Pirates' Canaan Smith-Njigba: Playing time dwindling

Smith-Njigba is out of the lineup for Monday's game against the Astros.

The lefty-hitting Smith-Njigba's absence from the lineup versus a tough southpaw (Framber Valdez) comes as little surprise, but the 23-year-old rookie's playing time versus right-handed pitching had already been trending down of late. He's made just one start in the last four games in which Pittsburgh has faced a righty, with Jack Suwinski and Ji Hwan Bae both seemingly moving ahead of Smith-Njigba in the outfield pecking order.