The Pittsburgh Pirates finished last season 76-86. This was the same record they had in 2023. The Pirates have a history of being a poor team for their beleaguered fan base. They have only one winning record in the past nine years. They last appeared in a post-season game in 2015. They have not played in the National League Championship series in thirty years. All that said, things are looking up in Pittsburgh. They might have the best pitcher in baseball in Paul Skenes, and they have a number of intriguing players. How many games do you think the Pirates will win this year?
Pittsburgh Pirates Starting Rotation
Things in Pittsburgh begin and end with ace Paul Skenes. He may be the best pitcher in Major League Baseball and looks to lead the Pirates and build off a strong rookie season, which, among other things, saw him start the All-Star game. Mitch Keller is the second starter and the rock of this rotation. He has started at least 30 games and had a sub-4.25 earned run average in the last three seasons.
Jared Jones is also very good as the number three in option the rotation. He overcame a Lat strain in 2024, which forced him to miss two months of action. Johan Oviedo must bounce back after Tommy John surgery to make an impact as starter number four. Rounding out the Pittsburgh rotation is Bailey Falter, who provides this unit with a left-handed arm. Watch out for prospect Bubba Chandler to crack the rotation at some point this season.
Pittsburgh Pirates Bullpen
David Bednar is the closer for the Pirates. He must do better than the 5.77 earned run average that forced Pittsburgh to remove him from the closer role last season. Colin Holderman is steady and consistent as the pen’s setup man. Dennis Santana turned his career around last season after being claimed by the Pirates on waivers. He had a 2.44 earned run average in 44 innings after joining the team in June.
Caleb Ferguson will get some looks as a starter but has mostly appeared in relief at the big league level. Kyle Nicolas and Carmen Mlodzinski still have options, so they must earn their way onto the team. Peter Strzelecki and Tim Mayza are veterans with Major League success on their résumés but are both looking to rebound.
Catcher
The starting catcher for the Pirates is Joey Bart. A former top prospect with the San Francisco Giants has had an offensive renaissance in Pittsburgh. Bart is a below-average defender, but the Pirates will live with that if he continues his success at the plate. Endy Rodríguez gets the nod as Bart’s backup because he can also play first base.
Infield
In the infield, second baseman Nick Gonzales has 93rd percentile sprint speed but does not hit the ball hard. He will, however, turn a lot of double plays with shortstop and former New York Yankee Isiah Kiner-Falefa. IKF, as he is known, is 30 and is a former Gold Glove winner but is inconsistent at the plate.
Pirates veteran Ke’Bryan Hayes will occupy third base. The former top prospect has frustrated Pittsburgh fans by failing to live up to his billing. He has been on the injured list at least once in the last three seasons. The team hopes to plug a hole at the first base with Spencer Horwitz. He was acquired via trade from the Toronto Blue Jays but will miss at least the next six weeks after having wrist surgery. Jared Triolo will occupy the position while Horwitz heals.
Outfield
The outfield for the Pirates should be the foundation of their offense. Bryan Reynolds plays right field and is an excellent hitter. He is one of baseball’s most consistent hitters, having recorded a .790 on base plus slugging percentage in the last four seasons. Oneil Cruz has been moved from shortstop to center field. The 26-year-old Cruz has an excellent skill set and great potential. Pittsburgh signed 36-year-old Tommy Pham from the Kansas City Royals to play left field. Pham remains a dangerous hitter.
Designated Hitter
Fan favorite and veteran Andrew McCutchen is back as the Pirates’ designated hitter. He has also played for the Philadelphia Phillies and Yankees, among others. 2025 will be his 12th season with the team. He can still hit, launching 20 home runs last season. Pittsburgh will want to keep his bat in the lineup and will likely not use this position to give regulars a day off.
Management
Pirates fans have been disappointed since Robert Nutting became the owner in 2007. General Manager Ben Cherington would like the payroll flexibility to sign talented veterans. And you can bet Paul Skenes will be looking at that variable when he decides whether to stay down the line. The Pittsburgh manager is Derek Shelton. He is headed into his sixth season with the team and enjoys just a .415 winning percentage over that time. He cannot be blamed for the club’s struggles.
Conclusion
The Pittsburgh Pirates may be a team with an ace Cy Young award winner that finishes in last place. There is enough talent here to avoid a last-place finish, but it could happen. It will be interesting to see what this fiscally constrained franchise does with its high-end young talent.
