24 Pedro Alvarez, 3B

Pirates third baseman Pedro Alvarez stole the third base of his career Thursday night against the Brewers as part of a 0-for-2 day that also featured one walk and one run scored.

Alvarez entered play Thursday with just two steals in 354 games and 1,370 career plate appearances. He recorded one stolen base in each of the last two years. Alvarez has hit just .188/.237/.336 with six home runs in 139 plate appearances this season.

Pirates third baseman Pedro Alvarez was out of the lineup for Wednesday's contest against the Brewers with a right-hander on the mound.

Manager Clint Hurdle told the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review the 26-year-old sat due to the matchup. Alvarez has gone 0 for 15 in his career against Milwaukee starter Yovani Gallardo.

"I've watched him go against (Gallardo) for two straight years, and this is the third year," Hurdle said. "We'll try something different."

It was his first time sitting against a righty since June 5, 2012.

Pirates third baseman Pedro Alvarez broke an 0-for-14 slide in his previous four games with a 2-for-3 game Thursday against the Mets that included a home run, his sixth of the season. His batting average, which had dipped to .168, is now .182.

Coming into this season, Pedro Alvarez had rightfully earned the reputation for being an all-or-nothing hitter. So far this year, he has done nothing to dispel that image and everything to reinforce it.

Alvarez has five home runs, but he has been striking out more often and walking less. He's also batting just .178, and he has yet to get a base hit on a flyball that stayed in the park. Some of that may be bad luck, but it hasn't helped that he has already produced eight infield flies. Those strikeouts and popups are products of an increasingly undisciplined approach, as Alvarez is swinging at pitches more often, particularly at those outside the strike zone.

Owners could live with Alvarez hitting .250, as long as he produces power, and in past seasons -- both in the majors and the minors -- he has shown the potential to do just that. Until he shows progress, though, find a place on your bench for the Pirates' slugger.