Jake Mangum Sits Third Straight Game Against Cubs

jake mangum was out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Cubs for the third straight contest. He returned from the injured list on May 17, but the run of missed starts has stretched back across three games.

Cubs Lineup Decision

Mangum had started in five of the Pirates' ensuing seven games after coming back on May 17, so this was not a complete shutdown. Still, Wednesday marked another benching while Bryan Reynolds and Oneil Cruz were available, and rookie Esmerlyn Valdez was getting prioritized ahead of him.

Pirates Outfield Mix

The competition for at-bats is tight because the Pirates were not willing to pull the plug on Marcell Ozuna as their primary designated hitter. That leaves Mangum without a steady path to regular work in the outfield while Reynolds and Cruz remain available, and Valdez keeps moving ahead in the pecking order.

At-Bats In Pittsburgh

For Mangum, the issue is not just one missed start against Chicago. He has gone from an injured-list return on May 17 to a lineup role that has already slipped into part-time status, with five starts in seven games followed by three straight absences. The next stretch will tell whether he can force his way back into a more stable share of the Pirates' at-bats.