Game Preview
Baltimore and Pittsburgh are back at it Sunday after the Pirates took the first two games of this set by a combined 8-6. That puts extra attention on a matinee matchup between a Baltimore club trying to stop a slide and a Pittsburgh team that has quietly put together a strong early run at home. The middle of the order battle is worth watching too, with Brandon Lowe carrying big history in this matchup and Baltimore countering with names like Gunnar Henderson and Pete Alonso.
Game Information
| Date | Sunday, April 5, 2026 |
| Time | 1:35 PM EST |
| Venue | PNC Park |
Recent Matchup History
- April 4, 2026: Baltimore 2 at Pittsburgh 3
- April 3, 2026: Baltimore 4 at Pittsburgh 5
- September 11, 2025: Pittsburgh 2 at Baltimore 3
- September 10, 2025: Pittsburgh 1 at Baltimore 2
- September 9, 2025: Pittsburgh 2 at Baltimore 3
Why Pittsburgh Pirates Could Win
Pittsburgh has a real case here because several angles point the same way. The Pirates are 3-0 in their last three games, 4-1 in their last five, and 3-0 in their last three at home, where they have averaged 6.33 runs. The bullpen is in much better shape too, carrying a team stress score of just 4 compared with Baltimore’s 20. That matters in a close game. At the plate, Brandon Lowe has crushed this pitching matchup, going 11-for-20 with 4 home runs, a 1.841 OPS, and a .758 weighted on-base percentage. Ryan O’Hearn is also 8-for-17 with a 1.256 OPS, while Bryan Reynolds owns an .841 OPS in the same split. Pittsburgh also just beat Baltimore on Saturday despite getting only 4.666 innings from the starter, which says a lot about the depth behind him.
Why Baltimore Orioles Could Win
Baltimore can still flip this if the lineup gets to the starter early and keeps Pittsburgh from handing the game to its rested relief group. The Orioles had only 6 hits Saturday, but there were signs of life. Adley Rutschman went 2-for-4, Gunnar Henderson reached base three times, and Leody Taveras posted a .750 on-base percentage in that game. There is also enough power in this order to change the game fast. Pete Alonso has a prior extra-base hit in this matchup, and Baltimore’s lineup starts with aggressive run producers in the top half. Team scoring trends are not great overall, but the Orioles have averaged 5 runs over their last three games as an underdog. Weather could keep the ball moving too, with overcast skies and wind at 14 mph. If Baltimore gets length from the starter and avoids exposing the more stressed bullpen too soon, the road team has enough talent to steal the finale.
Final Pick
Pittsburgh Pirates ML (-123)
