Pirates Release First Lineup Following Konnor Griffin Injury
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PITTSBURGH — The Pittsburgh Pirates have lost shortstop Konnor Griffin for the foreseeable future and have a lineup that they'll likely start trotting out more often.
The Pirates placed Griffin on the 10-day injured list with a left ring finger sagittal back injury, that he suffered in his last game out vs. the Washington Nationals at Nationals Park on July 5.
This injury will keep Griffin out for up to eight-to-10 weeks, which has a return timeline of Sept. 1-15, closer towards the end of the regular season.
It's not an easy time for Griffin or the Pirates, who have an idea of how they're lineup with shape without their star rookie in the lineup.
How Pirates Will Address Griffin's Departure
Jared Triolo now takes over at shortstop for the Pirates going forward, taking on the responsibilities he had after Griffin's first injury.
Triolo started 22 of 24 games when Griffin was dealing with his right forearm flexor strain from late-May to late-June, where he slashed .213/.308/.263 for an OPS of .570.
He hit better following Griffin's return, slashing .308/.379/.577 for an OPS of .956 in nine games, with eight hits in 26 at-bats, four doubles, a home run and five RBI and will need to keep up that play with Griffin out again.
The Pirates also have center fielder Jake Mangum in the leadoff spot and also with fellow center fielder Oneil Cruz and first baseman Spencer Horwitz, who both mostly hit leadoff this season, on the injured list.
Mangum has hit well since taking over center fielder full-time, slashing .323/.363/.385 for an OPS of .748 in 25 games, with 31 hits in 96 at-bats, six doubles and six RBI.
His time as leadoff hitter has also been successful, slashing .297/.333/.351 for an OPS of .685, which the Pirates also need now more than ever.
Pirates Lineup vs. the Braves
Player | Position | Batting Side |
|---|---|---|
Jake Mangum | Center Fielder | Switch |
Brandon Lowe | Designated Hitter | Left |
Bryan Reynolds | Left Fielder | Switch |
Esmerlyn Valdez | Right Fielder | Right |
Ryan O'Hearn | First Base | Left |
Nick Gonzales | Third Base | Right |
Tyler Callihan | Second Base | Left |
Jared Triolo | Shortstop | Right |
Henry Davis | Catcher | Right |
The Pirates host the Atlanta Braves for a three-game series at PNC Park and have both Mangum in leadoff and Triolo at shortstop in the series opener on July 7.
Pittsburgh also give rookie Tyler Callihan just his second start in MLB at second base, last doing so in the 5-1 win over the Seattle Mariners at PNC Park on June 25. He also bats seventh in the lineup.
Brandon Lowe will serve as designated hitter, just his fifth time doing so in 2026 and last time since the 9-5 defeat to the Nationals in the series opener at Nationals Park on July 3, and stays second in the batting order.
The Pirates lineup looks mostly the same, with first baseman Ryan O'Hearn batting fifth, third baseman Nick Gonzales batting sixth and Triolo batting eighth to round out the infield.
Rookie Esmerlyn Valdez continues on in right field and fourth in the batting order, while left fielder Bryan Reynolds is one spot ahead of him in third.
Catcher Henry Davis is in and bats ninth, as Pirates right-handed pitcher Paul Skenes makes his 19th start of 2026.
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Dominic writes for Pittsburgh Pirates On SI, Pittsburgh Panthers Pn SI and also, Pittsburgh Steelers On SI. A Pittsburgh native, Dominic grew up watching Pittsburgh Sports and wrote for The Pitt News as an undergraduate at the University of Pittsburgh, covering Pitt Athletics. He would write for Pittsburgh Sports Now after college and has years of experience covering sports across Pittsburgh.