MLB Analysts Name Pirates Most Surprising Team Of 2026 So Far originally appeared on SportsNet Pittsburgh.
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Few teams are playing better baseball right now than the Pittsburgh Pirates.
They enter play on Tuesday with a 10-6 record, a plus-19 run differential and the second-best winning percentage in baseball. They’ve excelled both at the plate and on the mound, ranking seventh in runs per game and fifth in ERA.
While the Pirates were expected to be better this year after their impressive offseason, some didn’t expect them to be this good, this quickly, including MLB Network analyst Mike Lowell.
On Tuesday, the former World Series champion third baseman explained why he picked Pittsburgh as his most surprising team of the season thus far.
“I think the pitching, we thought it was going to be good, but I didn’t think the offense was gonna look that good,” Lowell said on “MLB Central.” “The Pirates brought in a lot of pieces. It seems like it’s gelling, and we’re in Week 2.”
“Pittsburgh Pirates… the pitching, we thought it was going to be good, but I didn’t think the offense was going to look THIS good.”@mikelowell25 has been pleasantly surprised by the NL Central leaders so far this season! #MLBCentralpic.twitter.com/Rc996jojc2
— MLB Network (@MLBNetwork) April 14, 2026
The Pirates have been even better lately, winning nine of their last 12 games after a 1-3 start. After a brief road bump to begin the year, they’ve hit their stride.
“I like their lineup a lot. There’s lefties, there’s righties, there’s talent, there’s speed, there’s youth, there’s veterans, I like it,” Lowell continued.
Bolstered by Oneil Cruz’s hot start and the additions of Ryan O’Hearn and Brandon Lowe, Pittsburgh’s lineup looks legit. It ranks seventh in runs per game, ninth in homers and seventh in OPS.
Fellow analyst Mark DeRosa agreed with Lowell, also picking the Pirates as this year’s most surprising team.
“I hate to agree with him, but yeah. 100 percent, it’s the Pittsburgh Pirates,” DeRosa added. “And if Oneil Cruz is gonna play like an MVP candidate. They’re gonna stick a guy on the mound with elite stuff every night. They really are.”
Pittsburgh is firing on all cylinders, surging to the top of the NL Central. If the Pirates keep it up, they could be headed for their first division title in 34 years.
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