Ryan Doumit went 1-for-4 in Pittsburgh's loss to the Astros on Wednesday.

The Bucs could muster just four hits, all singles, in a 2-0 loss to the Astros in Houston. Doumit will close August with a .268 average, four extra-base hits and eight RBI in 68 at-bats across 21 games.

Ryan Doumit went 2-for-4 with a homer on Monday, pacing the Pirates in their 9-2 win over the Brewers.

Doumit has started eight of the last 11 games for the Pirates and one of those contests he didn't start was half of a double-header. It was thought that Doumit and Mike McKenry would share time behind the plate, and that's what happened initially after Doumit was activated from the disabled, but with the Pirates starved for offense, Doumit has been getting more and more at-bats. He's 9-for-26 (.346) with two homers and five RBI since August 15.

Ryan Doumit has started five of the last six games and each of the last four contests for the Pirates.

It was thought that Doumit and Mike McKenry would share time behind the plate, and that's what happened initially after Doumit was activated from the DL, but with the Pirates starved for offense, Doumit has been getting more and more at-bats. He went 4-for-4 with a home run Monday and picked up two more hits Friday. He's worthy of mixed-league play while he's getting regular starts.

Ryan Doumit will start behind the plate Thursday night against the Cubs.

He'll bat seventh against right-hander Rodrigo Lopez. This will be his first start since being activated from the disabled list. Doumit appeared as a pinch-hitter Wednesday night against the Cubs and struck out swinging against Carlos Marmol for the final out of the ballgame. The 30-year-old backstop is batting .266/.330/.436 with four homers and 15 RBI over 104 plate appearances this season.

Pirates activated C Ryan Doumit from the 15-day disabled list.

As expected. Doumit was cleared to return after catching back-to-back games with Triple-A Indianapolis on Monday and Tuesday. He batted .231 (6-for-26) with a double, a triple and three RBI over eight Triple-A games. The 29-year-old has been sidelined since spraining his left ankle back on May 29. He'll likely share playing time behind the plate with Mike McKenry moving forward.

Ryan Doumit (ankle) is expected to be activated from the disabled list Wednesday.

Doumit has been on the disabled list since spraining his left ankle back on May 29. He's slated to catch a full nine inning for Triple-A Indianapolis Tuesday, and if that goes well, he'll rejoin the big club the next day. He will likely share time behind the plate with Mike McKenry.

Pirates transfered Ryan Doumit (ankle) to the 60-day disabled list.

The move is only to clear up space on the 40-man roster for Derrek Lee, as the Pirates will still need to demote someone to free a spot on the active roster. Doumit was placed on the 15-day D.L. on May 30, so he can still be activated whenever he's deemed healthy. The transfer is simply a tactic to buy the team a few extra days of roster flexibility.

The Pirates haven't ruled out using Ryan Doumit (ankle) in right field or at first base when he returns from the disabled list.

Things could change if the Pirates make a deal before the deadline, but this would be one possible avenue to upgrade the offense. "It has been an internal conversation but again, I think we're best suited to take it one step at a time," said Pirates manager Clint Hurdle. "We have had that conversation -- actually, we had it in the coach's room the day before." Doumit, who is catching during his rehab assignment, is 2-for-13 (.154) with a double and two RBI with Triple-A Indianapolis. The Pirates will likely want to see him get in a rhythm offensively before activating him from the disabled list.

Pirates manager Clint Hurdle said Ryan Doumit (ankle) still "needs to see a lot of pitches" on his rehab assignment before return.

Doumit is just 2-for-24 at the plate during his rehab assignment so far. "He still needs to see pitches," Hurdle said. "He is a guy who needs to see a lot of pitches." The catcher should return in early- to mid-August.

Ryan Doumit (ankle) had his rehab assignment transferred from High-A Bradenton to Triple-A Indianapolis.

Doumit went 2-for-14 (.143) with two walks, an RBI and a run scored over five games with Bradenton. He is on track to rejoin the Pirates in early August.

Ryan Doumit (ankle) is 2-for-11 with two walks through four rehab games at Single-A Bradenton.

Doumit has been on the disabled list since fracturing his left ankle in May and is not expected to return to the Pirates until early August. He'll spend the next week or so climbing through the Bucs' farm system.

Ryan Doumit (ankle) will begin a minor league rehab assignment Thursday with High-A Bradenton.

Doumit has been sidelined since the end of May with a non-displaced fracture of his left ankle. He'll likely rejoin the Pirates in the early part of August.

Ryan Doumit (ankle) is not expecting to return to the majors until "deep into next month."

Doumit suffered a non-displaced fracture of his left ankle in late May and has not yet been cleared for much in the way of baseball-related activities. The 30-year-old was batting .269/.333/.441 in 34 games.

Ryan Doumit had a follow-up CT scan on his ankle this week that showed significant healing.

Doumit will head down to the Pirates' spring training complex in Bradenton, Florida on Tuesday afternoon to begin rehabbing the fractured left ankle. He's hoping to return to the major leagues by the end of July.

Pirates placed C Ryan Doumit on the 15-day disabled list with a left ankle sprain.

Doumit suffered the injury Sunday on a play at the plate and was later spotted using crutches to walk. He's likely to remain disabled for about three weeks. The Bucs have called up catcher Dusty Brown from Triple-A.

Ryan Doumit was seen walking with crutches following his early exit from Sunday's game against the Cubs.

He apparently injured his left ankle, and will head back to Pittsburgh for an MRI. We'd be surprised if he avoided the disabled list. Chris Snyder will become the team's primary catcher, with Dusty Brown likely getting the call-up from Triple-A to serve as the No. 2 backstop.

Pirates manager Clint Hurdle doesn't plan to use Ryan Doumit in right field or at first base after Chris Snyder (back) comes off the disabled list.

"It wouldn't be fair to Ryan," Hurdle said. In other words, Doumit's playing time will take a big hit soon. He's batting .273 with one homer so far on the young season.

Ryan Doumit is not in the Pirates' Friday evening lineup.

Jason Jaramillo will start in his place. Doumit took a Yadier Molina backswing to the head on Wednesday evening, but was in the lineup on Thursday, and is likely receiving just a routine day of rest today.

Ryan Doumit (oblique) will take seven at-bats in a minor league game Thursday.

Barring any setbacks with his right oblique, he should play in a Grapefruit League this weekend. The Pirates were looking to trade Doumit prior to the injury, so they could resume their pursuits once he proves healthy.

Ryan Doumit (oblique) was able to take dry swings with a bat Monday in Pirates camp.

Doumit was scratched from the Pirates' lineup last Thursday and has not played since due to soreness in his right oblique. The Bucs are probably going to rest him for most of this week, even as they try to trade him.