Pirates Tweak Lineup, Griffin Drops to Eighth

0:00It's April 6, I'm Cory with the story. This is MLB News Today, driven by AI and Bill for baseball fans. Pittsburgh pirates tweaking their lineup for the series opener against the San Diego Padres at PNC Park. Nineteen-year-old rookie Connor Griffin drops to the eighth spot, his lowest yet after hitting sixth in his last two games and seventh in his big. Lead debut on April 3rd versus Baltimore. Griffin is still finding his swing with just one hit and nine at bats for a 111 average, while he's drawing walks and got plunked once, pushing, his on base to 333. That hit was a solid RBI double in his first at bat, sparking a 4 run rally and a 5-4 win and he even legged out a run at 29, 0.4 feet per second. Fans have mixed feelings on the young shortstop, whose lockdown 4 straight starts with sharp defense and a strong arm, stabilizing the infield. Meanwhile, Marcel Olzuna returns at designated hitter batting fifth after sitting out the

1:01last Orioles game, despite a rough start, two hits in. 27 at bats for a 0-74 average on his one year $12 million deal, even drawing some booze he says motivate him. Outfield shifts C. Bryan Reynolds back in left at third in the order, O'Neill Cruz leading off from center and Ryan O'Hern in right at fourth those. Two crushed homers in the 8-2 beat down of Baltimore. One has Brennan-Low at second, Nick Gonzales grabbing third over others, with Jared Trial sidelined by injury, Spencer Horwitz at first, and Henry Davis catching ninth. Ryhander Bubba Chandler makes his PNC part debut on the mound, paired with Davis as the pirate's hope Griffin heats up soon and the lineup clicks, to build on early momentum against the Padres.