The Pirates will continue starting Pedro Alvarez at third base despite a slump that began last season. Alvarez is hitting .133 and has struck out in 13 of 30 at-bats in Grapefruit League play. "The rumors of him starting at Triple-A have never come from the Pirates," general manager Neal Huntington said. "It's been outside speculation. It's not what we've thought (of doing). We asked him to do some things coming into spring training and he's done those. He's going through a tough stretch right now. "Are we going to be able to get him out of it? We believe we will."