4-4-2025 – By Ethan S. Smith – @mvp_EtHaN
For the first time since September 26, 2024, the Pittsburgh Pirates will play baseball at PNC Park.
The Pirates, who opened their season with six consecutive games in Florida, open their home slate with the New York Yankees on Friday, beginning a three-game series with the 2024 American League Pennant winner. Last year, Pittsburgh’s home opener was against another AL East team, the Baltimore Orioles, losing 5-2 to Baltimore.
Pittsburgh enters this matchup looking for their first series win of 2025, dropping three of four to the Marlins on opening weekend and immediately following that performance up with a series loss to the Tampa Bay Rays, salvaging the final game of the series after a gem outing from ace pitcher Paul Skenes.
The Yankees opened their campaign hosting the Milwaukee Brewers, who they had no issues with, outscoring the Brew Crew 36-12 over three games. Arizona gave the Bronx Bombers some issues though, defeating New York in the first two games of the series before the Yankees stormed back for victory in the final set.
Let’s take a look at what we’ll see go down on the North Shore for opening weekend.
4/4:
Yankees: Max Fried (L) – 4.2 IP, 0-0, 3.86 ERA, 1.93 WHIP, 4 K, 2 BB, 0 HR
Pirates: Mitch Keller (R) – 6.0 IP, 1-0, 1.50 ERA, 1.00 WHIP, 4 K, 1 BB, 0 HR
4/5
Yankees: Marcus Stroman (R) – 4.2 IP, 0-0, 5.79 ERA, 1.29 WHIP, 3 K, 1 BB, 1 HR
Pirates: Bailey Falter (L) – 6.0 IP, 0-0, 3.00 ERA, 1.17 WHIP, 4 K, 0 BB, 0 HR
4/6
Yankees: Will Warren (R) – 5.0 IP, 0-0, 3.60 ERA, 1.00 WHIP, 4 K, 4 BB, 1 HR
Pirates: Andrew Heaney (L) – 5.0 IP, 0-0, 1.80 ERA, 1.00 WHIP, 2 K, 1 BB, 0 HR
Yankees: Aaron Judge
All rise, baseball is firmly back, and so is Aaron Judge.
Judge is arguably the best hitter in all of baseball, and he’s proving it early on once again, hitting four home runs through the Yankees first five games, including a three home run outing versus the Brewers in the Yankees second game of the season.
Judge currently possesses a .417/.481/1.167 slash with 26 total bases and 15 RBIs, so the Pirates will have to find a way to contain one of baseball’s best players, especially with two left-handed starters going in this series for the Buccos.
Pirates: Oneil Cruz
Oneil Cruz is aiming for a breakout season in 2025, and despite some defensive struggles in center field, the bat looks primed for a pretty good season out of the gate.
Cruz has already went yard twice this year, once in each series, posting team highs in home runs and RBIs. He’s also been lethal on the base paths so far, stealing six bags, which led all of MLB entering Thursday.
Max Fried is listed as the only left-handed starter in this series for the Yankees, so Cruz should have some solid chances at success versus starters Marcus Stroman and Will Warren, as well as a Yankees bullpen that has seen its own share of blow ups so far this season.
Yankees: Jasson Dominguez
Jasson Dominguez has been one of the more hyped up prospects for the Yankees for quite some time now, but despite the hype, his game hasn’t quite caught up to it just yet.
Dominguez has 20 at-bats so far in 2025, posting a .250/.348/.450 slash with just two-extra base hits. He has also struck out six times, so the swing and miss is there despite three walks.
The Yankees are relying on Dominguez to be a major piece in the outfield moving forward, he just has to find a way to put it all together.
Pirates: Bryan Reynolds
Bryan Reynolds has usually been the catalyst for the offense in his time with Pittsburgh, and with the offense struggling out of the gate, its no wonder that Reynolds is having his own struggles.
April is usually kind to Reynolds, it is early, remember that, but through 31 at-bats, Reynolds has just one extra base hit alongside a .194/.242/.226 slash. Reynolds also has a team-high nine strikeouts with just two free passes.
The Pirates offense desperately needs Reynolds to be at his best for any chance of success, and seeing as Oneil Cruz and Isiah Kiner-Falefa have been the only other true threats, one would hope this Yankees series is the start of better play for B-Rey.
Key Injuries
Yankees:
CF Brennan Davis: 7-day IL
SP Allan Winans: 7-day IL
RP Ian Hamilton: 15-day IL
RP Devin Williams is expected to be back from the Paternity List
SP Gerrit Cole is expected to miss all of 2025
Pirates:
2B Nick Gonzales: 10-day IL
1B Specer Horwitz: 10-day IL
RP Tanner Rainer: 7-day IL
SP Jared Jones: 60-day IL
Team Notes
The Pirates are 13-23 all time versus the Yankees and Pittsburgh is 8-9 all time at home versus the Yankees.
The Pirates have won a series versus the Yankees just four times in 10 tries, including the postseason.
Steel City Pirates 