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The Pittsburgh Pirates received a B+ grade for their 2026 season, attributed to a strong offense not seen in nearly a century. Key players include Oneil Cruz, Konnor Griffin, Ryan O'Hearn, and Brandon Lowe.

Pirates earn B+ grade for 2026 season with offense not seen in nearly 100 years originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
So far in 2026, the Pittsburgh Pirates have been one of the better teams in Major League Baseball. Knowing that, it would be expected that Paul Skenes is having another Cy Young caliber year.
But the real reason why the Pirates have had a good season so far is the offense. At 19-16, the Pirates' offense, led by Oneil Cruz, Konnor Griffin, Ryan O'Hearn, and Brandon Lowe, has been the main reason for the team's success this year.
ESPN's David Schoenfield gave the Pirates a B+ for their season so far, putting an emphaiss for the grade on how the offense is breaking a franchise record set nearly 100 years ago.
The Pittsburgh Pirates received a B+ grade for their performance in the 2026 season.
Key players for the Pirates in 2026 include Oneil Cruz, Konnor Griffin, Ryan O'Hearn, and Brandon Lowe.
The Pirates' offense in 2026 is breaking a franchise record that has stood for nearly 100 years.

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"They're averaging 5.26 runs per game, which would be the most by a Pirates team since ... whoa ... 1930, which was the all-time juiced-ball season," Schoenfield writes.
The Pirates' offense has been great this season, which is a far cry from how things looked last year when they ranked dead last with just 3.60 runs per game in 2025.
So far through the first few days of May, the Pirates are averaging 5.26 runs per game, which is the most in franchise history since that 1930 season nearly 100 years ago.
Pittsburgh has scored 180 runs this season, behind only the Atlanta Braves (205 in 1st place), and the Chicago Cubs (185), while being tied with the New York Yankees, and the Washington Nationals.
The Pirates are fourth in hits this season, second in RBIs (174), and eighth in team OPS (.732). Lowe, O'Hearn, Bryan Reynolds, Cruz, Nick Gonzalez, Spencer Hortwitz, and Griffin all have OPS's above .720.
It's been a good season for the Pirates so far, and while normally it would be thanks to Skenes dominating and pitching like a top Cy Young candidate, instead, it's been the offensive explosion this season.
The Pirates are putting up elite numbers this season offensively, and that's even with the struggles of Marcell Ozuna and their catchers. It's been a good season, and there's room for the elite Pirates offense to get even better.