Pittsburgh Pirates' Ryan O'Hearn celebrates his three-run home run off Philadelphia Phillies's Saul Teran with Bryan Reynolds (10) and Jared Triolo (19) during the third inning of a spring training baseball game Friday, March 6, 2026, in Bradenton, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)

Mirror sports writer John Hartsock came up with a list of the top 10 things that need to happen for the Pittsburgh Pirates to have a successful 2026 season.

1). Changing the narrative

After drawing the ire of their fan base with a 10-year postseason drought, four last-place National League Central Division finishes in the past five full seasons, and a perceived lack of adequate emphasis on taking the necessary steps to build a contending team, the Pirates showed admirable front-office initiative this offseason by addressing several areas of need and putting themselves in a position to make considerable improvement. Giving Don Kelly a vote of confidence by extending his contract last fall and removing the interim tag from his managerial title was also an important move for team stability after the Bucs made strides under his direction following his promotion from bench coach last May 8. With a labor stoppage — temporary or longer — a distinct possibility in Major League Baseball for the 2027 season, it’s playoffs or bust this year for the Pirates, and they’ve been pulling out all the stops this offseason in order to try to make that happen.

2). How will the new guys do?

The Pirates went into this offseason desperately in need of batting help after finishing at or near the bottom of Major League Baseball in several key offensive categories in both of the past two seasons. General manager Ben Cherington did his part to address those needs this past winter, adding three veteran players – Brandon Lowe (31 homers last year), Marcell Ozuna (21) and Ryan O’Hearn (18) – to inject some life into an offense that finished last in the National League in runs scored (583), home runs (117), and team batting average (.231) a year ago.

Exactly how much of a collective impact that those three players have on the lineup will go a long way in determining how much overall improvement that the Pirates make in the standings in 2026.

3.) Rotation, rotation

Led by 2024 NL Rookie of the Year and 2025 NL Cy Young Award winner Paul Skenes, the Pirates boast one of the best starting rotations in Major League Baseball. Skenes posted a National League best 1.97 ERA last season and established a new single-season franchise record for strikeouts by a right-handed pitcher with 216. However, it was very telling that his record was only 10-10 because of the Pirates’ woeful lack of run support for him. The hope is that with considerably more offensive support this season, Skenes’ won-lost record will improve dramatically, because he gives the Pirates a chance to win just about every game that he pitches. Highly-touted right-handed pitching prospect Bubba Chandler made his much-anticipated major league debut late last season, and shined in seven appearances, including four starts. Chandler tossed a perfect five innings against the Washington Nationals and pitched another five scoreless innings against the Athletics. Veteran righty Mitch Keller, despite being the subject of trade speculation since the middle of last season, is an innings-eater who brings stability and reliability, as was reflected by his 17 quality starts a year ago. Young right-hander Braxton Ashcraft will take over the fourth spot in the rotation to start the season, and another right-hander, Carmen Mlodzinski — who has experience as both a starting pitcher and reliever — will fill the fifth spot. Lefty Hunter Barco, veteran right-handed offseason acquisition Jose Urquidy, and right-hander Thomas Harrington could all get starting pitching assignments this season. The X factor in the rotation could be right-hander Jared Jones — who had a dazzling rookie season in 2024 but missed the entire 2025 season with an ulterior collateral sprain in his pitching arm that required surgery. Jones is expected to return sometime early this season, and if he can regain his 2024 form, he will give the Pirates’ pitching staff a huge boost.

4). The Griffin watch

Shortstop Konnor Griffin was named the Minor League Baseball Player of the Year as a 19-year-old in 2025 after batting .333 with 21 homers, 94 RBIs, 117 runs scored and 65 stolen bases across three levels at Bradenton and Greensboro in Class A and the Altoona Curve in Class AA. Griffin, who will celebrate his 20th birthday in late April, was named the top prospect by both MLB Pipeline and Baseball America, and will bring a splendid combination of power, batting ability and foot speed to the Pirates’ lineup when he makes his major league debut, which could very well happen sometime in the first half of this season. After a spring training in which he showed some flashes of his great potential — belting four home runs, including a 440-foot bomb — but a .171 batting average that revealed the need for more seasoning – Griffin was optioned to Class AAA Indianapolis to start this season. The Pirates are already impressed enough with Griffin’s elite overall ability that it’s been documented that they’re making plans to sign him to a very lucrative long-term contract that will keep him in Pittsburgh for many years to come. Griffin, like every other player, will probably undergo an initital adjustment period in the major leagues, but he appears to be a can’t-miss prospect who is likely to provide the Pirates with a ton of good things on the field for a long, long time.

