Rod Barajas

Rod Barajas doubled and belted a solo homer in Monday’s one-run win over the Marlins.

Barajas’ .182 average to this point is no surprise, and tonight’s bomb was just his second of the season. They’ve both been big, though, as his first one was a walk-off shot. Still, he’s a weak option as a second catcher in mixed leagues.

Rod Barajas played the hero against the Nationals on Tuesday, drilling a two-out, two-run homer in the bottom of the ninth inning to give the Pirates a 5-4 win.

Talk about unlikely circumstances. Barajas has been nothing short of abysmal this season, and was 0-3 on the night heading into the late at-bat against fire-balling Nationals reliever Henry Rodriguez. The home run was Barajas’ first of the year. He’s still hitting a paltry .141.

Rod Barajas was ejected from Wednesday’s game for arguing balls and strikes while behind the plate.

Barajas thought an 0-2 pitch to the Cardinals’ Carlos Beltran that was called low was actually a strike. He was tossed quickly, and Pirates manager Clint Hurdle eventually followed him by getting the heave-ho. Mike McKenry took his spot behind the plate.

Rod Barajas’ early season hitting woes continued against the Braves on Friday, finishing 0-for-3 including a double play ground out.

Barajas was signed this off-season to provide a stable offensive presence behind the dish for the Pirates, and he’s been anything but that so far. He’s hitting an uninspiring .114 with no RBI on the season, and could be in danger of losing his job soon.

Rod Barajas popped out as a pinch-hitter in Thursday’s loss to the Dodgers.

Barajas was swinging for the downs against his former team, but skied one to shortstop Dee Gordon for the final out of the game. The free-swinging backstop has just one hit in his first 14 at-bats this season to go along with four strikeouts and (of course) zero walks. He doesn’t have much appeal outside of NL-only formats.