2021 Pittsburgh Pirates season

The 2021 Pittsburgh Pirates season was the franchise's 140th season overall, 135th season as a member of the National League, and 21st season at PNC Park. The Pirates suffered another heavily losing season, finishing last in the National League Central with a 0.377 winning percentage, the second-worst in the National League. They were 34 games behind the division-winning Brewers. One rare highlight from the season was winning a series of games against the playoff-bound Giants, including a 10–2 steamrolling of them at Oracle Park.

The Pirates had the first overall pick in the 2021 Major League Baseball draft after their weak 2020 season, drafting catcher Henry Davis. Sports journalists suspect that the team was tanking again in the 2021 season for a high draft spot in the 2022 Major League Baseball draft.Pittsburgh Pirates 2022 Draft: Tanking For Who, Wait Again?

Regular season

Season standings

National League Central

National League playoff standings

Record vs. opponents

Detailed records

National League Opponent W L WP NL East Atlanta Braves 3 4 25 53 Miami Marlins 5 2 36 25 New York Mets 4 3 37 39 Philadelphia Phillies 3 4 32 40 Washington Nationals 2 4 20 30 Total 17 17 150 187 NL Central Chicago Cubs 5 14 77 91 Cincinnati Reds 6 13 69 130 Milwaukee Brewers 5 14 61 112 Pittsburgh Pirates St. Louis Cardinals 7 12 70 95 Total 23 53 277 428 NL West Arizona Diamondbacks 2 4 24 33 Colorado Rockies 2 4 16 20 Los Angeles Dodgers 0 6 11 28 San Diego Padres 3 4 22 26 San Francisco Giants 4 3 30 27 Total 11 21 103 134 American League Chicago White Sox 1 3 14 17 Cleveland Indians 2 1 18 15 Detroit Tigers 4 2 19 19 Kansas City Royals 1 3 16 27 Minnesota Twins 2 1 12 6 Total 10 10 79 84 Season Total 61 101 609 833

Month Games Won Lost Win % April 25 12 13 97 113 May 28 8 20 81 143 June 26 9 17 99 120 July 25 11 14 103 143 August 28 8 20 92 153 September 27 11 16 117 147 October 3 2 1 20 14 Total 162 61 101 609 833 Games Won Lost Win % Home 81 37 44 330 396 Away 81 24 57 279 437 Total 162 61 101 609 833

Game log

|- style="background:#bfb;" | 1 || April 1 || @ Cubs || 5–3 || Howard (1–0) || Hendricks (0–1) || Rodríguez (1) || 10,343 || 1–0 || W1 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 2 || April 3 || @ Cubs || 1–5 || Arrieta (1–0) || Anderson (0–1) || — || 10,343 || 1–1 || L1 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 3 || April 4 || @ Cubs || 3–4 || Davies (1–0) || Keller (0–1) || Kimbrel (1) || 10,343 || 1–2 || L2 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 4 || April 5 || @ Reds || 3–5 || Doolittle (1–0) || Howard (1–1) || Garrett (1) || 9,097 || 1–3 || L3 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 5 || April 6 || @ Reds || 1–14 || Miley (1–0) || Cahill (0–1) || — || 11,093 || 1–4 || L4 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 6 || April 7 || @ Reds || 4–11 || Castillo (1–0) || Kuhl (0–1) || — || 11,463 || 1–5 || L5 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 7 || April 8 || Cubs || 2–4 || Arrieta (2–0) || Anderson (0–2) || Kimbrel (2) || 7,749 || 1–6 || L6 |- style="background:#bfb;" | 8 || April 10 || Cubs || 8–2 || Keller (1–1) || Davies (1–1) || — || 7,052 || 2–6 || W1 |- style="background:#bfb;" | 9 || April 11 || Cubs || 7–1 || Brubaker (1–0) || Williams (1–1) || — || 6,851 || 3–6 || W2 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 10 || April 12 || Padres || 2–6 || Darvish (1–0) || Oviedo (0–1) || — || 4,068 || 3–7 || L1 |- style="background:#bfb;" | 11 || April 13 || Padres || 8–4 || Stratton (1–0) || Crismatt (0–1) || — || 4,814 || 4–7 || W1 |- style="background:#bfb;" | 12 || April 14 || Padres || 5–1 || Anderson (1–2) || Musgrove (2–1) || — || 5,228 || 5–7 || W2 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 13 || April 15 || Padres || 3–8 || Paddack (1–1) || Keller (1–2) || Stammen (1) || 4,023 || 5–8 || L1 |- style="background:#bfb;" | 14 || April 16 || @ Brewers || 6–1 || Brubaker (2–0) || Houser (1–2) || — || 11,967 || 6–8 || W1 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 15 || April 17 || @ Brewers || 1–7 || Anderson (2–1) || Cahill (0–2) || — || 12,038 || 6–9 || L1 |- style="background:#bfb;" | 16 || April 18 || @ Brewers || 6–5 || Rodríguez (1–0) || Feyereisen (0–1) || — || 11,772 || 7–9 || W1 |- style="background:#bbb;" | — || April 20 || @ Tigers || colspan=7 | Postponed (snow; makeup April 21) |- style="background:#bfb;" | 17 || April 21 || @ Tigers || 3–2 || Anderson (2–2) || Fulmer (1–1) || Rodríguez (2) || 7,356 || 8–9 || W2 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 18 || April 21 || @ Tigers || 2–5 || Turnbull (1–0) || Yajure (0–1) || Soto (2) || 7,461 || 8–10 || L1 |- style="background:#bfb;" | 19 || April 22 || @ Tigers || 4–2 || Howard (2–1) || Cisnero (0–1) || Rodríguez (3) || 7,314 || 9–10 || W1 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 20 || April 23 || @ Twins || 0–2 || Happ (1–0) || Brubaker (2–1) || Rogers (1) || 9,541 || 9–11 || L1 |- style="background:#bfb;" | 21 || April 24 || @ Twins || 6–2 || Cahill (1–2) || Pineda (1–1) || — || 9,718 || 10–11 || W1 |- style="background:#bfb;" | 22 || April 25 || @ Twins || 6–2 || Holmes (1–0) || Shoemaker (1–2) || — || 9,396 || 11–11 || W2 |- style="background:#bfb;" | 23 || April 27 || Royals || 2–1 || Underwood Jr. (1–0) || Junis (1–1) || Rodríguez (4) || 5,510 || 12–11 || W3 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 24 || April 28 || Royals || 6–9 || Zimmer (2–0) || Keller (1–3) || Staumont (3) || 4,226 || 12–12 || L1 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 25 || April 30 || Cardinals || 3–7 || Gant (2–2) || Brubaker (2–2) || — || 5,953 || 12–13 || L2

