BRADENTON, Fla. -- The Pirates don’t need to look far for the question to define their 2026 season. It’s the same issue that haunted them through much of last year: Can this lineup produce enough to make a difference?
After finishing at the bottom of the Majors with 583 runs scored in 2025, Pittsburgh enters ’26 with a more potent offense, thanks to an offseason of what the Bucs hope were meaningful moves. With the middle of the lineup fresh with veteran bats and new, impact arms in the bullpen, returning players like Bryan Reynolds and Oneil Cruz carry the weight of leading the team toward consistency. The goal isn’t perfection, of course, but “competitive” doesn’t seem like quite the reach it did one year ago, either.
The foundation is already in place in Pittsburgh. With Paul Skenes at the front of the rotation and a staff that’s proven capable of keeping games within reach, the Pirates don’t need to outhit everyone to compete. They do, however, need to avoid falling behind before the games can unfold.
Whether that happens will likely determine how we’ll remember 2026. The Bucs have assembled a roster that looks a lot more complete -- and inspiring! -- on paper than it did one year ago, but the real test will be whether the boys’ boppin’ will be the secret ingredient to (at least) .500 ball.
What needs to go right?
The Pirates don’t need elite offense to take a step forward in 2026, but they do need steady production from the bats. That starts with solid contributions from the middle-of-the-order additions like Marcell Ozuna and Ryan O’Hearn, and continues with growth from players like Cruz and Henry Davis. If Pittsburgh can move from last in run production to even somewhere in the middle of the pack, it would significantly ease the burden on the pitching staff.
Great unknown
If there’s a guy who could unexpectedly tilt the lineup in the right direction, it’s Henry Davis. Davis came up through the Minors with most of the rotation, and his teammates love him … he just still hasn’t hit like anyone thought he was going to. The top overall pick of the 2021 MLB Draft out of Louisville, Davis was coveted for his elite bat-to-ball skills. The 26-year-old is known for his work ethic, so it’s certainly not that he’s not trying. If he can get something to click this season, the Bucs gain a huge asset and a huge boost to the lineup.
Team MVP will be ...
It’s hard to imagine the Pirates taking a meaningful step forward in 2026 without Cruz. He possesses a dangerous combo of power to change the game with his bat and speed to cause chaos on the basepaths. Knowing this season would offer him an opportunity to turn his flashes of greatness into something more consistent, the 27-year-old dedicated his offseason to improving his offense, with a focus on facing lefties. Yes, he hit just .200 in 2025, but it was much worse (.102) vs. southpaws. If Cruz’s hard work pays off enough for him to set the tone at the top of the lineup, he won’t just be the Bucs’ most dynamic player, he’ll be their most valuable one.
Team Cy Young will be ...
There’s really only one choice here, isn’t there? Paul Skenes is not only the unquestioned leader of the pitching staff, but in just two seasons, he’s also established himself as one of the most dominant pitchers in the game. From the minute he showed up to Spring Training this year, Skenes has been ready to defend his crown and become the first back-to-back NL winner since former Met Jacob deGrom (2018-19). His combination of power, command and composure gives the Pirates a chance to win each time he takes the ball, and the club has (hopefully) made enough moves this offseason to back him with the kind of offense he deserves.
Bold prediction
The Pirates won’t just be improved in 2026; they’ll be relevant. They won’t be a finished product, and there won’t be a parade downtown come November, but this season’s Bucs will be included in late-summer conversations. A more balanced lineup should keep them competitive early on in games, and a rotation led by Skenes, plus a bolstered bullpen, gives them an advantage they didn’t often enjoy last year. That combination won’t turn Pittsburgh into an overnight contender, but it might be enough to keep the club around the .500 mark and within striking distance of an NL Wild Card spot into September.