5). Bullpen efficiency

The Pirates’ pitching staff achieved a Major League Baseball best 19 shutouts last season, but that number was offset by the 26 blown saves by the team’s bullpen, which was only slightly ahead of the MLB worst 28 by the American League’s Boston Red Sox. Two relievers who contributed the most to the Pirates’ blown save total, Colin Holderman (Cleveland Guardians) and closer David Bednar (New York Yankees) are now with other teams. The offseason acquisition of veteran lefty reliever and former two-time American League all-star Gregory Soto from the New York Mets should help to fortify a bullpen that posed its share of question marks a year ago. Righty Dennis Santana has been serviceable as a closer — although he could be moved up an inning in games this year with Soto now on board. Righty Isaac Mattson was arguably the team’s most pleasant surprise while capably filling middle and late-inning bullpen roles last year. Lefty Mason Montgomery, obtained from Tampa Bay with Lowe and outfielder Jake Mangum, should also add bullpen depth, as will righty Justin Lawrence.

6.) Maintain better consistency

The Pirates have made a habit over the past several seasons of staggering through extended losing spells after enjoying periods of success. The 2025 season was no exception. The Bucs won 12 of 16 games from Aug. 18 through Sept. 4, before following that stretch with a horrid 1-12 run in their next 13 games. After sweeping three-game series from both the New York Mets and St. Louis Cardinals from June 28-July 4 in which they set a major league record by outscoring those two teams by a combined total of 43-4, the Pirates suffered through a wretched nine-game road trip to Seattle, Kansas City and Minnesota leading up to the all-star break in which they won only one game and scored a total of just 16 runs. They were shut out in three straight games by the Mariners. Consistency will be essential for the Bucs this year — teams that make the postseason almost always avoid the maddening highs and lows.

7). Winning the close ones

Due to a combination of a punchless offense and bullpen struggles in the late innings, the Pirates were just 25-35 in one-run games last year. Those numbers must improve in order for the Bucs to get back into playoff contention this season.

8). Central issues

Winding up with 3-10 records against both the Milwaukee Brewers — who have now won three consecutive National League Central Division championships — and the NL Wild Card qualifying Chicago Cubs in 2025 were eyesores that the Pirates can’t afford to repeat this season. Those inter-division games are doubly important when it comes to climbing the ladder in the division, not to mention, making a bid for the postseason.

9). Keep the home fires burning: Under Kelly, the Pirates were one of the better teams in the National League on their home field last season. They were 37-25 at PNC Park after Kelly replaced Derek Shelton last May, and 44-37 at home overall. Maintaining that pace, or improving upon it, will be crucial this season.

10). Hold serve on the road

In order to achieve contention in Major League Baseball, it’s important for any team to achieve respectability in its 81 road games. Last year, the Pirates won just a third of their road games — their 27-54 road record was tied with the American League’s Chicago White Sox for the second-worst mark in MLB, ahead of only the National League’s Colorado Rockies’ 18-63 road record. Playing much better away from PNC Park will be essential to the Pirates’ hopes for improvement in 2026.

What about a prediction?

The Pirates greatly bolstered their offense this past offseason, and things look much brighter and more promising for the Bucs heading into Thursday afternoon’s 2026 season opener with the New York Mets at Citi Field. A 15-game improvement from last season’s 71 wins, and an 86-76 regular-season finish, is within the realm of possibility. The Brewers are the division champs until they’re dethroned, and the Cubs should be playoff contenders as well. But the Pirates could finish third or even higher in the division, and whether 86 victories gets them a Wild Card playoff spot, only time will tell.