The Pirates’ lineup on Sunday against the Nationals looked less like a patchwork fix and more like a real answer.
With Oneil Cruz and Spencer Horwitz still sidelined, Pittsburgh rolled out a group that produced 11 runs in a win over Washington - and it may have been the strongest version of this offense the Pirates have put on the field since those injuries hit last month. In the middle of a National League Wild Card race, that mattered. Washington was a direct competitor, and Pittsburgh needed the series win.
The order had a little of everything. Konnor Griffin was at shortstop.
Brandon Lowe handled second base. Bryan Reynolds served as the designated hitter.
Esmerlyn Valdez was in right field, Ryan O’Hearn at first, Nick Gonzales at third, Endy Rodríguez behind the plate, Tyler Callihan in left and Jake Mangum in center. It was the kind of lineup that can keep pressure on a pitcher from the first spot through the ninth.
What makes this more than a one-day spike is how many of the replacements have actually contributed. Mangum came into Sunday hitting .307/.356/.366 on the season and .325/.365/.388 since Cruz went down.
Callihan has put up an .826 OPS since being called up on May 28. And Jared Triolo - yes, even Jared Triolo - has delivered a .254/.338/.397 line since June 11.
That’s the difference for Pittsburgh right now. The offense doesn’t need the same three names to carry the load every night. The role players are producing, and that’s what good teams do.
The broader numbers tell the story too. Last season, the Pirates averaged 3.6 runs per game, which ranked last in baseball.
This year, they’re up to 5.16 runs per game, third-best in MLB. Even with Cruz and Horwitz out, Pittsburgh has actually scored more runs per game over the past month than it did in the month before that.
That points to depth, development and, at least on offense, a front office that finally gave the roster enough usable pieces to absorb injuries to key players. And there may still be more coming. Griffin, the 20-year-old phenom, was just starting to settle in before his IL stint, and Sunday’s work at the plate and in the field suggested he could be picking up right where he left off.
If Griffin locks into the top of the order while Cruz and Horwitz make their way back, the Pirates may have done more than survive the injury stretch. They may have found something better.
In Other News...
Pirates Just Got Another Reason To Love The Brandon Lowe Trade
The three-team deal that sent Brandon Lowe, Jake Mangum and Mason Montgomery to Pittsburgh already looked like a useful summer move, and the Pirates have only gotten more out of it as the season has gone on. Lowe has been the headliner, giving the lineup the kind of middle-order thump it badly needed, while Mangum has settled in as a steady depth option and Montgomery has added another arm to the bullpen mix.
There is also a little extra satisfaction in seeing the other side of that trade continue to tilt Pittsburghs way. Houstons decision to send Mike Burrows back to Triple-A Sugar Land after his struggles only sharpens the contrast, because the Pirates have gotten immediate production and roster flexibility from their end of the swap. For a club trying to squeeze value out of every move, this is the kind of transaction that can age very well. [Read more 🡒]
Former Pirates Bust Just Got Another Surprising Shot
Bryan De La Cruzs time in Pittsburgh never got off the ground after the Pirates brought him over from Miami in 2024, and the fit unraveled fast enough that the club moved on after only half a season. He has spent most of the time since then trying to rebuild his stock in Triple-A, with a brief stop in Atlanta along the way, while the Pirates side of the deal has long since become a reminder that sometimes a change of scenery is not enough.
Now De La Cruz has landed another major-league opportunity, this time with Philadelphia, which is giving him a fresh look after adding him to the 40-man roster and sending him to Lehigh Valley. For a player whose Pittsburgh stint ended in a non-tender, it is a notable second chance, and one that says as much about how quickly outfield depth can shift as it does about how much a once-promising bat can still intrigue a contender. [Read more 🡒]
Pirates Respond To Konnor Griffin Blow With A Familiar Frustration
Konnor Griffins injury has forced the Pirates into another quick roster shuffle, and this one comes with a familiar name returning to the organization. Jack Brannigan was recalled from Triple-A Indianapolis to help cover the infield, while the club also added Joshua Palacios on a minor league deal and sent him to Indianapolis, giving Pittsburgh another experienced option to keep close at hand.
Palacios is no stranger to the Pirates, having spent the 2023 and 2024 seasons in the organization before moving on. He brings both major league and Triple-A experience, and his track record at the highest level has been uneven compared with what he has shown in the minors, which is why this kind of depth move can matter for a club that has already had to adjust its plans once. [Read more 🡒]