Pittsburgh Pirates

The Pittsburgh Pirates are poised to take a step forward in the 2026 MLB season, but their path to the postseason remains a challenging one. With a projected win total of 73, the Pirates find themselves on the fringes of the Wild Card race, boasting a 4.5% probability of securing a playoff berth.

The heart of the Pirates' lineup will be anchored by the power-hitting duo of Ryan O'Hearn and Brandon Lowe. O'Hearn, coming off a solid .281 batting average and 17 home runs, will look to build on his breakout campaign, while Lowe aims to continue his consistent production, having slugged 31 homers in 2025. Marcell Ozuna and Bryan Reynolds provide additional offensive firepower, though the latter will need to recapture his previous form after a down year.

On the mound, the Pirates' strength lies in their young pitching core, led by the electric Paul Skenes, who posted a minuscule 1.97 ERA last season. Veteran right-hander Dennis Santana and the promising Braxton Ashcraft round out a rotation that could keep the team in contention if the offense can find its stride. However, the lack of depth in both the lineup and the pitching staff may ultimately prove to be the Pirates' downfall in their quest for a postseason berth.