Pirates News: Konnor Griffin return date, former outfielder claimed, NL Wild Card race

The Pittsburgh Pirates could be getting two important pieces of their lineup back in relatively short order.

Rookie shortstop Konnor Griffin said Sept. 4 — the first day he is eligible to come off the 60-day injured list — is his target as he continues working back from a sagittal band injury in his left ring finger.

Griffin, who has been sidelined since early July, recently transitioned out of the splint he wore for six weeks and is heading to the Pirates’ complex in Bradenton to begin ramping up baseball activities. Because he was unable to swing during that period, Griffin said he will gradually progress from light swings into more extensive hitting and defensive work.

Sept. 4 is not a guarantee, however, as the Pirates will first need to see how Griffin's hand responds as his workload increases. Griffin has hit .276/.332/.404 with five homers and 20 stolen bases in 59 games this season.

Meanwhile, Ryan O’Hearn will join Griffin in Florida as he continues rehabbing a left quad strain, and his timeline could be even shorter. O’Hearn believes he could return before Griffin is eligible on Sept. 4 and has already begun light baseball activities.

Their progress could have major implications for Pittsburgh’s stretch run. If both return around the beginning of September, the Pirates could finally have something close to their intended offense intact after injuries repeatedly disrupted the lineup throughout the summer.

Johnathan Rodríguez claimed off waivers before appearing in a game for Pirates

The Pirates officially lost outfielder Johnathan Rodríguez this week after the Athletics claimed him off waivers and optioned him to Triple-A Las Vegas.

Pittsburgh designated Rodríguez for assignment earlier this week to clear a 40-man roster spot for Oneil Cruz, ending a brief stint with the organization after acquiring him from the Baltimore Orioles in July. The 26-year-old has now been with four organizations this season after previously spending time with Baltimore and the Cleveland Guardians.

Rodríguez’s appeal remains tied to his minor-league production. Across 1,403 Triple-A plate appearances over the past several seasons, he has hit .298/.388/.508 with 62 home runs. That success has yet to translate to the majors, however. Rodríguez owns a .177/.288/.301 slash line with a 31.8% strikeout rate in 132 big-league plate appearances.

For the Pirates, the move closes the book on another depth addition that never received much of an opportunity in Pittsburgh. The Athletics will now take the next chance on Rodríguez’s intriguing power profile.

Pirates still hanging around NL Wild Card race after crucial homestand

The Pirates have finally stopped their second-half slide, but they still have plenty of work to do in the National League Wild Card race.

Pittsburgh enters its weekend series against the Los Angeles Dodgers at 63-66 after winning consecutive series against the Red Sox and Tigers. Those victories ended a stretch of seven straight series losses in which the Pirates went just 7-16 and fell as many as six games below .500.

The turnaround has kept Pittsburgh's postseason hopes alive, but the margin for error is thin. The Pirates sit 5 1/2 games behind the San DiegoPadres for the final NL Wild Card spot, with the Arizona. Diamondbacks, St. Louis Cardinals and Miami Marlins also standing between them and San Diego.

That makes this upcoming road trip especially important. Pittsburgh needs to remain within striking distance before a potentially favorable September schedule arrives.

The Pirates are scheduled to play 15 home games in September, including series against struggling teams such as the Los Angeles Angels, Kansas City Royals and San Francisco Giants. If Pittsburgh can survive its upcoming stretch against tougher competition, an opportunity to make a late push is still there.

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