The Pirates are shaking up the top of their order for Friday’s series opener against the Cardinals, and Jared Triolo is the name at the front of it.
Pittsburgh handed the leadoff spot to the shortstop for the game at Busch Stadium on Aug. 28, a notable switch after Spencer Horwitz and Nick Gonzales had occupied that role in each of the previous eight games. Triolo is set to lead off for the fourth time this season, and it’s the third time this month.
His last turn there came against the Detroit Tigers at PNC Park on Aug. 17, when the Pirates fell 8-5. He also led off the previous day against the Boston Red Sox in an 8-3 win, and his first leadoff start of the year came May 8 against Robbie Ray and the San Francisco Giants in a 5-2 loss at Oracle Park.
The matchup fits a pattern. Pittsburgh is facing another left-handed starter, with Quinn Matthews on the mound for St.
Louis. The Pirates have gone 13-29 against left-handed starting pitching this season and 5-12 since the All-Star break.
Triolo, a right-handed hitter, has produced better numbers against lefties this year, slashing .269/.331/.315 for a .645 OPS.
Even so, the leadoff spot hasn’t been a productive one for him. He’s managed just two hits in 18 at-bats there, and August has been a tough month overall, with a .236/.323/.291 line and a .614 OPS.
Matthews, meanwhile, is a rookie making his fourth start in the majors, and it’s the first time he’ll see Triolo. Pirates manager Don Kelly is clearly looking for an early spark and a way to press a young pitcher right away.
Pittsburgh’s lineup is built heavily around right-handed bats for this one. Oneil Cruz is the lone left-handed hitter and is batting fourth. The Pirates are carrying six right-handed hitters and two switch-hitters, Bryan Reynolds and Jake Mangum, who are slotted third and seventh.
Cruz has been especially effective against left-handed pitching this season, an area he targeted in the offseason, and he’s slashing .284/.330/.477 for an .807 OPS in 2026. Esmerlyn Valdez moves up to second in the order for the seventh time this year, while Reynolds shifts to designated hitter and Mangum slides into left field.
Horwitz and Brandon Lowe, both left-handed hitters who have struggled against southpaws, are on the bench. Rafael Flores Jr. starts at first base and bats sixth, Nick Gonzales moves to second base and hits fifth, Nick Yorke handles third base and bats eighth, and Henry Davis starts at catcher and hits ninth.
In Other News...
Pirates Have Two September Roster Calls That Suddenly Matter More
September is about to give the Pirates a little more room to maneuver, and two roster spots suddenly carry more weight than they usually would this time of year. When active rosters expand from 26 to 28, clubs can add an extra pitcher, and for Pittsburgh that opens the door for a couple of young names that fit immediate needs as much as long-term plans.
Khristian Curtis has already logged two major-league appearances this season, and his return would give the Pirates another arm to lean on once he becomes eligible after being optioned in late August. Jack Brannigan also makes sense as a September add, especially with rookie shortstop Konnor Griffin working back from injury, since Brannigan can help stabilize the infield defensively while the roster waits for Griffin to return. [Read more 🡒]
Pirates Suddenly Have A Catcher Problem They Can't Ignore
The Pirates long-term plan behind the plate has become one of those quiet roster issues that suddenly feels a lot louder when you look ahead. Endy Rodrguez is coming off hip surgery and has already had multiple operations affect his availability, Henry Davis remains valued for his defense but still has not solved the offensive side, and Rafael Flores Jr. brings some intriguing power but only a short major league track record since joining the organization.
For a club that wants stability at a premium position, the uncertainty is hard to miss as the 2027 picture comes into view. Pittsburgh has pieces in the mix, but none of the three catchers currently provides a clean answer on his own, which leaves the front office staring at a position that could shape more than just the battery. [Read more 🡒]
Pirates Bullpen Gets An Interesting Lefty Twist Before Cardinals Series
Ahead of their series opener against the Cardinals, the Pirates made a bullpen swap that gives them a little more left-handed balance. Pittsburgh recalled Evan Sisk from Triple-A Indianapolis and sent Noah Murdock back down, a move that comes at a time when every relief decision feels a little more consequential in a division race. Sisk already has a track record of getting outs for the Pirates, and the club is clearly interested in seeing what he can add this time around.
The appeal is pretty straightforward: Sisk brings another lefty option, and the Pirates are hoping that versatility helps them manage matchups in the late innings. He had been effective before an injury interrupted his run with the team, which is why this promotion feels less like a shuffle and more like a chance to reinsert a familiar arm into a bullpen that could use the extra flexibility. The real test now is how quickly he fits back into the mix against a Cardinals lineup that will force Pittsburgh to make plenty of those decisions. [Read more 🡒]