Pittsburgh Pirates: Final Opening Day lineup/bench predictions

One final look at what the lineup/bench could look like with a week left in Spring Training.

Photo Credit: WTM

There’s about a week until Opening Day, and while some things have fallen into place, the Pirates still need to make a few more decisions about their lineup and bench.

They made a signing that will shake up the outfield picture, but many of the same names will remain.

For the last time, let’s look at how the initial lineup/bench can shape up.

The Locks

Henry Davis

Oneil Cruz

Ke’Bryan Hayes

Rowdy Tellez

Bryan Reynolds

Jack Suwinski

Michael A. Taylor

Andrew McCutchen

The only new name here is Taylor, who signed a one-year contract over the weekend with the Pirates.

They’ve already begun to prepare for his arrival, with Bryan Reynolds shifting to right field and having Jack Suwinski play left. That way, they have their two best defenders covering the spacious parts of PNC Park.

Not only has Davis locked in a roster spot, but here’s also made a compelling argument to be the everyday guy behind the plate before you factor in Yasmani Grandal being slowed by an injury.

Near Locks

Connor Joe

Jared Triolo

Liover Peguero

This list grows a little more, either due to injuries or the Taylor signing, some spots aren’t nearly as locked up as they once were.

Triolo and Peguero will split time at second base and serve as backups around the infield.

There’s an argument that Peguero could lose out to Nick Gonzales after losing time to an illness, but if he returns and hits well this week, he could easily cement his status in the Pirates' initial roster.

Joe’s role got a little more simplified with the addition of Taylor, and he will primarily platoon with Tellez at first base. He expanded his versatility by playing center field this spring, but his focus should be hitting lefties at first base this year.

Triolo has had a strong Spring, playing second, third, and shortstop while showing his usual penchant for hitting.

Fighting For A Spot

Catcher Battle - Yasmani Grandal vs Jason Delay

What’s made this something to watch is Grandal's health. He has missed time due to plantar fasciitis. He’s played some games in the backfield but has had three at-bats in major league action.

If he’s healthy, the spot is his, but with a week left, it seems less likely that he will be.

The Last Spot - 4th Outfielder

This last spot likely goes to an outfielder. Although they could use Joe as the de facto backup and keep an extra infielder like Nick Gonzales, that limits them a bit more.

If it goes to an outfielder, the competition comes down to four names - Joshua Palacios, Edward Olivares, Billy McKinney, and Gilberto Celestino.

Palacios has been slowed by an injury, and hasn’t got a hit yet in 11 at-bats. Olivares has a few hard hit balls this Spring but still just six hits in 36 at-bats. They are both on the 40-man roster so they would seemingly have a leg up.

Both also have one option remaining, so could get sent down without going through waivers.

The wildcards in all of this are Celestino and McKinney, both non-roster players who have been among the best in camp so far.

No other Pirates has more hits than Celestino right now (14), and McKinney is right behind him with 13.

McKinney has stood out more, has he has four extra-base hits to Celestino’s two and has also drawn 10 walks as well.

As non-roster players, someone would need to get removed from the 40-man first, and there is already more than likely going to be a few pitchers that will need to be added to fill out the bullpen.

So it’s really a matter of how many non-roster players they feel comfortable adding at this point.

Final Prediction

C - Henry Davis

1B - Rowdy Tellez

2B - Jared Triolo/Liover Peguero

3B - Ke’Bryan Hayes

SS - Oneil Cruz

LF - Jack Suwinski

CF - Michael A. Taylor

RF - Bryan Reynolds

DH - Andrew McCutchen

BN - Yasmani Grandal/Jason Delay

BN - Connor Joe

BN - Jared Triolo/Liover Peguero

BN - Billy McKinney

A lot of things can change depending on any injuries that come up. The back up catcher position goes to Grandal if he’s healthy, Delay if he isn’t.

There’s been no hint of any injury concerns, but McCutchen does only have nine at-bats so far this Spring. Taylor has a lot of catch up to do, but the job is his as long as he’s good to go.

How the rotation between Peguero and Triolo goes is up in the air. Peguero could see more time at second, but only because Triolo could be the default backup at the other infield positions.

McKinney has earned a roster spot at this point, and probably the only thing that keeps him from hit is if Palacios really goes on a tear the next week.