We\u2019ve reached the point where the Pittsburgh Pirates Opening Day lineup and roster are beginning to come into focus. Here are some totally unscientific, yet cogent predictions about what they might look like.<\/p>\n
Of course, due to manager Derek Shelton<\/a>\u2019s proclivity to change lineups on an almost daily basis based on analytics, predicting the Pirates\u2019 starting lineup for Opening Day, or any day, can be fruitless. In 2022, for example, his Opening Day second baseman was Hoy Park<\/a>. Park didn\u2019t start there again until game No. 65 on June 19. At times, Shelton\u2019s head-scratching batting orders have yielded fruit, as if he knew something nobody else knew.<\/p>\n On June 18, 2022, Shelton batted Diego Castillo<\/a> in the cleanup spot against the San Francisco Giants. Castillo was hitting .195\/.238\/.308 at the time. On that day, he hit a two-out, three-run homer in the third inning. On April 10, 2023, Shelton inserted left-handed swinging Ji Man Choi<\/a> in the fifth spot against Houston Astros lefty Framber Valdez<\/a>. Choi had started the season 1-for-19. Then in his eighth year, he had just four career home runs against left-handed pitchers. Valdez, then in his sixth year, had given up just five home runs to left-handed batters in his career. Yet, Choi took Valdez deep that day.<\/p>\n Thus, anybody who tries to project what the Pirates\u2019 lineup will look like on Opening Day has less chance of looking like a savant than he has of looking like an idiot. Fortunately, this writer doesn\u2019t get embarrassed easily. The opposing Miami Marlins will be starting a left-handed pitcher, Jes\u00fas Luzardo<\/a>. Here is one man\u2019s projected Opening Day batting order and starting pitcher:<\/p>\n Oneil Cruz<\/a>, SS Keller, the Pirates\u2019 $77-million man, is the easy part. Shelton has already named him as the Opening Day starter.<\/p>\n Last year, before Cruz got injured, he was in the leadoff spot in the batting order. Reynolds was consistently in the second slot all season long. The analytics gurus say that the 1-2-4 spots in the order are the new 3-4-5. The No. 2 batter as the contact hitter who moves runners along and makes the so-called productive outs has gone the way of the eight-track tape. The No. 2 batter has become the place for the team\u2019s most complete hitter. We\u2019ve seen Aaron Judge<\/a> and Paul Goldschmidt<\/a> in that spot. Similarly, Reynolds will be there once again, too.<\/p>\n Bryan Reynolds is mic\u2019d up.<\/p>\n We repeat\u2026 BRYAN REYNOLDS is mic\u2019d up. pic.twitter.com\/fThKlFt4GD<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Pittsburgh Pirates (@Pirates) March 10, 2024<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\nPredicted Pirates Opening Day Lineup<\/h2>\n
\nBryan Reynolds<\/a>, LF
\nAndrew McCutchen<\/a>, DH
\nHenry Davis<\/a>, C
\nKe\u2019Bryan Hayes<\/a>, 3B
\nJared Triolo<\/a>, 1B
\nJack Suwinski<\/a>, CF
\nConnor Joe<\/a>, RF
\nLiover Peguero<\/a>, 2B
\nMitch Keller<\/a>, P<\/p>\nThe New 3-4-5<\/h3>\n
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