Pirates Lineup Can Turn it Around Against Marlins
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PITTSBURGH — The Pittsburgh Pirates face another important series and one that they need the offense to show serious improvements.
The Pirates take on the Miami Marlins for a three-game road series at loanDepot Park, Aug. 11-13, where they'll hope they can get back to winning ways.
Pittsburgh is 58-62, four games below .500, and six games back in the National League Wild Card race, which includes Miami, who are 60-59 and three-and-a-half games themselves.
One big way the Pirates can bounce back is by getting their best from their lineup, especailly with their hitting not having the showing it's needed post All-Star break.
How Pirates Can Turn it Around vs. Marlins
The Pirates are facing Marlins right-handed starting pitcher Eury Pérez and will face right-handers in Jason Junk in the next game and Tyler Phillips in the series finale.
Left-handed starting pitchers have seriously caused the Pirates problems this season. 10-26 overall, but especially post All-Star break, 2-9 and one win in their past eight games against them, so three right-handed pitchers will play in their favor.
The Pirates lineup was one of the best in baseball at the All-Star break, leading in a few categories and ranking in the top five/10 in most other categories.
It's been a struggle in the second half of 2026, batting .229/.301/.351 for an OPS of .652, compared to .263/.342/.426 for an OPS of .768 in the first half.
Players like Bryan Reynolds and Esmerlyn Valdez have struggled, with Reynolds slashing .211/.290/.311 for an OPS of .601 and Valdez batting .149/.370/.373 for an OPS of .743.
Valdez has especially struggled, with just three hits in 38 at-bats and only his 14 walks to 19 strikeouts keeping him going during this stretch.
The Pirates have gotten good showings from both center fielder Jake Mangum and second baseman Brandon Lowe, with Mangum hitting .284/.333/.398 for an OPS of .731 and Lowe batting .280/.333/.476 for an OPS of .809.
Third baseman Nick Gonzales has hit been the Pirates best hitter, slashing .302/.316/.427 for an OPS of .743, but his defense has left much to be desired.
Pittsburgh is happy that first baseman Spencer Horwitz returned from injury, but he's struggled in his seven games back, hitting .136/.269/.182 for an OPS of .451.
Ronny Simon could help the Pirates, with five hits in 18 at-bats, and will likely feature mostly at designated hitter or corner outfield.
The Pirates will hope that they can get just about anything from Jacob Gonzalez, Jared Triolo and catcher Henry Davis, while wanting to have Endy Rodríguez healthy for the future, who is dealing with a hip injury.
Pirates Lineup vs. Marlins
Player | Position | Batting Side |
|---|---|---|
Jake Mangum | Center Fielder | Switch |
Brandon Lowe | Second Base | Left |
Bryan Reynolds | Left Fielder | Switch |
Spencer Horwitz | First Base | Left |
Nick Gonzales | Third Base | Right |
Ronny Simon | Designated Hitter | Switch |
Esmerlyn Valdez | Right Fielder | Right |
Jacob Gonzalez | Shortstop | Left |
Henry Davis | Catcher | Right |
The Pirates will have a lineup that is mostly left-handed and also switch-hitters, as they face three Marlins right-handed starting pitchers.
Valdez is back in right field after two starts in left field, but will stay down in seventh, as the Pirates try and lessen the pressure on the rookie from his regular four spot.
Mangum, Lowe, Reynolds and Horwitz will most certainly go one-through four, with Gonzales following in the fifth spot.
Simon will bat sixth, while Gonzalez hits eighth and Davis rounds out the lineup in ninth.
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Dominic writes for Pittsburgh Pirates On SI, Pittsburgh Panthers Pn SI and also, Pittsburgh Steelers On SI. A Pittsburgh native, Dominic grew up watching Pittsburgh Sports and wrote for The Pitt News as an undergraduate at the University of Pittsburgh, covering Pitt Athletics. He would write for Pittsburgh Sports Now after college and has years of experience covering sports across Pittsburgh.