Pittsburgh Pirates Rebuild - 2026 1st Quarter Check-In

And just like that we are 40 games into the 2026 season, and so far I'm really liking the way the season is heading. Despite some issues with injuries, and lengthy injuries at that, the Pirates have been one of the best teams in the MLB to start the season, despite the in game prediction of the Pirates finishing with a 66-96 record.

As always, here's the Team Report through 40 games.

Basics

The Pirates, Reds and Cubs have all played good baseball to start the season, with the Pirates maintaining a division lead through most of the first 40. The Pirates started the season 8-2 before running into the Diamondbacks who swept them in 3 games. They rebounded in May by winning 9 of the first 11 games in the that month. As it stands the Pirates have the 3rd best record, behind the Orioles (29-12) and Braves (27-12).

Both Milwaukee and St. Louis are scuffling, I have no qualms with this.

Team Stat Ranks are VERY impressive basically across the board.

Pitching, Baserunning, Defense and Offense have all been great overall, and outside the long ball (11th) the Pirates are off to a hot start every where. And once again we do a fantastic job of using our teamwide speed to create runs where needed, only this time, through 40 games, our offense has had no issue cashing in on those RISP situations. Starter and Bullpen ERA are both tops in the majors, that's even with key injuries in both those area.

Transactions / Injuries

Injuries

Injuries have been a bit of a stick in the mud, unfortunately. However us sitting in 1st in the NL Central with the 3rd best record in baseball despite them is encouraging.

1. Rule 5 draft pick RHP Dedniel Nunez (49/49) experienced shoulder inflammation near the end of Spring Training. Throwing just 14 pitches in a relief appearance against the A's, he was pulled and still has 6 weeks of recovery with a rehab assignment afterwards. Dedniel was slated to be the teams' closer to start the year.

2. Prized offseason trade acquisition RHP Logan Gilbert (60/60) suffered elbow inflammation in a 2-3 loss to the Diamond. He pitched 6 innings of 1 run ball, but was pulled early to discomforted. He still has about 3 weeks of recovery time, and will do a rehab assignment afterwards.

   1. Gilbert had made 3 starts for the Pirates, throwing for a 1.96 ERA, striking out 18 and walking just 6. He is sitting on a 1.04 WHIP.

3. Finally, starting 2B Nick Gonzales (48/48) fractured a thumb fielding a hard hit ball on 4/26 in a 4-6 loss to the Angels. He is due to return in 2 weeks, which a rehab assignment to follow.

   1. Gonzales had appeared in 31 games, slashing .278/.331/.463 with 2 HR and 14 RBI. He had a .793 OPS.

Transactions

These have been mainly internal, to cover for the injuries outlined above.

1. LHP Caleb Ferguson (47/47) took over the Closer role for Dedniel Nunez.

   1. He has made 10 appearances pitching 9.0 innings to a tune of a 3.00 ERA walking 6 and striking out 14. He has converted 6 of 7 save opportunities.

2. RHP Bubba Chandler (44/47) made his major league debut on 4/20 against the Kansas City Royals to fill the hole left by Gilbert's injury.

   1. He has made 5 starts since the call up going 2-1 with 26.2 IP. He has a 4.39ERA with 23 strikeouts and 11 walks, with 2 quality starts in that time.

3. RF Matt Gorski (45/45) was called up after the Nick Gonzales injury, only appearing in 2 games so far, going 1-for-8 with 1RBI.

4. 2B Termarr Johnson (46/53) has seen the bulk of the starts at second base since the injury to Nick Gonzales going 11-for-62 with 1 2B, 2 RBI, while slashing .177/.297/.194

Stats

Batting Stats 40 games into the 2026 season. (Sorted by AB)

Pitching Stats 40 games into the 2026 season. (Sorted by IP)

Batting Notes

• SS Bo Bichette (51/51) has been as good as advertised slashing .301/.331/.434 with the Pirates with a .765 OPS, he also has 11 XBH and 24 RBI's, tied for 2nd on the team. With 1.8 bWAR, he leads the team there.

  • On 4/28 he had a coming out party going 3-for-6 with 2R, 1HR, and 5RBI with that homerun being a Grand Slam in the Pirates 13-2 win over Dodgers.

• LF Jack Suwinski (53/53) has continued to be a major contributor to the team, while the BA is down a bit at .221 he leads the team in HR with 6 and RBI with 34, that number good for 2nd in the MLB.

