Troy Fautanu has a definitive opinion about potentially playing guard for the Pittsburgh Steelers this year. A former Pitt standout likes the Steelers’ chances in 2026.

The Pirates face an intradivisional showdown, and ex-Bucs relievers succeed while the current team’s bullpen has struggled.

All that in Tuesday’s “First Call.”

Willing, not wanting

Steelers offensive lineman Troy Fautanu opened organized team activities by playing left tackle. He was a right tackle all of last year.

“Just being ready for whatever happens,” Fautanu said Monday. “Obviously, with (Broderick Jones) and that whole (neck) situation, I don’t know what’s going to happen. But they asked me to play left. I’m going to do it.”

However, one idea Fautanu doesn’t like is the notion of moving to guard.

“I don’t want to play guard. But if I have to, I can,” Fautanu said.

Some have wondered whether the Steelers may look at Fautanu there, since Isaac Seumalo is now in Arizona, and the team has three options at tackle.

If Fautanu moves to guard, that would mean Dylan Cook, rookie Max Iheanachor and (when healthy) Jones could battle it out for the other tackle spot.

On Monday, Cook was at right tackle after playing left tackle last year. Spencer Anderson was the right guard. That’s where Mason McCormick played last year. But McCormick was moved to left guard next to reigning center Zach Frazier.

Meanwhile, Fautanu was at left tackle, and Jones worked out but didn’t participate in team drills. Guards Brock Hoffman and Gennings Dunker could also factor into the decision-making process.

Plenty of faith

Pitt alum LeSean “Shady” McCoy is standing firmly behind the Steelers’ chances of winning an AFC playoff game now that Aaron Rodgers is back with the team.

While stopping short of predicting a Super Bowl appearance for the 2026 Steelers, the former All-Pro said they would end their nine-year playoff win drought.

“I think they’ll be a good team,” McCoy said on his most recent “Speakeasy” podcast (via SteelersDepot.com). “I do think they’re going to be improved offensively. All these years, I felt like the offense was the issue. Now, with Mike McCarthy there, with weapons there, Aaron with McCarthy, I see them winning a playoff game, and I think they can win their division.”

The Steelers haven’t won the AFC in back-to-back seasons since 2016-17.

Flying Cardinals

After a dreadful home series against the Philadelphia Phillies, the Pittsburgh Pirates go on the road within the division this week. They play in St. Louis Tuesday night (7:45), Wednesday night (7:45), and Thursday afternoon (1:15).

The Cardinals took two of three games in both of their two most recent series in Sacramento against the Athletics and at home against Kansas City.

The Cards are now 27-19. That’s good for third-place in the National League Central Division, one game behind the first-place Chicago Cubs and 3.5 games in front of the fourth-place Pirates (24-23).

St. Louis swept a four-game series at PNC Park to close out April. The Bucs were outscored 30-18 in those games.

Over their last two games against the Phillies, Pirates batters have drawn one walk while going down on strikes 22 times. As a team, the Pirates have 431 strikeouts. Only the five teams in Major League Baseball have more.

Mitch Keller starts Tuesday night’s game for the Pirates. He is 4-2 with an ERA of 3.59. He has yet to face St. Louis this year. In nine career starts at Busch Stadium, Keller is 3-3 with an ERA of 3.89. He has totaled 44 strikeouts and 16 walks.

Matthew Liberatore (2-2, 4.40) counters for St. Louis. In his career, he is 2-3 with a 5.40 ERA against the Pirates in 10 appearances.

Closing it ‘aht

The woes of the Pirates’ bullpen have been well documented lately. The group has blown eight of 19 saves. Pirates relievers have 89 walks, third most in the National League.

Meanwhile, a pair of former Pirates relievers closed out games Monday night. New Yankee closer David Bednar gave up a run but shut the door on the Toronto Blue Jays, giving the Yankees a 7-6 win.

That was Bednar’s 11th save in 13 tries. He blew a save on Sunday against the Mets in a 7-6 loss.

Aroldis Chapman also has 11 saves now for the Boston Red Sox. He locked down a 3-1 Boston win in Kansas City.

The 38-year-old lefty hasn’t blown a save all year. He has a 0.54 ERA with 22 strikeouts and seven walks.