It’s finally here: the 2026 Major League Baseball season is upon us and the Pittsburgh Pirates will play Opening Day baseball this week against the New York Mets. This offseason was one of the busier and noisier offseasons in recent Pirates memory with multiple additions to the lineup via trades and free agency. The Pirates have clearly taken a calculated swing: improve the offense, ride the pitching, and try to make enough improvements around the margins to bring playoff baseball back to Pittsburgh for the first time since 2015.
We’ve asked the Bucco Bantr staff what they think of the 2026 Pirates and you can find your favorite Banter-er’s predictions below. Disagree? Sound off on the socials and make sure to tag Bucco Banter.
Adam Shorr: 82-80
82 Wins and 2nd place finish behind the Cubs. The division stayed stagnant for the most part in free agency and the Pirates did enough to ensure more slug to keep them in those close games they lost in years past. Contributions from Griffin, Chandler, and Ashcraft will highlight the season.
Andy Pregler: 78-84
I’m probably the most pessimistic about the Pirates simply because while the lineup is much improved at the plate, it came at the expense of what was actually a strong defense that helped a young pitching staff tread water. While the rotation looks strong, it’s filled with arms who have not had major injuries, and they lack the AAAA type depth to eat competitive innings should any one go down for more than a couple starts. Add in an unproven and highly volatile bullpen and I think this team is just too shallow to compete with the far more proven Brewers and resource laden Cubs in the division.
Bryce O’Leary: 83-79
I think the Pirates get off to an underwhelming start, but hang around .500 through May. The pitching will keep them relevant before a winning stretch later in the season. Griffin will be up, Jones will be back, and it will be a really solid roster that includes lineup protection like they have never had before. I really think the pitching and added lineup protection will keep them relevant all year. If Cruz and Reynolds can have big years along with consistency from the guys around them, it could be a great season.
Jay Staph: 85-77
After a strong offseason full of addressing this club's offensive weaknesses, the Pittsburgh Pirates are in position for a competitive 2026 campaign. The 83-79 Cincinnati Reds held the final Wild Card spot last season, and this Pirates team is a far more complete squad overall. With one of the strongest pitching staffs in the league and a now-competent offense, this team could get dangerous if things click.
Jim Stamm: 85-77
The Pirates went 25-35 in one-run games in 2025. They'll reverse that record this season with the improved offense and add a few more wins on top of that. 85-77. This team will be playing meaningful baseball games in September.
Scott Moore: 84-78
The Pirates are coming off a 2025 season where they ranked near the top of the league in multiple pitching categories, but near or at the bottom in multiple hitting categories. Adding offense this offseason was a priority and they came away with Brandon Lowe, Jake Mangum, Ryan O'Hearn, and Jhostynxon Garcia. Those additions along with the inevitable arrival of superstar prospect Konnor Griffin should propel the Pirates to above .500 baseball for the 2026 season.
Zach Wells: 82-80
The Pirates have done a solid job at adding to the roster this offseason that will result in a competitive year and a fight for a WildCard spot come September. The pitching will keep them in ballgames and the lineup will be more dependable than last year, but shortcomings defensively and not having a clear path to consistently rotate the DH spot will position the Pirates just short of a playoff berth.
