Pirates Look to Complete Early-Season Sweep of Orioles

Pittsburgh has won the first two games of the three-game series by one-run margins.

Apr. 5, 2026 at 5:10pm

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The Pittsburgh Pirates will go for a sweep of their home-opening three-game series against the Baltimore Orioles on Sunday afternoon. The Pirates have won the first two games of the series by one-run margins, with their most recent victory coming on a walk-off double in the ninth inning. The Orioles have lost four of their last five games but remain confident they can turn things around.

Why it matters

This early-season series between the Pirates and Orioles is an important one, as both teams look to establish themselves in the standings and gain momentum in the early part of the season. The Pirates' ability to win close games could be a sign of their competitiveness, while the Orioles' struggles to close out games raises questions about their resilience.

The details

The Pirates will send right-hander Braxton Ashcraft to the mound, who is looking to bounce back after a tough outing in his first start of the season. The Orioles will counter with right-hander Chris Bassitt, who has had success against the Pirates in the past. The Orioles are also hoping to get left-hander Cade Povich involved, as he recently joined the team's taxi squad.

  • The series finale is scheduled for Sunday afternoon.
  • The Pirates have won the first two games of the series, both by one-run margins.
  • The Orioles have lost four of their last five games.

The players

Don Kelly

The manager of the Pittsburgh Pirates, who has praised his team's ability to buy into the team concept and find ways to win close games.

Nick Yorke

The Pirates rookie who hit the game-winning double in the ninth inning of Saturday's victory.

Ryan Helsley

A relief pitcher for the Baltimore Orioles, who acknowledged the team's frustration with losing close games but expressed confidence in the team's ability to turn things around.

Dylan Beavers

An outfielder for the Baltimore Orioles, who believes the team has a lot of good players and is just trying to put it all together.

Braxton Ashcraft

The right-handed starting pitcher for the Pittsburgh Pirates in the series finale, looking to bounce back from a tough outing in his first start of the season.

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What they’re saying

“These guys have bought into the team aspect. These guys are ready on the bench. Just the way they're buying into the team concept and finding a way to win.”

— Don Kelly, Pirates Manager

“I think we're competing really well. Sometimes baseball doesn't go your way. Both sides are trying to win. I thought we played a good game (Saturday), just obviously didn't work out in our way. We got another chance (Sunday), and we got a lot of baseball left and we just have to go get 'em and turn the page.”

— Ryan Helsley, Orioles Reliever

“I think we have a lot of really good players in here and they're just trying to put it all together and hopefully (Sunday) everything aligns.”

— Dylan Beavers, Orioles Outfielder

What’s next

The Pirates will look to complete the sweep and continue their strong start to the season, while the Orioles will aim to bounce back and avoid being swept in the series.

The takeaway

This early-season series between the Pirates and Orioles highlights the importance of team chemistry and resilience in the face of close losses. The Pirates' ability to win tight games could be a sign of their competitiveness, while the Orioles' struggles to close out games raise questions about their ability to turn things around.