The Pittsburgh Pirates return to PNC Park on May 20 desperately seeking a spark to reverse what has been a frustrating and underwhelming start to the 2025 season. Sitting at 15-33, the Pirates are anchored at the bottom of the NL Central standings, plagued by inconsistent pitching, a sputtering offense, and missed opportunities in high-leverage situations. Despite some individual standouts, the team has struggled to generate momentum, particularly on offense where their .220 team batting average ranks near the bottom of Major League Baseball. The lack of sustained offensive pressure has hurt their ability to stay competitive in games, and their 29 home runs on the season indicate a power outage that has left the lineup mostly punchless. Oneil Cruz has been one of the few bright spots, leading the team with 8 home runs and showing flashes of the five-tool potential that made him such an anticipated prospect. Bryan Reynolds has chipped in with 22 RBIs, providing some middle-of-the-order stability, but the surrounding cast has not consistently supported them, often stranding runners and failing to extend rallies. Bailey Falter will be on the mound to start this game, entering with a 2-3 record and a 4.02 ERA, hoping to build off moments of effectiveness in what has otherwise been an erratic campaign. Falter’s ability to command the strike zone early and avoid giving up the big inning will be critical against a Reds lineup that thrives on turning pressure into runs. The Pirates’ bullpen, already a sore spot this season, has struggled to hold late leads or keep deficits manageable, an issue that’s repeatedly allowed close games to slip away.

Defensively, Pittsburgh has been average at best, and fielding miscues have compounded their pitching issues, often opening the door for multi-run innings. Their 9-14 home record doesn’t offer much of a cushion, but PNC Park still provides a familiar setting that could help stabilize their rhythm. Manager Derek Shelton has emphasized the need to focus on execution and fundamentals—advancing runners, situational hitting, and clean innings—but the results have yet to materialize with consistency. Against the Reds, the Pirates must avoid falling behind early, which has been a frequent issue, forcing them into catch-up mode where their thin offensive resources become even more exposed. If Falter can give them five or six solid innings and the offense can scratch out early runs, Pittsburgh has the pitching and defense to compete late into the game. However, to shift their season’s narrative, they’ll need to not only play competitive baseball but start closing games with authority and finding ways to manufacture offense even when the bats are quiet. This game offers a chance for the Pirates to regroup at home and try to claw their way out of the division basement, but it will require a complete performance—something that’s been elusive so far this year. With growing pressure to produce and a division rival in town, the time is now for Pittsburgh to tighten the screws and start stacking wins, one solid outing at a time.