Alexander

Canario

The 25-year-old Canario has a .229/.283/.368 slash line in 108 MLB games. He was a prospect of note back in 2023 after a huge 2022 season, but he was never able to match that level again. Last season, he slashed .243/.336/.514 with 18 home runs, 47 RBI, and five steals in 64 games in Triple-A. It wouldn’t be surprising if he lead Nippon Professional Baseball in home runs next season.

Canario is hitting just .186 in 82 plate appearances, but he does have four homers and he’s 7-for-7 stealing bases. There was speculation earlier this month that the 25-year-old might make his way to Japan after being non-tendered by the Pirates. He’ll probably have to take a minor league deal if he signs with an MLB team.

The Pirates’ only non-tenders were the four players they designated for assignment on Tuesday. Moreta spent considerable time in the minors after returning from Tommy John surgery last season, but he had a 3.24 ERA in 16 2/3 innings while in the majors. With his career 29% strikeout rate, there will be a lot of teams interested in him on a minor league deal.

Holderman, Canario, Moreta and Simon have been jettisoned from Pittsburgh’s 40-man roster to make room for an influx of prospects that the organization needed to shield from next month’s Rule 5 Draft. No real surprises here.

Cruz has now entered a full-on platoon role with the Pirates choosing not to play him at all against left-handed pitchers. It’s hard to blame them since Cruz is hitting .173/.248/.315 against lefties in 399 career plate appearances. Still, this is a tough reality for fantasy managers heading into 2026 because Cruz will come into that season with batting average concerns and a potential cap of around 550 plate appearances. Alexander Canario is in the lineup in centerfield on Wednesday.

Six homers in 212 plate appearances for Canario, who was making his first start in a week. He’s driven in runs in each of his last four starts, and while he’s batting just .215/.274/.344 overall, his exit velocity numbers are strong enough that Statcast gives him an xSLG about 100 points higher than his actual mark. It seems like a waste not to be giving him more at-bats at Tommy Pham’s expense.

Canario struck out twice, but his two balls in play were hit 111.7 and 110.8 mph. The Pirates need to give him a real look in September, even though it’d mean fewer at-bats for Tommy Pham and Andrew McCutchen. Canario has hit just .212/.275/.332 in 200 plate appearances to date, but Statcast thinks he should be slugging about 100 points higher than his actual mark.

Reynolds receives his first off day since August 4. It’ll be Alexander Canario patrolling right field in his absence. The 30-year-old outfielder is slashing .245/.309/.407 with 14 homers, 68 RBI and three steals across 557 plate appearances in 130 games.

It appears to be a routine night off for the dynamic 26-year-old with left-hander Jose Quintana toeing the slab for the Brewers. Alexander Canario will start in his place in center field and will bat sixth for the Pirates on Monday evening.

The Giants are starting a left-handed pitcher, but this seems like a routine day off for Cruz that just happens to coincide with facing a tough lefty in Robbie Ray. The 26-year-old has continued to struggle in the second half, going 13-for-67 (.194) with two home runs, five steals, and 21 strikeouts in 17 games. The homers and steals keep him useful in fantasy leagues, but it would be nice to see the hits start falling. Alexander Canario will start in centerfield and bat seventh on Wednesday.