The Pittsburgh Pirates return to PNC Park on Thursday, July 9, 2026, for a 12:35 PM ET afternoon matchup against the Atlanta Braves. Mitch Keller gets the ball for Pittsburgh opposite Atlanta's Bryce Elder. With the second half of the season approaching, every game carries weight, and a home date against a Braves club that still features dangerous veterans like Matt Olson and Ozzie Albies is exactly the kind of test that will tell us something real about where this Pirates team stands.

Pitching Matchup: Mitch Keller vs. Bryce Elder

Keller is the unquestioned anchor of this Pirates rotation. The right-hander has established himself as Pittsburgh's most reliable starter, and an afternoon game at PNC Park — with the river glittering behind the left-field wall — suits his aggressive, pitch-to-contact approach. He'll need to be sharp against a lineup that, even in its current construction, carries legitimate pop from top to bottom.

Bryce Elder gets the assignment for Atlanta. The right-hander has shown the ability to keep lineups off-balance with a mix that induces weak contact. Pittsburgh's offense will need to work counts and stay disciplined if they want to get into Atlanta's bullpen early.

Pittsburgh Pirates Starting Lineup

• Jake Mangum — CF
• Brandon Lowe — 2B
• Bryan Reynolds — LF
• Esmerlyn Valdez — RF
• Ryan O'Hearn — DH
• Nick Gonzales — 3B
• Tyler Callihan — 1B
• Rafael Flores Jr. — C
• Jared Triolo — SS

Atlanta Braves Starting Lineup

• Michael Harris II — CF
• Ozzie Albies — 2B
• Matt Olson — 1B
• Drake Baldwin — C
• Mauricio Dubón — LF
• Dominic Smith — DH
• Austin Riley — 3B
• Mike Yastrzemski — RF
• Jim Jarvis — SS

Keys to Watch

• Reynolds as the middle of the order anchor: Bryan Reynolds hitting third is the pivot point for this offense. If he gets on base and creates pressure ahead of Esmerlyn Valdez, Pittsburgh's lineup has a chance to do real damage against Elder.
• Keller vs. Olson and Riley: Matt Olson and Austin Riley — even slotted third and seventh respectively in this Atlanta lineup — represent the most consequential at-bats Keller will face. How he handles those two will likely determine the outcome more than anything else.
• Nick Gonzales making noise from the six-hole: Gonzales hitting sixth at third base is a situation worth monitoring. If he can produce in that spot, it changes the calculus for how Atlanta's pitching staff attacks the bottom of Pittsburgh's order.
• The bottom of Pittsburgh's order: Callihan, Flores Jr., and Triolo hitting seventh through ninth need to contribute. A lineup that gets production from those spots becomes genuinely difficult to navigate for any pitcher.

Prediction

Keller at home in an afternoon game is a good spot for the Pirates. He's Pittsburgh's most dependable arm, and PNC Park in July is a genuine advantage. Elder is capable, but if Reynolds and Valdez can do damage in the middle of the order and Keller keeps Olson and Riley in check, the Pirates take this one. Pirates 4, Braves 2.

Catch the game on SportsNet Pittsburgh on TV or on 680 AM/93.7 FM The Fan on radio.