The Pittsburgh Pirates are now 10 games into the 2026 season, so how does this 6-4 start rank among previous campaigns?
After a slow night in the NHL, Tuesday’s slate heats up in the Eastern Conference, and the Penguins’ Rickard Rakell shines bright.
Plus, the Ravens start offseason activities and Pitt transfer portal news in Tuesday’s “On Sports,” pinch-hitting for “First Call.”
10 games in
Pittsburghers have understandably caught Bucco Fever, given that the Pirates are off to a 6-4 start to the season.
Despite Monday’s 5-0 loss to the San Diego Padres, the Pirates remain on the plus-side of .500.
So where does this year’s first 10 games rank?
You have to go all the way back to 2024, yep just two years ago, for a better mark when the Bucs started 8-2. They also were 8-2 in 2018 and had a 6-4 start in 2023 and 2019.
None of those translated into playoff appearances, though the Pirates did finish above .500 in 2018.
There certainly is cause for optimism, considering the Pirates entered this week averaging five runs per game (ninth in MLB) with 12 homers (fourth). Their pitching also has been solid, with a 3.33 team ERA (sixth in MLB) and 93 strikeouts (seventh). The bullpen closed out key victories over the Mets and Orioles.
Plus, they called up the top prospect in baseball (Konnor Griffin), who generated plenty of excitement during his debut at the home opener Friday.
As the saying goes, however, it’s not how you start, it’s how you finish. The Pirates have missed the playoffs each year since losing in the 2015 NL Wild-Card game.
Here’s a look at the Pirates’ start and finish the past 10 seasons:
2026: 6-4 (TBD)
2025: 3-7 (71-91), fifth in division
2024: 8-2 (76-86), fifth in division
2023: 6-4 (76-86), fourth in division
2022: 5-5 (62-100), fourth in division
2021: 3-7 (61-101), fifth in division
2020: 2-8 (19-41), fifth in division*
2019: 6-4 (69-93), fifth in division
2018: 8-2 (82-79), fourth in division
2017: 4-6 (75-87), fourth in division
2016: 5-5 (78-83-1), third in division
*covid-shortened season
Around the NHL
There was just one NHL game involving Eastern Conference teams Monday night, as Buffalo defeated Tampa Bay, 4-2, in a battle of the top teams in the Atlantic Division.
The Lightning and Sabres both have 102 points, with Montreal in third in the Atlantic with 100 points. All three have clinched a Stanley Cup playoff berth.
Former Penguins forward Jason Zucker had a goal and assist, and Alex Tuch, Josh Norris and Jack Quinn scored for the Lightning.
Absolutely WILD play by Bo Byram and Jason Zucker ???? pic.twitter.com/KViBKxzGdv
— x – Buffalo Sabres (@BuffaloSabres) April 7, 2026
Another former Penguins winner, Jake Guentzel, tallied his 37th goal for Tampa Bay. He also had his 49th assist of the season on Nikita Kucherov’s first period goal.
Carolina (104 points), Pittsburgh (96) and Philadelphia (90) lead the Metropolitan Division. The Hurricanes have locked up a playoff berth.
Boston (95) and Ottawa (90) occupy the two wild-card spots, with New York Islanders (89), Detroit (88), Columbus (88), Washington (87) and New Jersey (83) still in the hunt.
Tuesday’s Eastern Conference slate features Carolina at Montreal, Tampa at Ottawa, Columbus at Detroit, Philadelphia at New Jersey and Boston at Carolina.
The Penguins are off until Thursday when they travel to New Jersey.
Star of the show
Penguins forward Rickard Rakell played a major role in the Penguins’ scoring outburst over the weekend in 9-4 and 5-2 wins over the Florida Panthers.
He was named the NHL’s First Star of the Week on Monday after accumulating seven goals and eight points in five games last week.
Ricky Raks running the show ⭐️
The @NHL has named Rickard Rakell as First Star for the week of March 30. Details: https://t.co/zKCU41z9kupic.twitter.com/JRybZ7vW3B
— Pittsburgh Penguins (@penguins) April 6, 2026
Rakell’s seven goals ranked first in the NHL last week, while his eight points were tied with teammate Sidney Crosby for second in the league behind only Jack Hughes’ nine.
The Swedish forward is riding a five-game goal-scoring streak and an eight-game point streak.
"Ricky Rakell! Everything he touches goes to the back of the net!" pic.twitter.com/NiYsX64QV0
— Pittsburgh Penguins (@penguins) April 5, 2026
Jackson gets up to speed
The Baltimore Ravens wasted no time in showing the NFL world that star quarterback Lamar Jackson is happy and healthy.
The Ravens’ social media team posted a clip of the two-time MVP working out and sprinting through drills on the first day of the team’s voluntary offseason program Monday at the Under Armour Performance Center.
QB1 setting the tone‼️ pic.twitter.com/LQ47SBQ2Gy
— Baltimore Ravens (@Ravens) April 6, 2026
Jackson enters his ninth season in the NFL but first under new head coach Jesse Minter and offensive coordinator Declan Doyle.
“I just think that he’s excited for us to connect, for us to build a relationship, for us to trust each other, for us to be able to talk through things,” Minter told BaltimoreRavens.com at the NFL owners meeting last week.
“You don’t become the level of player that he has without a great work ethic, without being a great teammate, and without being a leader. I am just excited for him to continue to grow, evolve, and become an even better version of Lamar.”
The first phase of NFL voluntary workouts allow for meetings and strength and conditioning exercises. The Steelers open phase one workouts Tuesday.
Pitt center enters the portal
Pitt men’s basketball lost its backup center to the transfer portal when freshman Kiernan Mullen decided to enter his name, according to 247Sports.
Mullen, a 7-footer, averaged 0.8 points, 1.1 rebounds and 5.6 minutes per game in 20 appearances off the bench.
Mullen joins guard Brandin Cummings, forward Roman Siulepa and center Papa Amadou Kante as transfer portal entries.