Photo provided by Matt Lynch
Happy Opening Day eve, Pirates’ fans!
The Pittsburgh Pirates 2026 regular seasons begins on Thursday afternoon against the New York Mets at Citi Field. Reigning Cy Young winner Paul Skenes will be on the mound for a nationally-televised game airing on NBC.
The Pirates enter the season with the goal of pushing for a playoff spot. Unlike recent years, there is a real possibility they could actually make it. But in order to do so, the Pirates will have to go from worst to first (or at least worst to wild card).
Don Kelly begins his first full season as manager of his hometown team with a new-look coaching staff. Now, he’s tasked with trying to do what only one other manager has done in Pittsburgh since the days of his mentor, Jim Leyland.
Here are the top storylines to follow with the season about to begin.
How Much Better Will the Offense Be?
Last season, the Pirates paired a playoff-caliber starting rotation with the league’s worst offense. Had it been even for average-ish lineup production, Pittsburgh very well could’ve pushed for a playoff spot.
But instead, the Pirates finished last in baseball in runs (583), home runs (117) and OPS (.655) and were at or near the bottom in most other categories.
This offseason, the Pirates emphasized trying to improve the offense by adding several notable players including second baseman Brandon Lowe, outfielder/first baseman Ryan O’Hearn and designated hitter Marcell Ozuna.
While the additions should provide a boost, getting bounce-back seasons from several in-house players — notably Bryan Reynolds and Oneil Cruz — will go a long way. And of course, adding top prospect Konnor Griffin to the mix should help.
When Will Konnor Griffin Debut?
Speaking of Griffin, perhaps the biggest question surrounding one player this season is when he will make his much-anticipated MLB debut.
Griffin was in competition to serve as the team’s starting shortstop on Opening Day but after some not-too-concerning struggles during spring training, the Pirates opted to have him begin the season with Triple-A Indianapolis.
Given what he showed during his first professional season a year ago, it shouldn’t be too long until the game’s top prospect reaches Pittsburgh. One prediction: It will come on a day the Pirates are playing at PNC Park.
Can Paul Skenes Repeat as Cy Young?
Skenes will once again head the starting rotation and will look to defend his National League Cy Young award.
His big-league career is off to an incredible start. Through 55 career starts, Skenes has a 1.96 ERA, two All-Star Game starts, a National League Rookie of the Year award and a Cy Young on his impressive resume.
Skenes enters the season as the favorite to win the Cy Young again. If he stays healthy all season it’s hard to envision anyone else dethroning him. At present, his top competitors are Yoshinobu Yamamoto (Dodgers) and Cristopher Sánchez (Phillies).
Can Oneil Cruz Put It All Together?
There aren’t many players in baseball more talented than Cruz but so far, his production hasn’t quite matched his tools.
Cruz led the National League with 38 stolen bases and led the team with 20 home runs but hit just .200 and struck out 174 times in 544 trips to the plate last season.
The 27-year-old can hit a ball harder and farther than anyone, can run faster than most and has one of the strongest arms in the league. Will this be the year he finally puts it all together? If not, it gets harder to envision him ever doing so, at least in Pittsburgh.
How Much of a Problem Will Outfield Defense Be?
The Pirates starting outfield will be Bryan Reynolds, Oneil Cruz and Ryan O’Hearn. Offensively, the trio looks formidable. Reynolds, despite a down year last season, has consistently been the team’s top hitter during his tenure. Cruz can change a game with one swing. O’Hearn was an All-Star last season.
But the defense is a huge question mark. Cruz had minus-14 defensive runs saved last season and committed 11 errors. Reynolds had a better defensive showing after a switch to right field but will be back in left. O’Hearn is much more experienced at first base than in the corner outfield.
At least the Pirates have two strong defensive outfielders on their bench in Jake Mangum and Billy Cook. But Kelly will have to carefully choose when he wants to sacrifice offense for defense.
The Return of Buctober?
The oft-stated goal at the end of last season and through this offseason was to make the playoffs. Period. Full stop.
So, the biggest question for the Pirates is did they do enough to earn a spot in the postseason when the time comes? Can they improve from a 71-win season and last place finish in 2025 to fight for the division title or a wild card spot?
The National League and the Central division both appear to be relatively wide open. According to Fangraphs, the Pirates have the sixth-best odds to make the postseason this year. Since six teams in each league make the playoffs, you don’t have to squint too hard to see a potential playoff team.
At the same time, a lot will have to go right for the Pirates to get there. But hey, at least there’s a shot. That’s more than could be said in most of the last 30-plus years.
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