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Bucs Dugout

An unofficial Pittsburgh Pirates blog

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Game #24: Pittsburgh Pirates vs. Texas Rangers

Pittsburgh Pirates vs. Texas Rangers, April 22, 8:05 p.m. ET Location: Globe Life Field, Arlington, TX Broadcast: KDKA AM/FM, Sportsnet Pitching Matchup: Braxton Ashcraft (1-1, 2.38 ERA) vs. TBA The Pittsburgh Pirates are on the road today in the Lone Star State against the Texas Rangers looking to grab a win. Please remember our Game […]

Game #23: Pittsburgh Pirates vs. Texas Rangers

Pittsburgh Pirates vs. Texas Rangers, April 21, 8:05 p.m. ET Location: Globe Life Field, Arlington, TX Broadcast: KDKA AM/FM, Sportsnet Pitching Matchup: Carmen Mlodzinski (1-0, 1.77 ERA) vs. Kumar Rocker (0-1, 4.30 ERA) The Pittsburgh Pirates are on the road today in the Lone Star State against the Texas Rangers looking to grab a win. […]

MLB

Why Carmen Mlodzinski has been Pirates best starting pitcher

Entering the 2026 season, the Pittsburgh Pirates starting rotation contained the reigning Cy Young winner, the No. 2 pitching prospect in baseball, and the former franchise leader in strikeouts by a right-handed pitcher. None of the three, or Braxton Ashcraft, have been the Pirates best starting pitcher this year.  It’s the guy everyone, including myself, […]

Pirates bullpen has been shaky at times to start the 2026 MLB season

The Pittsburgh Pirates came into 2026 with high expectations on their pitching staff, and while their starting rotation has lived up to them, the bullpen has been very shaky to start the season.  The Pirates bullpen has an ERA of around 3.68, which is up there for being the best in the National League. However, […]

Where is Jared Jones in his comeback for Pirates?

The Pittsburgh Pirates are off to a good start so far this season, with the starting rotation and some improved hitting playing major roles. However, there’s still one important piece of the rotation still to add, and that is starting pitcher Jared Jones. He was injured last season and given a 10-12 month recovery time, […]

Pirates Prospect Update: Wilber Dotel makes MLB debut

With a depleted group of relievers, the Pittsburgh Pirates promoted one of their top prospects ahead of their Sunday contest against the Tampa Bay Rays. 23-year-old Wilber Dotel got the call to pitch for Pittsburgh while on a road trip with Triple-A Indianapolis. Originally slated to start for the Indians on Saturday evening, Dotel instead […]

Game #22: Tampa Bay Rays vs. Pittsburgh Pirates

Tampa Bay Rays vs. Pittsburgh Pirates, April 19, 2026, 1:35 p.m. ET Location: PNC Park, Pittsburgh, PA Broadcast: KDKA AM/FM, Sportsnet Pittsburgh The Pittsburgh Pirates are at home today against the Pittsburgh Pirates looking to grab a win against the Tampa Bay Rays. Please remember our Game Day thread guidelines. BD community, this is your […]

MLB

Game #21: Tampa Bay Rays vs. Pittsburgh Pirates

Tampa Bay Rays vs. Pittsburgh Pirates, April 18, 2026, 4:05 p.m. ET Location: PNC Park, Pittsburgh, PA Broadcast: KDKA AM/FM, Sportsnet Pittsburgh The Pittsburgh Pirates are at home today against the Pittsburgh Pirates looking to grab a win against the Tampa Bay Rays. Please remember our Game Day thread guidelines. BD community, this is your […]

MLB

Game #20: Tampa Bay Rays vs. Pittsburgh Pirates

Tampa Bay Rays vs. Pittsburgh Pirates, April 17, 2026, 6:45 p.m. ET Location: PNC Park, Pittsburgh, PA Broadcast: KDKA AM/FM, Apple TV The Pittsburgh Pirates are at home today against the Pittsburgh Pirates looking to grab a win against the Tampa Bay Rays. Please remember our Game Day thread guidelines. BD community, this is your […]

MLB

MLB Power Rankings: Pirates start off season high in ranking

One of the first group of MLB Power Rankings has been released, and the Pittsburgh Pirates are somewhere we are not used to seeing them: near the top. Sports Illustrated has released their first MLB Power Rankings since right before Opening Day, and your Buccos are sitting pretty in fourth place. Here’s what SI has […]

Game #19: Washington Nationals vs. Pittsburgh Pirates

Washington Nationals vs. Pittsburgh Pirates, April 16, 2026, 12:35 p.m. ET Location: PNC Park, Pittsburgh, PA Broadcast: KDKA AM/FM, Sportsnet-PIT The Pittsburgh Pirates are at home hosting the Washington Nationals this afternoon at beautiful PNC Park, where they hope to raise the Jolly Roger. Please remember our Game Day thread guidelines. BD community, this is […]

Game #18: Washington Nationals vs. Pittsburgh Pirates

Washington Nationals vs. Pittsburgh Pirates, April 15, 2026, 6:40 p.m. ET Location: PNC Park, Pittsburgh, PA Broadcast: KDKA AM/FM, Sportsnet-PIT The Pittsburgh Pirates are at home hosting the Washington Nationals this evening at beautiful PNC Park, where they hope to raise the Jolly Roger. Please remember our Game Day thread guidelines. BD community, this is […]