  • A large part of this is due to his success with RISP, where he slashes .300/.362/.500, sporting a .862 OPS with 3 HR and 28 RBI.

  • Suwinski was also player of the week for the week of 4/13, where he went 10-for-25 (.400) with 3 HR, 13 RBI, and 7 runs scored.

• CF Oneil Cruz (54/54) has been off to a very slow start slashing .190/.279/.340 with 4 HR and 14 RBI, he does have 10 2B though and still wrecks havoc when he gets on, stealing 13 bags.

• Production from the Catcher position has been fantastic so far.

  • Henry Davis is slashing .297/.397/.441 in 30 starts this year, driving in 19 RBI and hitting 2 HR. His OPS is a stellar .838 with a 140 wRC+.

  • Endy Rodriguez is slashing .316/.333/.474 in 10 starts this year, driging in 7 RBI and hitting 1 HR. His OPS is at .807 with a 129 wRC+.

Pitching Notes

• SP Paul Skenes (80/80) threw the franchises first perfect game on 4/8. a 1-0 win at home against the Cleveland Guardians. It took him 118 pitches to reach perfection and he struck out 11 in the feat. With two outs, Oneil Cruz doubled in the only run in the 8th.

• SP Jared Jones (50/57) has statistically been neck and neck with Paul to be the Ace of the staff. In 8 starts he is 4-0 with 1.30 ERA. Sporting a 1.08 WHIP while striking out 53. Has has absolutely been dominant in May so far, with a 0.46 ERA over 3 starts.

• International signee RHP Mel Ramos (52/52) had a shaky start to his MLB career, pitching to a tune of a 5.49 ERA of his first 4 starts, walks being a big issue, where he walked 12 over that time frame while striking out on 16. His next 4 starts have been a bit more dialed in, walking 9 and striking out 27. He has leveled his ERA to 3.40 with a 1.27 through 8 starts.

Minor League Check-In

I will spend some time checking in on some of the key minor leaguers in the system, along with some players I have acquired through trades.

1. 22 y/o LHP Jamie Arnold (37/61), the organizations number 1 overall prospect and 7th ranked prospect in baseball is having a rough start to the A level season. He is 0-3 in 18.0 IP with a 8.50 ERA. His BABIP is a crazy .443 and has only walked 3. So I expect those numbers to normalize a bit.

2. 20 y/o LHP Ronaldys Jimenez (30/45) the organizations number 4 overall prospect and 5th ranked prospect in baseball is struggling a bit as well in A ball. He is 1-2 in 32.1 IP with a 5.01 ERA.

3. 21 y/o 3B Jhonny Severino 37/46) the organizations number 10 overall prospect is off to a good start in AA ball. In 32 games he has slashed .263/.369/.407 with 8 2B, 3 HR, 19 RBI with a .776 OPS.

4. 26 y/o LPH Austin Krob (39/40), who was acquired from the San Diego Padres for in the Eguy Rosario for Joey Bart trade. Has appeared in 10 games with 5 starts for the Indians to the tune of a 2.13 ERA an a 6-0 record. he has pitched 42.1 innings, striking out 39 and walking 11. While having a fantastic 0.94 WHIP.

5. 25 y/o LF Chris Newell (43/48) who came to the Pirates in the Ke'Bryan Hayes trade has RAKING in AAA ball slashing .254/.369/.627 with a .996 OPS. He has 5 2B, 12 HR, and 30 RBI in 32 games played.

6. 24 y/o RHP Jose Rodriguez (38/42) who also came over from the Dodgers has really been struggling with an 0-5 record and a 10.94 ERA in 26.1. His BABIP is .481 but his WHIP is also coming in a 2.24. Struggle bus.

7. 20 y/o SS Starlyn Caba (40/47) who was acquired from the Marlins for Jason Delay and in A+ ball he has slashed .303/.362/.361 in 36 games, with 6 XBH and 13 RBI.

8. 24 y/o CF Daniel Mateo (34/42) has hit .262/.276/.333 in 24 games at AA ball. he has hit 1 HR and driven in 12.

9. 24 y/o 3B Cayden Wallace (39/46) has slashed .323/.391/.403 with a .795 OPS in AAA appearing in 18 games.

That's covers the first 40, next stop, the midway point!