Ryan O'Hearn was not in the Pirates lineup Thursday against the Nationals, with the left-handed hitter beginning the game on the bench as Washington sent southpaw Foster Griffin to the hill. Jake Mangum occupied right field and batted leadoff for Pittsburgh.
The decision came with O'Hearn having drawn opportunities against most lefties this season, a sign the Pirates have been willing to give him looks even in matchups that typically favor the pitcher. On Thursday, though, the matchup went the other way, and Mangum took the start in a different look for the top of the order.
O'Hearn's absence from the lineup was the only notable change tied to the pitching matchup, but it was enough to shift the shape of the Pirates' batting order for the day. With Griffin on the mound for Washington, Pittsburgh turned to a right-handed option in Mangum in right field and at the leadoff spot.
That leaves the immediate question for the Pirates as they move through the series: whether O'Hearn returns to the lineup once the left-on-left setup changes, or whether Thursday's benching becomes part of a broader mix-and-match approach. For now, the move was a straightforward response to the starter across the diamond.
