Pirates earn B+ grade for 2026 season with offense not seen in nearly 100 years

"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.

More: Three ways Pirates' Paul Skenes could lose NL Cy Young Award

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.

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