Pirates Make Two Outfield Changes for Padres Game

Aug 14, 2026; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Pittsburgh Pirates left fielder Bryan Reynolds (10) runs home to score a run during the fourth inning against the Boston Red Sox at PNC Park. Mandatory Credit: David Dermer-Imagn Images IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

Pirates Make Two Outfield Changes for Padres Game

Originally posted on Pittsburgh Pirates on SI
By Dominic Campbell | Last updated Aug 26, 2026 2:54 PM ET

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PITTSBURGH — The Pittsburgh Pirates look to get an important road sweep and will do so with a changed outfield

The Pirates take on the San Diego Padres in the series finale on Aug. 26, where they made corner outfield changes before it, to get their best lineup in for the game.

Bryan Reynolds moves to designated hitter, so Jake Mangum shifts to left field and rookie Esmerlyn Valdez comes back in right field.

Oneil Cruz remains the constant for Pittsburgh, staying in center field and leading the group, following his go-ahead solo home run off of Padres closer Mason Miller in the ninth inning of the 1-0 win on Aug. 25.

What is the Pirates Best Outfield?

The Pirates finally got Cruz back after missing two months, 72 days, with a left hand fracture that requried a long and tough injury rehab.

Cruz has been great for the Pirates since his return, with three home runs, including two other two-run home runs, plus an RBI-single and an RBI-triple.

He is slashing .217/.333/.696 for an OPS of 1.029 in his seven games since coming back and that home run off of Miller ended 12 at-bats without a hit.

Cruz coming back means that the Pirates can deploy Mangum in the corner outfield spots and also play a little center field too if Cruz needs a day off, particularly following his left hand fracture.

Reynolds also has more chances to feature at designated hitter and the Pirates need him to get going offensively, as he's hit .214/.292/.303 for an OPS of .595 in the second half of 2026 and hasn't hit a home run since July 28.

Valdez will certainly feature mostly in right field and finally found his power again, with his solo home run off of Padres left-handed starting pitcher Robbie Ray in the sixth inning, which broke the deadlock between both teams.

It was an important home run, despite the Pirates not winning until the 12th inning, as Valdez hadn't hit a home run since July 26 and also, it came against a left-handed pitcher, who the Pirates have struggled against all 2026.

Valdez, despite hitting .177 between both home runs, is still showing good plate discipline, with a .330 on-base percentage, as he continues finding ways to succeed against major league pitching.

The Pirates' best outfield has a combination of all four of these players, but Reynolds in left field, Cruz in center field and Valdez in right field is how they'll go with mostly.

Pirates Lineup vs. Padres

Player	Position	Batting Side
Spencer Horwitz	First Base	Left
Brandon Lowe	Second Base	Left
Bryan Reynolds	Designated Hitter	Switch
Esmerlyn Valdez	Right Field	Right
Oneil Cruz	Center Field	Left
Nick Gonzales	Third Base	Right
Jake Mangum	Left Field	Switch
Rafael Flores Jr.	Catcher	Right
Jacob Gonzalez	Shortstop	Left