“Batman” returns to throw out first pitch at Friday’s Pirates game

Batman will be back in the building at PNC Park and where he belongs. A fan favorite despite only playing three years in Pittsburgh, no one captivated the fan base quite like this former All-Star pitcher. A.J. Burnett will throw out a ceremonial first pitch on Friday night before the Pirates host the Tampa Bay […]

Pirates Prospect Update: Seth Hernandez off to hot start

The Pittsburgh Pirates’ top pitching prospect, Seth Hernandez, is looking strong in his first season of professional baseball with the Bradenton Marauders Hernandez was drafted sixth overall by the Pirates in 2025 as the top high school pitching prospect in the class. He was named the California Gatorade Baseball Player of the Year, The Los […]

Game #17: Washington Nationals vs. Pittsburgh Pirates

Washington Nationals vs. Pittsburgh Pirates, April 14, 2026, 6:40 p.m. ET Location: PNC Park, Pittsburgh, PA Broadcast: KDKA AM/FM, Sportsnet-PIT The Pittsburgh Pirates are at home hosting the Washington Nationals this evening at beautiful PNC Park, where they hope to raise the Jolly Roger. Please remember our Game Day thread guidelines. BD community, this is […]

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

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 […]

Pirates demote young lefty to start games in Triple-A

The Pittsburgh Pirates used a unique strategy with their young starting pitchers in 2025. The team called up top pitching prospects Braxton Ashcraft and Bubba Chandler to make highly anticipated debuts — Chandler more than any rookie in the organization last season — but out of the bullpen. To get acclimated to MLB hitters, Chandler […]

Game #16: Washington Nationals vs. Pittsburgh Pirates

Washington Nationals vs. Pittsburgh Pirates, April 13, 2026, 6:40 p.m. ET Location: PNC Park, Pittsburgh, PA Broadcast: KDKA AM/FM, Sportsnet-PIT The Pittsburgh Pirates are at home hosting the Washington Nationals this evening at beautiful PNC Park, where they hope to raise the Jolly Roger. Please remember our Game Day thread guidelines. BD community, this is […]

MLB

Oneil Cruz stays hot at the plate, extends his hit streak to 11 games

Pittsburgh Pirates’ centerfielder Oneil Cruz had a massive series against the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field. Sunday afternoon’s game started with a leadoff home run by Cruz to begin, a game that ended in a 7-6 Pittsburgh loss. The 422-foot blast extended his hitting streak to 11 games, which ties his career high which happened […]

MLB

Pirates made a mistake signing Marcell Ozuna over Andrew McCutchen

The Pittsburgh Pirates made some big moves in the offseason and one of them was signing veteran Marcell Ozuna to a one-year 12 million contract. The $deal seemed like a really good idea when it happened because of how much Pittsburgh needed a guy with power but the righty has struggled so far this season.   […]

Game #15: Pittsburgh Pirates vs. Chicago Cubs

Pittsburgh Pirates vs. Chicago Cubs, April 12, 2026, 2:20 p.m. ET Location: Wrigley Field, Chicago, IL Broadcast: KDKA AM/FM, Sportsnet Pittsburgh The Pittsburgh Pirates are on the road today against the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field looking to grab a win. Please remember our Game Day thread guidelines. BD community, this is your thread for […]

Game #14: Pittsburgh Pirates vs. Chicago Cubs

Pittsburgh Pirates vs. Chicago Cubs, April 11, 2026, 2:20 p.m. ET Location: Wrigley Field, Chicago, IL Broadcast: KDKA AM/FM, Sportsnet Pittsburgh The Pittsburgh Pirates are on the road today against the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field looking to grab a win. Please remember our Game Day thread guidelines. BD community, this is your thread for […]

MLB

SB Nation Reacts results: Where should Oneil Cruz be playing for Pirates?

Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across MLB. Throughout the year we ask questions of the most plugged-in Pirates fans and fans across the country. Sign up here to participate in the weekly emailed surveys. This week’s question we asked you where Oneil Cruz should be playing for the Pirates. He has had a […]

Game #13: Pittsburgh Pirates vs. Chicago Cubs

Pittsburgh Pirates vs. Chicago Cubs, April 10, 2026, 2:20 p.m. ET Location: Wrigley Field, Chicago, IL Broadcast: KDKA AM/FM, Sportsnet Pittsburgh The Pittsburgh Pirates are on the road today against the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field looking to grab a win. Please remember our Game Day thread guidelines. BD community, this is your thread for […]

MLB

Pirates enter Wrigley Field looking to set early-season tone

Make no mistake about it, the Chicago Cubs dominated the Pittsburgh Pirates in 2025.  The division rivals played 13 times last season. Chicago won 10. The Cubs outscored the Pirates 54-26 and hit .256 against Pittsburgh’s pitching.  Chicago smacked an impressive 16 home runs, compared to the Pirates’ five, and earned a .740 OPS. The […]