|- style="background:#fbb;" | 26 || May 1 || Cardinals || 5–12 || Flaherty (5–0) || Cahill (1–3) || — || 7,331 || 12–14 || L3 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 27 || May 2 || Cardinals || 0–3 || Martínez (2–4) || Crowe (0–1) || Reyes (7) || 7,343 || 12–15 || L4 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 28 || May 3 || @ Padres || 0–2 || Hill (2–2) || Anderson (2–3) || Melancon (10) || 15,250 || 12–16 || L5 |- style="background:#bfb;" | 29 || May 4 || @ Padres || 2–1 || Keller (2–3) || Weathers (1–1) || Rodríguez (5) || 15,250 || 13–16 || W1 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 30 || May 5 || @ Padres || 2–4 || Stammen (2–1) || Underwood Jr. (1–1) || Melancon (11) || 15,250 || 13–17 || L1 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 31 || May 7 || @ Cubs || 2–3 || Davies (2–2) || Cahill (1–4) || Brothers (1) || 10,343 || 13–18 || L2 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 32 || May 8 || @ Cubs || 2–3 || Thompson (1–0) || Howard (2–2) || Kimbrel (6) || 10,343 || 13–19 || L3 |- style="background:#bfb;" | 33 || May 9 || @ Cubs || 6–5 || Anderson (3–3) || Hendricks (2–4) || Rodríguez (6) || 10,343 || 14–19 || W1 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 34 || May 10 || Reds || 1–14 || Mahle (2–1) || Keller (2–4) || — || 4,065 || 14–20 || L1 |- style="background:#bfb;" | 35 || May 11 || Reds || 7–2 || Brubaker (3–2) || Hoffman (2–3) || — || 4,049 || 15–20 || W1 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 36 || May 12 || Reds || 1–5 || Sims (2–1) || Underwood Jr. (1–2) || — || 4,515 || 15–21 || L1 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 37 || May 13 || Giants || 1–3 || DeSclafani (3–1) || Crowe (0–2) || Rogers (3) || 4,099 || 15–22 || L2 |- style="background:#bfb;" | 38 || May 14 || Giants || 3–2 || Oviedo (1–1) || Baragar (2–1) || — || 6,743 || 16–22 || W1 |- style="background:#bfb;" | 39 || May 15 || Giants || 8–6 || Rodríguez (2–0) || McGee (1–1) || — || 7,833 || 17–22 || W2 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 40 || May 16 || Giants || 1–4 || Wood (5–0) || Keller (2–5) || Rogers (4) || 7,356 || 17–23 || L1 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 41 || May 18 || @ Cardinals || 2–5 || Gant (3–3) || Brubaker (3–3) || Reyes (12) || 14,005 || 17–24 || L2 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 42 || May 19 || @ Cardinals || 5–8 || Flaherty (8–0) || Cahill (1–5) || Reyes (13) || 14,677 || 17–25 || L3 |- style="background:#bfb;" | 43 || May 20 || @ Braves || 6–4 || Rodríguez (3–0) || Webb (1–2) || — || 21,430 || 18–25 || W1 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 44 || May 21 || @ Braves || 1–20 || Anderson (4–1) || Anderson (3–4) || — || 37,545 || 18–26 || L1 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 45 || May 22 || @ Braves || 1–6 || Wilson (2–2) || Keller (2–6) || — || 40,068 || 18–27 || L2 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 46 || May 23 || @ Braves || 1–7 || Fried (2–2) || Brubaker (3–4) || — || 39,874 || 18–28 || L3 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 47 || May 25 || Cubs || 3–4 || Arrieta (5–4) || Ponce (0–1) || Kimbrel (10) || 6,750 || 18–29 || L4 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 48 || May 26 || Cubs || 1–4 || Williams (3–2) || Crowe (0–3) || Kimbrel (11) || 5,660 || 18–30 || L5 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 49 || May 27 || Cubs || 3–5 || Hendricks (5–4) || Anderson (3–5) || Tepera (1) || 7,202 || 18–31 || L6 |- style="background:#bbb;" | — || May 28 || Rockies || colspan=7 | Postponed (rain; makeup May 29) |- style="background:#bfb;" | 50 || May 29 || Rockies || 7–0 || Brubaker (4–4) || Gray (4–5) || — || 5,279 || 19–31 || W1 |- style="background:#bfb;" | 51 || May 29 || Rockies || 4–0 || Keller (3–6) || Gomber (3–5) || — || 7,183 || 20–31 || W2 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 52 || May 30 || Rockies || 3–4 || Bard (3–3) || Rodríguez (3–1) || — || 7,917 || 20–32 || L1 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 53 || May 31 || @ Royals || 3–7 || Minor (4–2) || Kuhl (0–2) || — || 12,604 || 20–33 || L2

