1996 Pittsburgh Pirates season

The 1996 Pittsburgh Pirates season was the 115th season of the franchise; the 110th in the National League. This was their 27th season at Three Rivers Stadium. The Pirates finished fifth and last in the National League Central with a record of 73–89.

Offseason December 28, 1995: Charlie Hayes was signed as a free agent by the Pirates.Charlie Hayes at Baseball Reference February 2, 1996: John DeSalvo was released by the Pirates (Injury).Dale Sveum at Baseball Reference February 4, 1996: Danny Darwin was signed as a free agent by the Pirates.Danny Darwin at Baseball Reference February 17, 1996: Zane Smith was signed as a free agent by the Pirates.Zane Smith at Baseball Reference

Regular season

Season standings

Game log

|- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 1 || April 1 || @ Marlins || 4–0 || Wagner (1–0) || Brown || — || 41,815 || 1–0 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 2 || April 2 || @ Marlins || 4–1 || Christiansen (1–0) || Pena || Miceli (1) || 20,243 || 2–0 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 3 || April 4 || @ Marlins || 2–6 || Leiter || Ericks (0–1) || — || 19,008 || 2–1 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 4 || April 5 || @ Mets || 7–5 || Smith (1–0) || Mlicki || — || 16,088 || 3–1 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 5 || April 6 || @ Mets || 5–0 || Darwin (1–0) || Clark || — || 20,756 || 4–1 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 6 || April 8 || Phillies || 3–6 || Fernandez || Neagle (0–1) || — || 41,416 || 4–2 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 7 || April 10 || Phillies || 6–7 || Grace || Christiansen (1–1) || Bottalico || 7,075 || 4–3 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 8 || April 11 || Expos || 5–6 (11) || Rojas || Cordova (0–1) || Veres || 8,084 || 4–4 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 9 || April 12 || Expos || 3–13 || Rueter || Darwin (1–1) || — || 13,087 || 4–5 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 10 || April 13 || Expos || 9–3 || Wagner (2–0) || Fassero || — || 13,834 || 5–5 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 11 || April 14 || Expos || 5–2 || Neagle (1–1) || Martinez || — || 12,797 || 6–5 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 12 || April 15 || @ Cardinals || 4–6 || Benes || Ericks (0–2) || Honeycutt || 18,731 || 6–6 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 13 || April 16 || @ Cardinals || 13–3 || Smith (2–0) || Benes || Lieber (1) || 21,349 || 7–6 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 14 || April 17 || @ Cardinals || 1–6 || Osborne || Darwin (1–2) || — || 23,074 || 7–7 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 15 || April 18 || @ Cardinals || 6–2 || Wagner (3–0) || Stottlemyre || — || 25,700 || 8–7 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 16 || April 19 || @ Expos || 1–2 || Manuel || Plesac (0–1) || — || 13,256 || 8–8 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 17 || April 20 || @ Expos || 2–11 || Martinez || Ericks (0–3) || — || 14,022 || 8–9 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 18 || April 21 || @ Expos || 4–9 || Veres || Christiansen (1–2) || — || 11,361 || 8–10 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 19 || April 22 || @ Phillies || 9–3 || Darwin (2–2) || Mulholland || — || 17,604 || 9–10 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 20 || April 23 || @ Phillies || 2–6 || Springer || Wagner (3–1) || Ryan || 19,254 || 9–11 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 21 || April 24 || Marlins || 6–3 || Neagle (2–1) || Rapp || — || 9,812 || 10–11 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 22 || April 25 || Marlins || 1–4 || Leiter || Hope (0–1) || Nen || 8,315 || 10–12 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 23 || April 26 || Mets || 10–6 || Christiansen (2–2) || Isringhausen || — || 13,185 || 11–12 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 24 || April 27 || Mets || 4–7 || Mlicki || Miceli (0–1) || Franco || 16,698 || 11–13 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 25 || April 28 || Mets || 5–7 || Jones || Wagner (3–2) || Franco || 27,706 || 11–14 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 26 || April 30 || @ Reds || 10–7 || Neagle (3–1) || Smiley || Cordova (1) || 16,243 || 12–14

|- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 27 || May 1 || @ Reds || 4–3 || Hope (1–1) || Burba || Plesac (1) || 18,197 || 13–14 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 28 || May 3 || Dodgers || 1–10 || Park || Darwin (2–3) || — || 18,268 || 13–15 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 29 || May 4 || Dodgers || 7–2 || Wagner (4–2) || Candiotti || — || 20,321 || 14–15 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 30 || May 5 || Dodgers || 4–2 || Neagle (4–1) || Valdez || Plesac (2) || 19,206 || 15–15 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 31 || May 6 || Dodgers || 4–8 || Nomo || Hope (1–2) || Radinsky || 9,415 || 15–16 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 32 || May 8 || Padres || 4–5 || Tewksbury || May (0–1) || Hoffman || — || 15–17 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 33 || May 8 || Padres || 4–3 || Christiansen (3–2) || Sanders || Cordova (2) || 8,508 || 16–17 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 34 || May 9 || Padres || 1–7 || Ashby || Wagner (4–3) || — || 10,863 || 16–18 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 35 || May 10 || Giants || 4–5 (10) || DeLucia || Cordova (0–2) || Beck || 17,611 || 16–19 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 36 || May 11 || Giants || 7–12 || VanLandingham || Hope (1–3) || — || 16,591 || 16–20 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 37 || May 12 || Giants || 2–7 || Watson || Smith (2–1) || — || 17,132 || 16–21 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 38 || May 13 || @ Braves || 3–9 || Glavine || Darwin (2–4) || — || 28,583 || 16–22 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 39 || May 14 || @ Braves || 3–7 || Smoltz || Wagner (4–4) || — || 28,175 || 16–23 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 40 || May 15 || @ Braves || 3–0 || Neagle (5–1) || Avery || — || 30,917 || 17–23 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 41 || May 17 || @ Astros || 2–4 || Reynolds || Lieber (0–1) || Jones || 22,882 || 17–24 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 42 || May 18 || @ Astros || 2–1 (11) || Cordova (1–2) || Young || Plesac (3) || 21,010 || 18–24 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 43 || May 19 || @ Astros || 3–4 || Jones || Lieber (0–2) || — || 18,815 || 18–25 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 44 || May 20 || @ Rockies || 7–10 || Reynoso || Neagle (5–2) || — || 48,042 || 18–26 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 45 || May 21 || @ Rockies || 10–12 || Holmes || Christiansen (3–3) || Ruffin || 48,037 || 18–27 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 46 || May 22 || @ Rockies || 3–6 || Ritz || Smith (2–2) || Ruffin || 48,044 || 18–28 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 47 || May 24 || Braves || 3–5 || Smoltz || Darwin (2–5) || Wohlers || 20,238 || 18–29 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 48 || May 25 || Braves || 6–2 || Neagle (6–2) || Avery || — || 29,273 || 19–29 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 49 || May 26 || Braves || 3–6 (13) || Wade || Miceli (0–2) || Bielecki || 33,085 || 19–30 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 50 || May 27 || Astros || 3–5 || Kile || Smith (2–3) || — || 8,906 || 19–31 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 51 || May 28 || Astros || 6–5 || Miceli (1–2) || Swindell || Cordova (3) || 7,182 || 20–31 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 52 || May 29 || Astros || 4–7 || Morman || Darwin (2–6) || Jones || 11,679 || 20–32 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 53 || May 31 || Rockies || 8–4 || Neagle (7–2) || Reynoso || Cordova (4) || 26,640 || 21–32

|- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 54 || June 1 || Rockies || 0–2 || Ritz || Wagner (4–5) || Ruffin || 15,633 || 21–33 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 55 || June 2 || Rockies || 5–2 || Smith (3–3) || Holmes || Cordova (5) || 26,745 || 22–33 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 56 || June 3 || Rockies || 7–2 || Ruebel (1–0) || Farmer || — || 8,120 || 23–33 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 57 || June 4 || @ Dodgers || 3–0 || Darwin (3–6) || Nomo || Cordova (6) || 29,576 || 24–33 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 58 || June 5 || @ Dodgers || 7–3 || Wilkins (1–0) || Astacio || Cordova (7) || 32,161 || 25–33 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 59 || June 6 || @ Dodgers || 3–8 || Candiotti || Miceli (1–3) || — || 26,664 || 25–34 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 60 || June 7 || @ Padres || 10–0 || Smith (4–3) || Bergman || — || 20,312 || 26–34 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 61 || June 8 || @ Padres || 9–8 (14) || Cordova (2–2) || Blair || — || 41,378 || 27–34 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 62 || June 9 || @ Padres || 6–0 || Darwin (4–6) || Tewksbury || — || 30,932 || 28–34 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 63 || June 10 || @ Giants || 5–4 || Morel (1–0) || DeLucia || Cordova (8) || 10,026 || 29–34 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 64 || June 11 || @ Giants || 7–2 || Neagle (8–2) || Fernandez || — || 11,530 || 30–34 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 65 || June 13 || Marlins || 3–4 || Perez || Cordova (2–3) || Nen || 15,083 || 30–35 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 66 || June 14 || Marlins || 5–4 || Plesac (1–1) || Nen || — || 26,494 || 31–35 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 67 || June 15 || Marlins || 12–8 || Darwin (5–6) || Rapp || — || 15,596 || 32–35 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 68 || June 16 || Marlins || 2–4 || Brown || Neagle (8–3) || Nen || 28,120 || 32–36 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 69 || June 17 || Mets || 6–7 (10) || Mlicki || Cordova (2–4) || Franco || 11,002 || 32–37 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 70 || June 19 || Mets || 6–5 || Plesac (2–1) || Isringhausen || — || — || 33–37 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 71 || June 19 || Mets || 3–5 || Mlicki || Cordova (2–5) || Franco || 20,108 || 33–38 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 72 || June 21 || @ Marlins || 0–4 || Brown || Darwin (5–7) || — || 20,442 || 33–39 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 73 || June 22 || @ Marlins || 4–1 (10) || Plesac (3–1) || Perez || — || 26,666 || 34–39 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 74 || June 23 || @ Marlins || 5–3 || Lieber (1–2) || Rapp || Cordova (9) || 20,769 || 35–39 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 75 || June 24 || @ Expos || 3–11 || Martinez || Dessens (0–1) || — || 23,736 || 35–40 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 76 || June 25 || @ Expos || 2–8 || Rueter || Smith (4–4) || Scott || 12,776 || 35–41 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 77 || June 26 || @ Expos || 3–1 || Darwin (6–7) || Cormier || Cordova (10) || 12,846 || 36–41 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 78 || June 28 || @ Cardinals || 1–6 || Osborne || Neagle (8–4) || — || 34,490 || 36–42 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 79 || June 29 || @ Cardinals || 5–6 || Honeycutt || Miceli (1–4) || — || 34,426 || 36–43 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 80 || June 30 || @ Cardinals || 3–10 || Stottlemyre || Smith (4–5) || — || 38,901 || 36–44

|- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 81 || July 1 || Cubs || 4–1 || Darwin (7–7) || Navarro || Plesac (4) || 15,910 || 37–44 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 82 || July 2 || Cubs || 7–15 || Telemaco || Wagner (4–6) || — || 13,241 || 37–45 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 83 || July 3 || Cubs || 3–2 || Neagle (9–4) || Castillo || Plesac (5) || 22,157 || 38–45 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 84 || July 4 || Cardinals || 1–7 || Benes || Dessens (0–2) || — || 23,321 || 38–46 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 85 || July 5 || Cardinals || 4–7 || Stottlemyre || Smith (4–6) || Fossas || 18,759 || 38–47 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 86 || July 6 || Cardinals || 5–9 || Benes || Darwin (7–8) || — || 19,144 || 38–48 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 87 || July 7 || Cardinals || 8–2 || Lieber (2–2) || Morgan || — || 16,255 || 39–48 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 88 || July 11 || @ Reds || 5–3 || Neagle (10–4) || Smiley || Plesac (6) || 24,670 || 40–48 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 89 || July 12 || @ Reds || 2–5 || Portugal || Darwin (7–9) || Brantley || 27,708 || 40–49 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 90 || July 13 || @ Reds || 0–3 || Jarvis || Lieber (2–3) || — || 32,119 || 40–50 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 91 || July 14 || @ Reds || 6–7 || Burba || Wagner (4–7) || Brantley || 26,619 || 40–51 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 92 || July 15 || @ Cubs || 2–12 || Castillo || Miceli (1–5) || — || 32,119 || 40–52 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 93 || July 16 || @ Cubs || 10–5 || Neagle (11–4) || Navarro || — || 26,502 || 41–52 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 94 || July 18 || Reds || 8–3 || Lieber (3–3) || Jarvis || — || 12,669 || 42–52 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 95 || July 19 || Reds || 3–11 || Burba || Wagner (4–8) || — || 17,153 || 42–53 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 96 || July 20 || Reds || 3–9 || Salkeld || Miceli (1–6) || — || 26,378 || 42–54 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 97 || July 21 || Reds || 6–4 || Neagle (12–4) || Smiley || Plesac (7) || 23,117 || 43–54 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 98 || July 23 || Expos || 5–1 || Lieber (4–3) || Martinez || — || 10,292 || 44–54 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 99 || July 24 || Expos || 5–4 || Ericks (1–3) || Rojas || — || 19,219 || 45–54 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 100 || July 25 || Phillies || 6–4 || Miceli (2–6) || Springer || Cordova (11) || 12,163 || 46–54 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 101 || July 26 || Phillies || 7–4 || Ericks (2–3) || Bottalico || Plesac (8) || 17,239 || 47–54 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 102 || July 27 || Phillies || 1–2 || Mulholland || Parris (0–1) || — || 23,121 || 47–55 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 103 || July 28 || Phillies || 12–8 || Ericks (3–3) || Borland || — || 15,189 || 48–55 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 104 || July 29 || @ Mets || 0–5 || Harnisch || Peters (0–1) || — || 15,680 || 48–56 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb"