Olivares is not in the lineup for Friday's game against the Blue Jays.
It's his second straight game on the bench after he had started the previous four contests in right field. Connor Joe will occupy right field again Friday while Rowdy Tellez covers first base.
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Pirates' Edward Olivares: Resting for second leg of twin bill
Rotowire
Olivares is out of the lineup for the second game of Wednesday's doubleheader with the Tigers.
Olivares was in the lineup for the fourth time in five games in the Pirates' 8-0 loss to open the doubleheader, starting in right field while going 0-for-3 with a strikeout. He'll hit the bench for the second game of the day, with Rowdy Tellez replacing him in the lineup and starting at first base and Connor Joe shifting from first base to right field.
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Pirates' Edward Olivares: Playing time picking up
Rotowire
Olivares will start in right field and bat cleanup in the first game of Wednesday's doubleheader with the Tigers.
Olivares looks to be the primary beneficiary from a playing-time standpoint after the Pirates optioned Jack Suwinski to Triple-A Indianapolis on Thursday. In the ensuing five games, Olivares has now drawn four starts (three versus lefties, one versus a right-hander).
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Pirates' Edward Olivares: Big performance against Atlanta
Rotowire
Olivares went 3-for-5 with two RBI and two runs scored Friday against Atlanta.
Olivares got the start in right field with lefty Ray Kerr on the mound and occupied the cleanup spot. He took advantage of the opportunity by delivering RBI knocks in the third and sixth innings. Olivares is a candidate to see more playing time after the Pirates optioned Jack Suwinski to Triple-A Indianapolis on Friday, especially as he has no clear platoon partner now in right field.
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Pirates' Edward Olivares: Clubs two-run homer
Rotowire
Olivares went 2-for-4 in Thursday's win over the Cubs with a double, a two-run homer and two runs scored.
Olivares put the Pirates on the board with a two-run blast off Justin Steele in the top of the first and later added a double in the sixth before coming around to score on a sacrifice fly from Yasmani Grandal. The home run was Olivares' fifth of the season and he's now hit safely in three straight games. It also marked only the second time this season he scored two runs in a contest.
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Pirates' Edward Olivares: On bench Wednesday
Rotowire
Olivares is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Angels.
Olivares had started in each of the past four games and went 4-for-15 with a home run, a double and four RBI during that stretch, but he'll hit the bench while right-hander Jose Soriano takes the hill for the Halos. The Pirates still seem to view Olivares as a short-side platoon player, as three of his starts over the last four games came versus left-handed pitching.
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Pirates' Edward Olivares: Grand in win
Rotowire
Olivares went 2-for-4 with a grand slam and a double in Monday's win over the Angels.
Olivares generated all the offense Pittsburgh needed to defeat the Angels on Monday night, blasting a 424-foot grand slam in the third inning. The 28-year-old is the short-side of a platoon currently with Jack Suwinski, which limits his overall fantasy value. Olivares is hitting .218/.282/.397 with four homers, 12 RBI and 10 runs scored in 85 plate appearances.
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Pirates' Edward Olivares: Retreats to bench Sunday
Rotowire
Olivares is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Phillies, Kevin Gorman of TribLive.com reports.
Olivares had started each of the past four games -- two against right-handed starting pitchers and two against lefties -- while going 5-for-15 with a pair of solo home runs and an additional run. The 28-year-old still looks like the Pirates' fourth outfielder/backup designated hitter, but he's playing regularly versus lefties and often enough against righties to warrant consideration for a roster spot in deeper mixed leagues.
Pirates' Edward Olivares: Clubs two homers in loss
Rotowire
Olivares went 2-for-4 with two solo home runs during Tuesday's 5-3 loss to the Tigers.
The 28-year-old put Pittsburgh on the board with a solo blast during the second inning and followed up with another solo shot in the sixth. Olivares hasn't been an everyday starter in the early going with six starts through 12 games, though his three homers and .321/.367/.679 slash line in 30 plate appearances could certainly earn him more playing time.
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Pirates' Edward Olivares: Occupying right field Monday
Rotowire
Olivares will start in right field and bat fifth in Monday's game versus the Nationals.
Most of Olivares' playing time this season will likely come against left-handers, and luckily for him, the Pirates have faced five southpaw starters in as many games to open the campaign. Olivares has been in the lineup four times, reaching base five times and hitting a home run in the first three of those contests.
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Pirates' Edward Olivares: Gets start versus southpaw
Rotowire
Olivares is starting in right field and batting fifth in Friday's game in Miami, Jason Mackey of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.
Olivares didn't start Opening Day against a lefty, but he gets the nod in the second game with southpaw A.J. Puk on the hill. The left-handed hitting Jack Suwinski has been on the bench for both games.
Pirates' Edward Olivares: Sluggish start to spring
Rotowire
Olivares is 2-for-18 with four strikeouts in Grapefruit League action.
The Pirates acquired Olivares this winter, and he should have a role in right field with the team in 2024. Exactly how much he'll play is unclear, as the Pirates also have Josh Palacios (leg) and Connor Joe as potential fits at the position. Olivares's spring performance isn't ideal given the competition for playing time, though his adequate 22.2 percent strikeout rate suggests a few more hits could start falling in soon.
Pirates' Edward Olivares: Settles at $1.35 million
Rotowire
Olivares signed a $1.35 million contract with the Pirates on Thursday to avoid arbitration, Jason Mackey of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.
After slashing .263/.317/.452 with 36 RBI across 385 plate appearances last season with Kansas City, Olivares was traded to Pittsburgh in December. The 27-year-old outfielder boasts an .800 OPS against southpaws since 2021 and figures to be a regular part of Pittsburgh's lineup in 2024.
The Royals traded Olivares to the Pirates on Friday in exchange for Deivis Nadal, Anne Rogers of MLB.com reports.
With the signing of Chris Stratton becoming official Friday, the Royals unloaded Olivares to make room on their 40-man roster. The 27-year-old will likely be used both in the outfield and as a designated hitter next season, and he provides a significant boost to Pittsburgh's lineup against lefties after slashing .277/.339/.518 versus southpaws last season.
