The Pittsburgh Pirates are smack dab in the middle of a post season berth for the first time in twenty years.  Yet, the Bucs are somehow sputtering toward the finish line.  The team has lost four straight and ten of its past 13 games.

Injuries have started to appear and the club might see some players return for a stretch run.

The Pirates second baseman Neil Walker started baseball activity yesterday and word is that if all goes well, he could return to the team by Friday.   Remember, Walker hasn’t played since August 26.  He missed time after a dislocated finger on August 15 as well.  His average has dropped over ten points in the last ten games Walker has played in during August.  Walker is hitting .114 in his past 35 at-bats with just three hits.

Walker has extended periods this season where he has been very productive at the plate.  Once again this year, Walker keeps showing improved range and glovework as the Pittsburgh Kid has proven he is up to the task of being a Major League second baseman.

Another key for the Pirates is rookie Starling Marte who starts a minor-league rehab with the State College Spikes tonight.  Marte will then join  the Triple-A Indianapolis Indians as they open their first playoff game tomorrow night.

Marte will also be a wait-and-see candidate like Walker.  The electric Bucco rookie has been out with a strained oblique muscle.

We would guess that if Walker and Marte can show progress this week, the Pirates will have them in the lineup again this weekend.

While Marte is striking out as often as his teammates this season, he has provided some spark.  But nothing he has done would resemble a lead off hitter as his on-base is still putrid at .287.  He’s not a Major League leadoff hitter at this point in his career, but he has displayed skills that show the incredible upside he could eventually bring to the Bucs.

The 23-year-old Marte made his debut one to remember when on July 26,  he crushed a bomb in his first at-bat.  The cannon-armed outfielder has played strong defense in 23 games while hitting .253 with four home runs and is slugging .421.

Chad Qualls was placed on the bereavement list with a family illness.  Yamaico Navarro was called up from Indianapolis where, as we wrote about yesterday, he was performaing well.  Navarro played left field for the Triple-A Indians last night.   Jeff Locke was sent to AAA and Jared Hughes was recalled.

The Pirates announced their lineup a few minutes ago on Twitter.

The Pittsburgh Pirates lineup.

Jordy Mercer is in the number two spot in the lineup. So looking at the starting infielders batting averages against right handers like the team will face today in Joe Blanton the numbers are less than appealing: Gaby Sanchez is hitting 250, Pedro Alvarez checks in with a 243 average and 18 homers off righties, Barmes is actually hitting 201 that is not a misprint–he has five bombs against righties, and Jordy Mercer is hitting just 179 in limited action.

Looking deeper the overall OPS for the infield checks in like this: Pedro with a .752, Gaby Sanchez has a .687, Mercer just a .594, and the big blow is Barmes with a paltry .555 OPS.

One good thing to consider is the offensive production from the infield is due for a progression. It’s hard to see it getting much worse.

Godspeeed Neil Walker.

Pittsburgh Pirates Neil Walker dislocated his right pinky finger.

Pittsburgh Pirates second baseman Neil Walker left the game tonight against the Los Angeles Dodgers during the first inning with a dislocated pinky finger on his right hand.

Hometown fielded a Matt Kemp ground ball that screamed past Pirates starter Wandy Rodriguez.  Walker ran and got Dodgers second baseman on a close force out at second base and fired the throw to first.

As Walker came to the ground he placed out his right hand on the PNC Park turf, and immediately rolled over in obvious pain.  There wasn’t a hotter Pittsburgh Pirates player than Walker.

Walker has driven in more teammates than any National League second basemen this season.  He is tied with Dan Uggla and Aaron Hill for the NL lead in homers.  The Local Guy as fans have known to call him on twitter has hit 14 long balls and is chasing down Bill Mazeroski’s record (19) for homeruns in a season for a Pirates second baseman.

The Pirates had placed the fewest members of their team on the disabled list this season.  The injury will likely keep Walker out of action moving forward, the exact amount of time hasn’t been officially mentioned,  which is a big blow for the Bucs.  Get well soon Neil.