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Pittsburgh Pirates first baseman Ryan O'Hearn (29) runs the bases after scoring a homer in the second inning of a MLB game between the Cincinnati Reds and Pittsburgh Pirates, Tuesday, March 31, 2026, at Great American Ball Park in downtown Cincinnati. Frank Bowen IV/The Enquirer / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Pirates Newcomers Not in Lineup vs. Reds

Originally posted on Pittsburgh Pirates on SI
By Dominic Campbell | Last updated Apr 1, 2026 11:11 AM ET

PITTSBURGH — The Pittsburgh Pirates made a few key additions this offseason, both of whom have played extremely well, but aren't featuring in the lineup for a key divisional game.

Right fielder/first baseman Ryan O'Hearn and second baseman Brandon Lowe are both not in the Pirates lineup, as they face the Cincinnati Reds at Great American Ball Park in the series finale on April 1.

The Pirates instead have Nick Gonzales making his first start at second base and Spencer Horwitz taking over from O'Hearn at first base.

Both players have been the best hitters for the Pirates so far through the first five games in the 2026 season.

O'Hearn has slashed .421/.522/.737 for an OPS of 1.259, with eight hits in 19 at-bats, two home runs, six RBI and four walks to three strikeouts.

He signed a two-year, $29 million deal with the Pirates this offseason and holds the longest-hitting streak in baseball at 14 games.

O'Hearn is also coming off a game where he hit a three-run home run in the top of the second inning, one of four home runs for the Pirates in an 8-3 victory on March 31.

Lowe leads the Pirates with three home runs and has slashed .333/.455/.889 for an OPS of 1.344, with six hits in 18 at-bats, a double, four RBI and four walks to three strikeouts.

He made Pirates history on Opening Day, as he hit two home runs in the 11-7 loss to the New York Mets at Citi Field on March 26.

Lowe became the seventh Pirates batter to hit two home runs on Opening Day, third Pirates batter to hit two home runs in their team debut, second Pirates batter to hit three RBI in their team debut and one of four Pirates hitters that hit a home run in their first plate appearance with the team and also on Opening Day.

A Look at the Rest of the Pirates Lineup

The Pirates brought three new players into the lineup and have four different position changes from their last outing.

Player	Position	Batting Side
Jake Mangum	Right Fielder	Switch
Nick Gonzales	Second Base	Right
Bryan Reynolds	Left Fielder	Switch
Marcell Ozuna	Designated Hitter	Right
Oneil Cruz	Center Fielder	Left
Nick Yorke	Third Base	Right
Jared Triolo	Shortstop	Right
Spencer Horwitz	First Base	Left
Henry Davis	Catcher	Right

Jared Triolo returns to shortstop after having a day off and will hit seventh, with Gonzales moving to second base and hitting second, the highest in the batting order so far in 2026. Nick Yorke also stays at third base and sixth in the lineup, while Marcell Ozuna remains at designated hitter.

Horwitz makes a surprising return, not at first base, but because the Reds are putting out left-handed pitcher Andrew Abbott out as their starter. Horwitz has struggled against left-handed pitching, whereas O'Hearn is much better against southpaws.

Right-handed pitcher Paul Skenes makes his second start and Henry Davis comes back in at catcher and hits ninth.

The outfield remains the same, with Jake Mangum in right field, Bryan Reynolds in left field and Oneil Cruz in center field.

Cruz moves up three spots from eighth to fifth in the batting order, which came after he hit two home runs for the Pirates in their most recent win over the Reds.

This article first appeared on Pittsburgh Pirates on SI and was syndicated with permission.

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