaves Sunday’s win with more walks than strikeouts and a career-high 142 wRC+. The absence of speed is his only profile hole for fantasy leagues, as he’s a batting-average asset with non-zero power hitting atop a lineup that ranks fourth in the majors in runs scored.

Horwitz finds himself atop Pittsburgh’s lineup card for the third time in their last four games with Konnor Griffin getting the nod in the other contest. The 28-year-old first baseman has been swinging it well for a couple weeks, slashing .309/.397/.505 with four homers, 20 RBI and one steal over his last 30 games. He’s also drawn 15 walks and struck out only 11 times during that span. He’s certainly earned an extended look as the Pirates’ top-of-the-order table-setter based on his recent production.

Horwitz wasted no time in this one, ambushing a first-pitch changeup from Dylan Cease. He also drew a walk in the contest, finishing the afternoon 1-for-4. On the season, the 28-year-old is now hitting a respectable .274/.381/.438 with five homers and 23 RBI in 176 plate appearances.

Horwitz has been tearing the cover off the ball recently, hitting .364 (8-for-22) with six RBI and more walks (five) than strikeouts (three) over his last seven games. The 28-year-old lacks the requisite power production to be a viable mixed-league fantasy starter, but he’s doing enough from a batting average standpoint to be a corner infield option in deeper leagues. It’ll be Jared Triolo at the cold corner on Wednesday night in his place.

Horwitz breathed some life into his club with his fifth inning solo shot when they were down 3-0. The Pirates’ offense still stalled after that, but Horwitz has heated up of late. He’s hit all three of his home runs this season in his last 15 games and has a .919 OPS over that stretch with more walks than strikeouts. If nothing else, he’ll always be able to crush right-handed pitching.