Jake

Mangum

Mangum was a late scratch from Thursday’s lineup due to the hamstring issue and was feeling even worse on Friday, so the Pirates felt it was prudent to place him on the injured list. Nick Yorke was recalled from Triple-A Indianapolis in a corresponding move to take his place on the Pirates’ active roster.

The 30-year-old outfielder is currently being treated by the Pirates’ medical staff. Bill Cook will start in his place in center field and will bat eighth for the Pirates against Diamondbacks’ right-hander Zac Gallen.

Cruz is being treated by the Pirates medical staff, according to a team statement. The 27-year-old fantasy standout is presumably day-to-day. He’s gotten off to an excellent start, most notably making gains against left-handed pitching, hitting .259/.320/.518 with 19 runs scored, eight homers, 24 RBI and 10 steals in 27 games. Jake Mangum is patrolling center field in his absence with Spencer Horwitz taking over the leadoff spot.

No word on the reason for the move yet. Spencer Horwitz moves up to the leadoff spot with Jake Mangum taking over in center field.

Ozuna, 35, will get a breather with Ryan O’Hearn operating as the designated hitter and Jake Mangum in left. Ozuna has struggled considerably in his first season with the Pirates with an OPS of just .487. We’ve seen him get off to slow starts only to finish with strong campaigns in the past, however.

Ryan O’Hearn takes over at first base with Jake Mangum heading out to right field. Horwitz is presumably day-to-day for now. There should be an update on his status following the contest.

Ozuna had started the last three games at designated hitter, but he is not a full-time player for the Pirates right now, while he’s off to a 3-for-43 start to the season. Bryan Reynolds will DH at bat third, while Jake Mangum will start in left field and bat eighth. Ozuna’s bat speed is up from last season, but he’s not hitting the ball hard or pulling the ball much right now. He doesn’t need to be rostered in most fantasy formats.

Mangum reached on a bunt single to load the bases in the second inning then scored on a sacrifice fly off the bat of Bryan Reynolds. He then led off the sixth inning with a single and rode home on Oneil Cruz’s two-run blast. He’s now hitting .261 (6-for-23) with zero homers and one RBI in the early going of the 2026 season.

No surprise here with lefty David Peterson toeing the rubber for New York after Cruz hit .102 in 125 plate appearances against southpaws last year. It’ll be Jake Mangum patrolling center field and batting ninth. Cruz committed a pair of high-profile defensive miscues when he misjudged a Brett Baty fly ball that wound up getting past him for a three-run triple before losing a ball in the sun that went for extra bases.

Mackey reports that he believes Mangum will be used often as a defensive replacement when he doesn’t start, but he may only start three or four times a week. Mangum is a switch-hitter, so he does not need to be platooned, but with Marcell Ozuna entrenched as the designated hitter, the Pirates have Oneil Cruz, Bryan Reynolds, and Ryan O’Hearn slated for regular outfield at-bats. Mangum figures to start against all left-handed pitching, but Mackey also believes the Pirates will sometimes rest 35-year-old Marcell Ozuna and move O’Hearn to designated hitter so that Mangum can get into the outfield. That could lead to more playing time than expected, but might still only be about 400 plate appearances for Mangum this season.