Slumping Gregory Polanco again absent from Pirates lineup

Gregory Polanco is slumping. And with an abundance of options in the outfield who are performing at a high level, the Pittsburgh Pirates aren’t willing to sit and wait for him to play out of it.

Polanco was not in the lineup again Friday for the game against the San Diego Padres. That means, at minimum, the Pirates starting right fielder will go six days between starts.

Polanco has started nine games in June, and he has eight hits during the month.

“We’re just trying to figure out what’s best and how to serve it and talking with him, pulling video, just working with him,” manager Clint Hurdle said. “Kind of where we always go back to, the foundation, plate coverage, is one of the areas you check.”

Over a span of more than five weeks dating to May 14, Polanco has 18 hits as opposed to 40 strikeouts in 93 at-bats, a .194 average and .605 OPS.

Rookie Bryan Reynolds (.356 season average) and veteran Melky Cabrera (.325) have been hot, which has mitigated the need for Polanco and pushed his struggles into the background.

When is enough going to be enough with Gregory Polanco? #Pirates https://t.co/iwXD7R8yYi

— Tribune-ReviewSports (@TribSports) June 25, 2018

Before his funk, Polanco had a .317 average and .912 OPS through 15 games, continuing to buttress a reputation as a traditionally streaky offensive player. That’s something Hurdle and the coaching staff are leaning on in their effort to snap him from this funk.

“We’ve talked about … in the past, that an adjustment closer to the plate can help out,” Hurdle said. “Swing path. There is just checklist of things you’re trying to follow to make sure you’re in a proper spot.”

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