Stallings went 1-for-3 with two RBI and a walk in Saturday's win over the Cubs.

EDGE Analysis

Stallings has endured a slow start to the season and even went through a four-game hitless stretch, but he's now reached base at least twice in each of his last two contests. The backstop is not known for his offensive ability and that has been the case over the first few games of this season as well, but he is slowly moving in the right direction since he's hit safely in back-ti-back games for the first time in 2021.

Stallings is 3-for-16 with one double and five walks in the season's first seven games.

EDGE Analysis

He reached base three times Thursday with a single and two walks. After just 21 plate appearances, Stallings is batting .188 but holds a 5:5 BB:K. His .062 ISO is well below a career mark of .108. Surprisingly, the catcher hits better on the road (.274/.336/.406) than at PNC Park (.244/.323/.328) and the team plays its next six games at home.

Stallings is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Reds, Kevin Gorman of TribLive.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

Stallings is receiving some routine maintenance with Pittsburgh wrapping up its series in Cincinnati with a day game. Michael Perez will catch Chad Kuhl in the series finale.

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

EDGE Analysis

After catching the first two games, Stallings will give way to Michael Perez behind the plate with right-hander Mitch Keller on the mound for Pittsburgh. Stallings is 2-for-7 with a walk, a double and three strikeouts so far this season.

Stallings went 1-for-3 with a solo homer in Sunday's loss to the Phillies.

EDGE Analysis

Stallings, who's set to serve as the team's starting catcher, is batting .333 in 12 spring at-bats. Better known for his defense, the 31-year-old holds a career .262 batting average in 382 at-bats in the big leagues.

Stallings enters the 2021 campaign as the team's clear-cut starter behind the plate, DK Pittsburgh Sports reports.

EDGE Analysis

The 31-year-old, who slashed .248/.326/.376 in 143 plate appearances, led the NL in innings caught (345.1) while finishing second in the Gold Glove voting. His .702 OPS was slightly above the league average (.695) for catchers. He's never caught more than 700 innings, but is ready for the challenge. "My body really held up well," he said. "I felt good. So I was really encouraged about that. I don't think anything will change." Newly acquired catchers Michael Perez and Tony Wolters are expected to compete for Stallings' back-up job.

Stallings agreed to a one-year contract with the Pirates on Friday, avoiding arbitration.

EDGE Analysis

The 31-year-old backstop hit .248/.326/.376 with three home runs in 143 plate appearances last year. He was also a strong defensive catcher, so he should be the primary backstop in Pittsburgh this season.

The Pirates placed Stallings on the 7-day concussion injured list Sunday.

EDGE Analysis

Stallings isn't believed to have a lengthy history of concussions, so the expectation is that he'll be fully cleared to resume baseball activities early in the offseason. He'll wrap up the 2019 campaign with a .248/.326/.376 slash line with three home runs and 18 RBI across 143 plate appearances over 42 games.

Stallings is not in Thursday's lineup against the Cubs.

EDGE Analysis

He will head to the bench in the day game following a night game. Stallings is hitting .160 with two home runs in 50 at-bats this month. John Ryan Murphy will start behind the dish and bat ninth.

Stallings hit a walk-off homer in the ninth inning of Tuesday's 3-2 victory over the Cubs.

EDGE Analysis

He was slashing just .140/.224/.279 in 49 plate appearances in September prior to Tuesday. Stallings is batting .252 overall, however, and continues to provide Pittsburgh with stellar defense.