Three good and three bad things from the Pirates so far in 2026

PITTSBURGH, PA - APRIL 13: Brandon Lowe #5 of the Pittsburgh Pirates celebrates with Oneil Cruz #15 after scoring on a three RBI triple in the sixth inning against the Washington Nationals at PNC Park on April 13, 2026 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin K. Aller/Getty Images) | Getty Images The Pittsburgh Pirates have played through 16 games so far this season and are sitting at a 10-6 record.

There have been several things that have stood out from this team so far in 2026, both good and bad. The Battling Buccos are Back! One of the best things about this Pirates team in 2026 is the completely transformed lineup.

Gone are the days where opposing pitchers could pitch around the Pirates hitters. On any given night, any one of Pittsburgh’s batters can completely change the game. Brandon Lowe and Ryan O’Hearn are living up to their All-Star status as new Buccos, while others like Nick Gonzales and Bryan Reynolds continue to show up as returning Pirates.

In the span of just one offseason, the Pirates’ offense has gone from the absolute worst to being one of the most explosive in baseball. These are the kind of bats that help propel a team to the postseason, and it’s very possible that Buctober could be back in full swing with this kind of lineup. Another one of the best storylines of this Pirates’ team has been the explosive start that Oneil Cruz has been off to.