|- style="background:#fbb;" | 54 || June 1 || @ Royals || 5–10 || Singer (3–4) || Crowe (0–4) || — || 10,333 || 20–34 || L3 |- style="background:#bfb;" | 55 || June 3 || Marlins || 5–3 || Crick (1–0) || Floro (2–3) || Rodríguez (7) || 4,192 || 21–34 || W1 |- style="background:#bfb;" | 56 || June 4 || Marlins || 9–2 || Underwood Jr. (2–2) || Poteet (2–2) || Stratton (1) || 8,044 || 22–34 || W2 |- style="background:#bfb;" | 57 || June 5 || Marlins || 8–7 || Holmes (2–0) || Cimber (1–2) || — || 8,714 || 23–34 || W3 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 58 || June 6 || Marlins || 1–3 || Alcántara (3–5) || Kuhl (0–3) || García (10) || 5,477 || 23–35 || L1 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 59 || June 8 || Dodgers || 3–5 || Buehler (5–0) || Brubaker (4–5) || Jansen (13) || 9,047 || 23–36 || L2 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 60 || June 9 || Dodgers || 1–2 || González (3–0) || Anderson (3–6) || Jansen (14) || 10,957 || 23–37 || L3 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 61 || June 10 || Dodgers || 3–6 || Urías (9–2) || Keller (3–7) || Bickford (1) || 9,396 || 23–38 || L4 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 62 || June 11 || @ Brewers || 4–7 || Woodruff (5–2) || Holmes (2–1) || Hader (15) || 17,678 || 23–39 || L5 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 63 || June 12 || @ Brewers || 4–7 || Richards (1–0) || Kuhl (0–4) || Hader (16) || 20,126 || 23–40 || L6 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 64 || June 13 || @ Brewers || 2–5 || Suter (8–3) || Bednar (0–1) || Hader (17) || 20,545 || 23–41 || L7 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 65 || June 14 || @ Nationals || 2–3 || Finnegan (3–2) || Holmes (2–2) || Hand (12) || 14,859 || 23–42 || L8 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 66 || June 15 || @ Nationals || 1–8 || Corbin (4–5) || Anderson (3–7) || — || 16,886 || 23–43 || L9 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 67 || June 16 || @ Nationals || 1–3 || Espino (1–2) || De Jong (0–1) || Hand (13) || 16,781 || 23–44 || L10 |- style="background:#bfb;" | 68 || June 18 || Indians || 11–10 || Kuhl (1–4) || Mejía (1–2) || Rodríguez (8) || 16,965 || 24–44 || W1 |- style="background:#bfb;" | 69 || June 19 || Indians || 6–3 || Stratton (2–0) || Shaw (1–2) || — || 16,830 || 25–44 || W2 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 70 || June 20 || Indians || 1–2 || Maton (2–0) || Brubaker (4–6) || Karinchak (8) || 16,582 || 25–45 || L1 |- style="background:#bfb;" | 71 || June 22 || White Sox || 6–3 || Bednar (1–1) || Crochet (2–4) || Rodríguez (9) || 9,847 || 26–45 || W1 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 72 || June 23 || White Sox || 3–4 || Cease (6–3) || De Jong (0–2) || Hendriks (19) || 10,406 || 26–46 || L1 |- style="background:#bfb;" | 73 || June 24 || @ Cardinals || 8–2 || Kuhl (2–4) || Martínez (3–9) || — || 33,254 || 27–46 || W1 |- style="background:#bfb;" | 74 || June 25 || @ Cardinals || 5–4 || Crowe (1–4) || Woodford (1–1) || Rodríguez (10) || 34,812 || 28–46 || W2 |- style="background:#fbb;"