Spencer

Horwitz

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.

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.

Horwitz is back at first base and hitting seventh after being a late scratch from Tuesday’s lineup due to neck discomfort. It winds up being just a one-game absence.

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.

Lowe plays against some left-handers, but he’ll get a well-deserved day off against Rays’ southpaw Shane McClanahan in this one. At least part of the day, as he’ll likely be used off the bench in a critical spot if necessary. Nick Gonzales will start in his place at second base and bat second for the Bucs. Ryan O’Hearn and Spencer Horwitz will join him on the bench in this one.

The 28-year-old first baseman has been having a hard time at the plate so far in Grapefruit League play, hitting just .176 (3-for-17) with a 4/1 K/BB ratio. He still has a couple of weeks to get into a groove before Opening Day.

That’s a 30-point bump in OPS (.755 to .786) on the third-to-last-day of the season, and oddly enough, it came in just his second start all year against a left-hander (though both homers came off right-handed relievers). It’s Horwitz’s fourth career two-homer game, which is pretty incredible for someone with a total of 24 homers in 218 big league games. The Pirates should have reservations about going forward with such a low-ceiling first baseman, but the big game tonight means he’ll probably finish with an OPS+ in the 110-115 range, just as he did for the Blue Jays last year, and he’s set to make close to the minimum again next season. Upgrading from him will probably be a low priority for a thrifty franchise.

Horwitz was the Pirates’ offense in this one. He drove the only two runs they could muster against Hunter Greene and then smacked a go-ahead double in the 11th that proved to be the winning run. After missing the first seven weeks of the season with a wrist injury and then struggling to get going through the summer, he has an .860 OPS over his 30 games with more walks than strikeouts.

Horwitz laced a home run in the fifth inning off Nationals’ starter Brad Lord. It was his second hard-hit ball of the game and he’s enjoyed a solid second half with seven home runs and an .846 OPS while consistently hitting in the upper-third of the Pirates’ lineup.