Pittsburgh Pirates shortstop Oneil Cruz had a big game at the dish in Friday night's walk-off win over the crosstown-rival Philadelphia Phillies, collecting three hits and three RBI in the victory. Cruz lined two run-scoring doubles and an RBI single on Friday against the Phillies, but it was a fielder's choice to send Michael A. Taylor home and tie the game at 7-7 in the ninth inning that set up Nick Gonzales' game-ending knock off Phillies closer Jose Alvarado in the following at-bat. The 25-year-old former top prospect is enjoying a productive month of July, hitting .356 (16-for-45) with three home runs, four two-baggers, 13 RBI, and one stolen base across his latest 12 contests since June 30.
Pittsburgh Pirates shortstop Oneil Cruz is out of the team's starting lineup on Friday for the series opener against the hosting Chicago White Sox. Cruz returned to Thursday's lineup after missing the previous two contests with hamstring soreness, but he'll sit out again to begin a new series in Chicago on Friday. It remains to be seen if the 25-year-old aggravated his hamstring or if the Pirates are just giving him extra rest before next week's All-Star break. Either way, fantasy managers need to remove him from their lineups. The 6-foot-7, 215-pounder is on pace to set career-highs across the board in 2024 after never appearing in more than 87 big-league games the last three seasons. Jared Triolo is starting at the 6 on Friday and is batting seventh against White Sox All-Star left-hander Garrett Crochet. Avoid Triolo as a sleeper in DFS.
Pittsburgh Pirates shortstop Oneil Cruz (hamstring) is back in the team's starting lineup for Thursday's series finale against the division-rival Milwaukee Brewers, playing shortstop and batting third against Brewers right-hander Aaron Civale. Fantasy managers will want to get Cruz back into their starting lineups. The 25-year-old was pulled early from Monday's game with hamstring soreness and missed each of the last two games as a precaution. The 6-foot-7, 215-pound Dominican shortstop has one of the fastest swings in baseball and has gone 8-for-24 (.333) with two long balls, a double, five RBI, a stolen base and four runs in seven games to begin the month of July. Through 82 games in 2024, Cruz is just three home runs shy of tying his career-high of 17 round-trippers, which he set in 2022 in 87 games.
Pittsburgh Pirates shortstop Oneil Cruz (hamstring) is out of the starting lineup again on Wednesday against the division-rival Milwaukee Brewers. Cruz will miss his second game in a row after leaving Monday's contest early with soreness in his hamstring. It doesn't appear to be a major concern for the 25-year-old, but the Pirates are giving him a little extra rest before next week's All-Star break. Cruz should be considered day-to-day for now. Check back to see if he's available for the series finale in Milwaukee on Thursday. Jared Triolo is getting another start at the 6 and will hit ninth for the Bucs against Brewers right-hander Tobias Myers. DFS managers should be able to find a much better option at shortstop than Triolo, who is hitting just .203 (47-for-232) on the year with four homers, 24 RBI and four stolen bases in a utility role.
Pittsburgh Pirates shortstop Oneil Cruz (hamstring) will not make the start on Tuesday against the hosting division-rival Milwaukee Brewers after he was forced to leave Monday's series finale against the New York Mets early due to hamstring tightness. For now, fantasy managers should continue to regard Cruz as day-to-day. Jared Triolo will take over at the 6 on Tuesday and will bat eighth for the Bucs against Brewers right-hander Colin Rea. Triolo is hitting .125 in eight career at-bats against Rea and will be a low-upside deep sleeper for DFS lineups on Tuesday. The 25-year-old Cruz has gotten off to a good start in July, so hopefully his hamstring issue doesn't end up sending him to the injured list heading into the All-Star break. In seven games in July so far, he's gone 8-for-24 (.333) with two homers, a double, five RBI, one steal and four runs scored in 27 trips to the plate.
Pittsburgh Pirates shortstop Oneil Cruz (hamstring) has been on a hot stretch at the plate over the last few weeks. On Monday, Cruz went 2-for-3 with a two-run home run in the win over the Mets. It's worth noting that Cruz was removed from the game after running the bases in the sixth inning. Pirates' manager Derek Shelton said Cruz was pulled out of the game as a precaution. It doesn't sound like Cruz is going to miss significant time from this issue. Fantasy managers should check back on Tuesday for another update.
Pittsburgh Pirates shortstop Oneil Cruz is out of the starting lineup ahead of Sunday's game against the New York Mets. This appears to be a routine rest day for Cruz against a left-handed starting pitcher. The Pirates are making sure to give Cruz plenty of rest in what is his first full big league season. Jared Triolo will cover shortstop and bat seventh versus left-hander Sean Manaea on Sunday. Fantasy managers should adjust their lineups ahead of first pitch.
Oneil Cruz Sends Fans Home Happy With Walk-Off Hit
Pittsburgh Pirates shortstop Oneil Cruz sent the fans home happy in Wednesday night's win over the division-rival St. Louis Cardinals, delivering a walk-off single in the 10th inning. Cruz ripped a walk-off single off Cardinals left-hander JoJo Romero to right field, giving the Pirates a 5-4 victory in extra innings. Over 312 plate appearances in 2024, the 25-year-old former top prospect is slashing a somewhat disappointing .240/.295/.427 with 12 dingers, 37 RBI, and six stolen bases. Despite the subpar batting average, Cruz still has plenty of upside as a rare power/speed threat a premium position in fantasy baseball.
Pittsburgh Pirates shortstop Oneil Cruz came up clutch for his team during Sunday's game against the Atlanta Braves. The 25-year-old smacked a 452-foot two-run home run off Spencer Schwellenbach in the fifth inning to give the Pirates the lead. Cruz finished the day 2-for-3 with two RBI and a walk in the victory. The potential is there, but Cruz has experienced an up-and-down campaign thus far. Despite that, fantasy managers should continue to stick with him.
Pittsburgh Pirates shortstop Oneil Cruz swatted his 11th homer of the year in Monday's 11-5 loss at the Cincinnati Reds. Cruz, whose homer went an estimated 458 feet, finished 2-for-5 with three RBI as he went deep for the second time in three games. Despite the recent power surge, Cruz is slashing .243/.296/.433 with 34 RBI, 34 runs scored, and six stolen bases in seven attempts. Brimming with talent, Cruz is a fantasy staple since he's capable of contributing in a variety of categories. On the flip side, fantasy managers have to endure Cruz's stretches of swinging and missing as he is on pace to strike out 189 times.
