PITTSBURGH -- Pirates slugger Oneil Cruz was scratched from the lineup prior to Monday night’s series opener against the Cardinals due to an unspecified illness. He was replaced by Jake Mangum in center field.
The absence marked Cruz’s second missed game of the season.
The 27-year-old is off to the best start of his six-year career, slashing .259/.320/.518 with team highs of eight home runs and 24 RBIs. His 10 stolen bases were also tied for fourth most in MLB entering play Monday.
Cruz is one of just eight MLB players -- and the first since Brian Roberts in 2005 -- since RBI became an official stat in 1920 with at least 10 stolen bases and 24 RBIs in his first 27 games of a season.