Newman is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Brewers.

EDGE Analysis

Erik Gonzalez will fill in at shortstop after Newman started in each of the Pirates' previous seven games. After a red-hot spring training, Newman has been unable to keep the momentum going so far during the regular season. Through 14 games, Newman has gone 9-for-54 (.167 average) with only two extra-base hits (both doubles).

Newman went 1-for-4 with a run scored in Friday's 6-1 win over the Brewers.

EDGE Analysis

His poor start (.180/.196/.220) continues, but despite his struggles, Newman has started each of the team's last six games. He's posted a 94 percent contact rate, but he's hitting line drives (6.4 percent) less than ever. Because the team likes to move versatile Erik Gonzalez around the infield, it's likely Newman sticks in the lineup at short. Cole Tucker remains in Florida working on his offensive approach, leaving a path for Newman to find his game with Pittsburgh.

Newman went 1-for-5 with a run in Sunday's 7-1 win against the Cubs.

EDGE Analysis

Since going 2-for-5 on Opening Day, Newman has collected only four hits in 27 at-bats. He's totaled one extra-base hit (a double) and no stolen base attempts. The team has batted him in various spots of the lineup without success. As a result, he could lose some playing time to Erik Gonzalez at shortstop until he regains his batting stroke.

Newman isn't in the lineup for Saturday's game against the Cubs.

EDGE Analysis

Newman was named the team's primary shortstop and has gone 5-for-27 with a double and one RBI in seven games to begin the year. However, Erik Gonzalez will take over at shortstop Saturday, batting fifth.

Newman is not starting Monday against the Reds.

EDGE Analysis

Newman was named the team's primary shortstop following an excellent spring, but that doesn't mean he'll play every day. He'll get the day off after going 0-for-5 Sunday against the Cubs, with Erik Gonzalez starting in his absence.

Manager Derek Shelton said Monday that Newman will head into Opening Day as the Pirates' regular shortstop, Kevin Gorman of TribLive.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

After taking a big step back at the plate during the abbreviated 2020 campaign, Newman entered the spring having to battle with the likes of Erik Gonzalez and Cole Tucker for an everyday role in the middle infield. Newman was able to easily separate himself from the competition, recording a whopping 20 hits in 29 at-bats (.690 average) while going 2-for-3 on stolen-base attempts through his first 12 Grapefruit League games. While this level of production is obviously unsustainable, Newman's bat-to-ball skills and willingness to run should at least make him a decent late-round target for fantasy managers looking for a boost in batting average and steals. He's just two years removed from a season in which he hit .308 with 16 stolen bases over 130 games.

Newman went 3-for-4 with a double and three runs in Monday's loss to the Orioles.

EDGE Analysis

He's batting a healthy .700 in 20 spring at-bats. Perhaps more importantly, he's running the bases well and playing solid defense, showing that he's healthy entering the season. Barring an injury during the final week of Grapefruit League, Newman is likely to begin 2021 as the team's starting shortstop, ahead of Erik Gonzalez and Cole Tucker. Fantasy owners might recall that the 27-year-old stole 16 bases in 2019, so he could prove to be a sneaky source of steals in 2021.

Newman is 9-for-14 with a 4:0 BB:K in Grapefruit League action.

EDGE Analysis

Since returning from a hamstring injury two games ago, he has three hits in six at-bats. Newman struggled mightily in 2020 with a .224 batting average in 156 at-bats, but he posted a .308 mark in 493 at-bats in his rookie campaign. While he doesn't feature the glove that his competitors for the shortstop job have, like Erik Gonzalez and Cole Tucker, his bat plays much better. He played nearly as much second base (20 games) as shortstop (23) last summer, so he could slide over to the right side of the infield, especially if the team eventually trades starting second baseman Adam Frazier.

Newman (hamstring) served as the team's designated hitter and went 0-for-2 with a walk Sunday against the Phillies.

EDGE Analysis

While he didn't play in the field, Newman saw his first action in a week. He made it through the game without re-injuring himself and figures to see time at shortstop in the coming days.

Pirates director of sports medicine Todd Tomczyk said Wednesday that Newman is no longer feeling tightness in his hamstring, Kevin Gorman of TribLive.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

Newman left Sunday's spring game against Baltimore due to left hamstring tightness, but he's no longer dealing with the issue. The 27-year-old isn't in the lineup for Wednesday's spring matchup against the Yankees, but he should be available going forward.