5 PITTSBURGH PIRATES

O/U WINS: 58.5 KEY PLAYER: Ke’Bryan Hayes represents hope for the future in Pittsburgh. The third baseman was called up last season and shined in 24 games, batting .376 with a 202 OPS-plus. Now he’ll get to see what he can do in a full season. PLAYER WHO’LL NEED TO STEP UP: It was only a few years ago that Gregory Polanco looked like a rising star in Pittsburgh. Then he had a disappointing 2019 marred by injuries, followed by a brutal 2020 in which he hit .153 with a 45 OPS-plus. NAME YOU’LL GET TO KNOW: Anthony Alford. The 26-year-old outfielder was once a top-100 prospect but never put it together in a few brief opportunities with the

Blue Jays. Now he gets what could be his best chance at real playing time.

BIGGEST QUESTION MARK: What kind of strides will RHP Mitch Keller take? He arrived in 2019 and struggled, then posted a 2.91 ERA over five starts last season while having command issues. If he can settle in with some experience under his belt, he could break out as the staff ace. HOW IT’LL GO DOWN: It’s looking like it could be another long season in Pittsburgh. There are a few core pieces beginning to emerge, but not nearly enough to make any real noise. Instead, this season figures to be about letting the young players develop while GM Ben Cherington’s rebuild continues.

PROJECTED LINEUP 2B Adam Frazier 3B Ke’Bryan Hayes LF Bryan Reynolds 1B Colin Moran RF Gregory Polanco SS Kevin Newman CF Anthony Alford C Jacob Stallings

ROTATION

RHP Mitch Keller LHP Tyler Anderson RHP Chad Kuhl RHP Trevor Cahill RHP JT Brubaker