The MLB regular season is fast approaching, and there are a couple of can’t miss series early on in the season for the Pittsburgh Pirates.
Home Opener series against Baltimore April 3-6
The Pirates start their first two series of the year on the road
against the New York Mets and Cincinnati Reds. While those two series will undoubtedly be very exciting in their own right, PNC Park in the early part of the year is just that much better, especially if you have the privilege of being there in person. As with every Opening Day contest, the Pirates will be getting started at 4:12 p.m. in what should be a fun series against the Baltimore Orioles.
I had the opportunity to be at the home opener in PNC Park in 2024 (also against Baltimore) and it was possibly the most memorable sporting event that I had ever been to. Pittsburgh was in the middle of some nasty storms, and the rivers surrounding the stadium were flooding over. It was a football like environment because of how cold it was, but it did not change the fact that the backdrop at PNC Park was breathtaking.
Rain, snow or shine, the stadium is going to be packed out that first weekend at home. The Orioles will be bringing their young plucky team to face a rejuvenated Pirates’ lineup that should make for a great first series in Pittsburgh.
First series against the Cubs at Wrigley Field April 10-12
Just a week after their home opener the Pirates will be back on the road to face their NL Central division rivals, the Chicago Cubs.
All due respect to PNC Park, there really is nothing like Wrigley Field. First opened in 1914 it is the second oldest stadium in Major League Baseball, only being outdone by Fenway Park, which opened in 1912. With that being said, Wrigley is one of the most iconic venues across the country. People come from all over the world to visit Chicago, and a visit Wrigley is typically on their itinerary. From the old school scoreboard to the iconic ivy covered walls in the outfield, it is one of the premier destinations as a baseball fan.
Aside from the incredible venue, the early opportunity to take down a division rival also makes this series very exciting. The Cubs and the Pirates are a couple of the oldest and most iconic franchises in baseball and it’s always great when the two clash. The Pirates lead the series 1317-1286 all time against the Cubs, but Chicago is 8-2 in their last ten contests against Pittsburgh. If the Pirates can pull off some wins in Wrigley it will serve as great momentum early on in the year.
Battle for the Keystone State at PNC Park May 15-17
Considered by many to be one of the best rivalries in the National League, the hatred between the Pirates and the Phillies dates all the way back to late 1880’s when the two clubs first met. Despite them not playing in the same division since 1994, the series between Pittsburgh and Philadelphia are still highly anticipated.
Not only is there a buzz because of the in-state Pennsylvania rivalry, there’s a lot to be excited about because of the great talent on both of these teams. The powerful Philly combo of Bryce Harper and Kyle Schwarber almost always guarantees fireworks. The Pittsburgh tandem of pitcher Paul Skenes and slugger Ryan O’Hearn adds to the excitement surround the Pirates’ new-look roster for 2026.
For whatever reason, the city of Pittsburgh is obsessed with fireworks, and a firework show at PNC Park is like no other. The first game of this series will be a night contest with Zambelli Fireworks being scheduled following the game. A night game at PNC Park is already an incredible time, as the sun sets over the city’s skyline, but throw in some fireworks, and you’ve got a perfect yinzer night out. These two teams are primed to make big moves within their respective divisions, but a classic brawl between historic rivals is almost just as important.
Let us know in the comments which series yinz are looking forward to the most as the season is fast approaching!
