Dustin Fowler

Pirates designated Dustin Fowler for assignment

The Pittsburgh Pirates designated center fielder Dustin Fowler for assignment.

What It Means:

Fowler had batted just .171/.239/.195 with one extra-base hit and 20 strikeouts in 46 plate appearances for Pittsburgh this season. The Pirates will start Bryan Reynolds in center on Thursday afternoon versus right-hander Jose Urena and the Detroit Tigers, with Phillip Evans in left and Gregory Polanco in right. Todd Frazier, who the Pirates just added to the active roster, will make his season debut as the designated hitter and bat sixth.

Per numberFire's MLB Heat Map, the Pirates have the second-lowest implied total (3.9 runs) among the 16 teams playing Thursday. Urena owns a 16.4 percent walk rate this season and a 25.4 strikeout percentage.