Pirates Make Oneil Cruz Decision for Mets Game

PITTSBURGH — The Pittsburgh Pirates will have a different outfield, as they open their weekend series vs. the New York Mets at PNC Park.

Oneil Cruz won't start in center field, as Alexander Canario comes in and will bat eighth in the lineup. This is his 11th game in center field and eighth start there in 2025, first since June 7 vs. the Philadelphia Phillies on June 7 and the first start overall since playing left field on June 20 vs. the Texas Rangers, both at PNC Park.

Cruz has struggled in June, slashing .148/.247/.210 for an OPS of .457, with 12 hits in 81 at-bats, two doubles, one home run, five RBIs, 10 walks to 32 strikeouts and eight stolen bases.

He made a poor defensive play back vs. the Rangers on June 20, which Pirates manager Don Kelly defended him on, but jogged out a double play vs. the Brewers at American Family Field on June 24, where Kelly did take Cruz out for Canario.

Pirates manager Don Kelly said that they want to give Cruz a day off, as they try and get him back to the best version of him as a player.

"Today with the lefty, Oneil isn't going to be starting," Kelly said. "Canario will be in center. We're talking through that, just trying to find ways to get him back to being Oneil and swinging the bat the way that we know and he knows that he can. And relaxing a little bit. Some of that may be not being in the leadoff spot. We did that the last game there in Milwaukee. It will probably be fluid as we go, but there will be times that he is not leading off."