The Pittsburgh Pirates host the New York Mets at PNC Park on Friday, August 7, 2026, with first pitch scheduled for 6:40 PM ET. Carmen Mlodzinski gets the ball for Pittsburgh, squaring off against New York's Zac Thornton in what shapes up as a pitching matchup between two arms with something to prove. The game airs locally on SportsNet Pittsburgh and on the radio at Sports Radio 93.7 KDKA The Fan. With the regular season in its summer stretch, every series at home carries weight, and this one against a Mets lineup that features Francisco Lindor and Bo Bichette is no exception.

Probable Pitchers: Mlodzinski vs. Thornton

Carmen Mlodzinski draws the Friday night start for the Bucs. The right-hander has shown flashes of front-of-the-rotation potential and gets a meaningful test here against a Mets lineup that can do damage. Mlodzinski's ability to work ahead in counts and generate weak contact will be the story to watch early.

Opposing him is Zac Thornton for New York. Thornton is a name Pirates hitters will need to get familiar with quickly. Without an extensive track record against Pittsburgh, he's something of an unknown quantity — which cuts both ways. The Pirates' lineup will need to make adjustments on the fly.

Pittsburgh Pirates Starting Lineup

• Jake Mangum — CF
• Brandon Lowe — 2B
• Bryan Reynolds — LF
• Esmerlyn Valdez — RF
• Spencer Horwitz — 1B
• Nick Gonzales — 3B
• Ronny Simon — DH
• Jared Triolo — SS
• Rafael Flores Jr. — C

New York Mets Starting Lineup

• A.J. Ewing — CF
• Francisco Lindor — SS
• Bo Bichette — 3B
• Carson Benge — LF
• Jared Young — 1B
• Marcus Semien — 2B
• Brett Baty — RF
• Jorge Polanco — DH
• Luis Torrens — C

Keys to Watch for the Pirates

• Reynolds at the heart of it. Bryan Reynolds hitting third is the fulcrum of this lineup. If he gets on base and drives runs, Pittsburgh has a real chance. The Mets know it too, so how Thornton attacks Reynolds early will set the tone.
• Mlodzinski and the middle of the Mets order. Lindor batting second and Bichette third gives New York a legitimate 1-2-3 punch at the top. Mlodzinski has to limit the damage those two can do, especially with runners on base. Keep the ball down, work the corners, and don't let the big inning creep in.
• Nick Gonzales and Spencer Horwitz provide depth. The 5-6 spots in the order — Horwitz at first and Gonzales at third — need to be productive. If the Mets decide to pitch around Reynolds, those two have to make New York pay.
• PNC Park atmosphere. Friday night baseball on the North Shore is one of the best experiences in the sport. A crowd behind Mlodzinski from the first pitch can make a real difference.

Prediction

This is a game Pittsburgh can win at home. Mlodzinski has the stuff to keep the Mets' potent names in check for five or six innings, and the Pirates lineup — anchored by Reynolds with Lowe and Mangum setting the table — has enough to scratch out runs against an unfamiliar arm in Thornton. The PNC Park crowd on a Friday night tips the scale. Pirates 4, Mets 3.