Polanco is not starting Thursday against the Indians, Adam Berry of MLB.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

Polanco has started the past four games for the Pirates, going just 1-for-14 with a home run and seven strikeouts over that span. Cole Tucker is starting in right field in this one.

Polanco went 0-for-4 with three strikeouts and a walk in Tuesday's loss to Cleveland.

EDGE Analysis

He has just three hits in 40 at-bats, striking out 21 times in 46 plate appearances. Polanco missed time due to COVID-19 and bruised ribs (more recently). Although he's not seeing the ball well, the team has little outfield depth, giving Polanco more opportunities to work his way out of the season-long slump.

Polanco went 1-for-3 with a home run, two RBI and a walk Thursday against the Reds.

EDGE Analysis

Polanco led off the second inning with a solo home run off Anthony DeSclafani, his second long ball of the season. He's struggled to get consistent at-bats early on, first sidelined by COVID-19 prior to missing the Pirates' contest against Detroit on Sunday with a rib injury. The hit was just Polanco's third in 37 plate appearances, and he's hitting .094/.189/.313 in that span.

Polanco (ribs) will start in right field and bat sixth Thursday against the Reds.

EDGE Analysis

He'll rejoin the lineup after sitting out the Pirates' most recent game Sunday against the Tigers before Pittsburgh had its three-game series with the Cardinals this week postponed. Polanco's presence in the outfield rather than at designated hitter suggests the Pirates have few concerns about his health, but the 28-year-old's performance at the plate this season makes it difficult to be optimistic about his fantasy prospects. He's batted .152 and reached base at a .207 clip through his first 10 games while striking out in 15 of his 33 plate appearances (45.5 percent).

Pirates director of sports medicine Todd Tomczyk said Polanco was held out of Sunday's 2-1 loss to the Tigers with a "mild" case of bruised ribs, Adam Berry of MLB.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

Polanco is banged up after colliding with teammate Phillip Evans in Saturday's loss, but he's in far better condition than Evans, who was placed on the 45-day injured list after suffering a fractured jaw and a concussion. Assuming the rib issue is truly minor, Polanco may not miss any further time, as the Pirates' upcoming series with the Cardinals could be postponed entirely after a number of players on the St. Louis roster tested positive for COVID-19. At this point, only Monday's series opener has been postponed.

Polanco is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Tigers.

EDGE Analysis

Though the Tigers are bringing a right-hander (Spencer Turnbull) to the hill in the series finale, the lefty-hitting Polanco will ride the pine for the second time in three days. Though the Pirates haven't said Polanco's absence is the result of any injury, he may be sitting as a precaution after he collided in the field with teammate Phillip Evans in Saturday's 11-5 loss. Polanco could also be getting a day off as a result of his season-long slump, as the outfielder has recorded just two hits while striking out in 45.5 percent of his plate appearances to date.

Polanco is not in the lineup Friday against the Tigers.

EDGE Analysis

The 28-year-old went 1-for-4 with his first homer of the season Thursday, but he'll head to the bench a day later with left-hander Matthew Boyd on the mound for Detroit. Polanco is 2-for-27 with 12 strikeouts through eight games this season. Phillip Evans will start in right field and bat sixth Friday.

Polanco went 1-for-4 with a three-run home run Thursday against the Twins.

EDGE Analysis

Polanco still punched out twice, but came with some production for the first time this season. He took Kenta Maeda deep in the second inning with two runners on for his first home run of the campaign. After missing the beginning of the season with an illness, Polanco has failed to get on track, collecting just two hits and three walks in 27 plate appearances.

Polanco will bat sixth and play right field Tuesday against the Cubs.

EDGE Analysis

He has one hit in 14 at-bats with a 2:8 BB:K. Polanco missed time with COVID-19 and has struggled since returning. Tuesday mark's his first game action since Saturday.

Polanco is not in the lineup for Sunday's game against the Cubs.

EDGE Analysis

Polanco is 1-for-14 with eight strikeouts through his first five games and will head to the bench with lefty Jon Lester on the mound for Chicago. Guillermo Heredia enters the lineup in right field Sunday for the Pirates.