Yankees and Pirates Face Off in Spring Training Matchup

Ace Max Fried takes the mound for the Yankees against veteran José Urquidy of the Pirates

Published on Mar. 9, 2026

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The New York Yankees and Pittsburgh Pirates are set to face off in a spring training game at George M. Steinbrenner Field in Tampa, Florida. Yankees ace Max Fried will make his second start of the spring, while the Pirates will counter with veteran right-hander José Urquidy, who is looking to bounce back after missing most of the last two seasons due to injury.

Why it matters

This matchup provides an opportunity for both teams to evaluate their pitching talent and get their players valuable reps in a game setting as they prepare for the upcoming regular season. For the Yankees, it's a chance to see how Fried looks in his second outing, while the Pirates will be hoping Urquidy can show he's healthy and ready to contribute.

The details

Fried, who debuted this spring against Panama in the World Baseball Classic, is expected to throw more pitches than the 56 he tossed in his first outing. The Yankees lineup will be missing some key players who are still competing in the WBC, but it will still feature a formidable group of hitters, including Trent Grisham, Ben Rice, Cody Bellinger, and Giancarlo Stanton. For the Pirates, Urquidy will be looking to build on his previous spring training appearance as he aims to secure a spot in the team's rotation.

  • The game is scheduled to start at 6:35 pm EDT on March 9, 2026.
  • Fried made his first spring training start on March 3, 2026.

The players

Max Fried

An American professional baseball pitcher who plays for the New York Yankees. He is making his second start of the spring training season.

José Urquidy

A Mexican professional baseball pitcher who plays for the Pittsburgh Pirates. He is making his second start of the spring training season after missing most of the last two years due to injury.

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The takeaway

This spring training matchup between the Yankees and Pirates provides an opportunity for both teams to evaluate their pitching talent and get their players valuable game experience as they prepare for the upcoming regular season. The performance of Fried and Urquidy will be closely watched, as the teams look to solidify their rotations and build momentum heading into the new year.