The Pittsburgh Pirates are off to a brutal start in June, going 4-9 in the first half of the month and dropping below .500 on the season with a 36-37 record. Wh
May 6, 2026; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Pittsburgh Pirates outfielder Ryan O'Hearn against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images | Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Imagesare off to a brutal start in June, going 4-9 in the first half of the month and dropping below .500 on the season with a 36-37 record.
While they're still firmly in the playoff race in the National League, sitting two games back of the San Diego Padres for the final Wild Card spot, the Pirates can't afford to keep spiraling.at the moment than its offense, the club has scored three or less runs in each of its last four games while winning just one of those contests.in the near future, they'll need left-handed slugger Ryan O'Hearn to rediscover the same mojo he had towards the beginning of the season before landing on the injured list on May 17 with a right quadriceps strain.
May 13, 2026; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Pittsburgh Pirates right fielder Ryan O'Hearn circles the baes on a solo home run against the Colorado Rockies during the sixth inning at PNC Park. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images | Charles LeClaire-Imagn ImagesAfter signing a two-year deal worth $29 million with Pittsburgh this past offseason, which is the largest contract for a free agent hitter in franchise history, O'Hearn was expected to be a stalwart in the middle of the team's lineup as a power-hitting right fielder/first baseman/designated hitter option.
The 32-year-old more than held up his end of the bargain prior to sustaining his injury, slashing .289/.368/.459 with seven home runs, 29 RBIs and a 129 wRC+. Since returning on May 31, however, it hasn't been the same story for O'Hearn. In 14 games, he's posted a .649 OPS and -0.2 fWAR while striking out in 35.8 percent of his plate appearances.
During the Pirates' current four-game lull on offense, O'Hearn has gone 3-for-17 with no extra-base hits, no walks and five strikeouts. May 9, 2026; San Francisco, California, USA; Pittsburgh Pirates outfielder Ryan O'Hearn runs toward home plate to score a run on an RBI double hit by infielder Spencer Horwitz against the San Francisco Giants during the seventh inning at Oracle Park.
Mandatory Credit: Robert Edwards-Imagn Images | Robert Edwards-Imagn ImagesExpecting O'Hearn to pick up right where he left off after coming back from his injury was never reasonable. With how poorly the pitching staff, particularly the bullpen, has performed though, the offense is going to have to pick up most of the slack until Pittsburgh can add reinforcements closer to the trade deadline.
If the Pirates' best path towards stacking up wins for the time being is out-slugging their opponents on a nightly basis, O'Hearn is a key piece of that puzzle next to the likes of Brandon Lowe, Oneil Cruz , Spencer Horwitz and Bryan Reynolds, among others. Should O'Hearn lock back in and find his groove, Pittsburgh has a chance to quickly climb up the standings in the NL.
Make sure to visit Pirates OnSI for the latest news, updates, interviews and insight on the Pittsburgh Pirates! Jack is a New Jersey native who graduated from the University of Pittsburgh as a Media & Professional Communications major in 2024 who is now covering the Pittsburgh Steelers and New York Yankees for On SI.
Please follow us on Google to support us United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
'I Am Batman’: Pirates Get Surprise Visit From Local LegendPITTSBURGH — The Pittsburgh Pirates don't normally receive visits from high-profile celebrities, but one local star came out to show love to his favorite team.
Read more »
The healthcare sector emerges as a lifeline for struggling job seekersWhile millions of Americans are struggling to find jobs in a tough labor market, healthcare is emerging as a lifeline for career changers.
Read more »
Suprise Season From Phillies Slugger Has Helped Offense ImmenselyAs the Philadelphia Phillies continue to try to sustain their strong play of late, the team has to be pleased with some of the individual performances they have
Read more »
Yankees Should Solve 2 Problems by Trading for Giants' All-Star SluggerThe Yankees could solve two pressing problems by taking advantage of the Giants' reported fire sale ahead of the MLB trade deadline.
Read more »