The week ahead: Pirates to visit Rangers, Brewers

Bill Hartlep TribLive Sat, Apr 18, 2026 • 06:01 AM

Texas Rangers’ Andrew McCutchen tips his hat at home after hitting a three run home run in the fourth inning of a baseball game against the Philadelphia Phillies, Sunday, March 29, 2026, in Philadelphia. (AP)

The week ahead

at Rangers

Tuesday, 8:05 p.m. (SN PIT)

Wednesday, 8:05 p.m. (SN PIT)

Thursday, 8:05 p.m. (SN PIT)

• The Pirates will head west next week for an interleague series with the Rangers. Texas entered a series in Seattle this weekend with a record of 10-9, good for a tie atop the AL West. RF Brandon Nimmo is off to a hot start, batting .316 with three homers and 10 RBIs. The Rangers have belted 22 home runs, sixth most in the league. They’ve also struck out 178 times, which is seventh most in MLB. MacKenzie Gore has anchored the rotation with a 2-1 record, 3.00 ERA and 30 strikeouts through four outings. And the Pirates will reunite with franchise legend Andrew McCutchen, who is batting .214 with a homer and four RBIs in his first season in Texas.

at Brewers

Friday, 7:40 p.m. (SN PIT)

Saturday, 7:10 p.m. (SN PIT)

Sunday, 2:10 p.m. (SN PIT)

• The Bucs will get their first look at the NL Central rival Brewers on the road next week. Milwaukee is off to a 10-8 start behind one of the league’s top pitchers in Jacob Misiorowski, who is 1-1 with a 3.32 ERA and 33 strikeouts in four starts. Catcher William Contreras has been the Brewers’ top bat with a .317 batting average, two home runs and 11 RBIs entering a series at the Marlins. The Brewers bounced back from a six-game losing streak with back-to-back wins over the Blue Jays earlier this week.