The Pittsburgh Pirates wrap up their Sunday afternoon at PNC Park on September 20, 2026, welcoming the Kansas City Royals for a 1:35 PM ET first pitch. Pittsburgh sends Lake Bachar to the mound against veteran right-hander Michael Wacha in what shapes up as an intriguing pitching matchup late in the regular season. With September baseball carrying real weight in the standings, every game at the corner of Federal Street matters, and the Pirates faithful will be watching closely to see how their young arms hold up against a Royals club that has proven difficult to dismiss.
Pitching Matchup: Lake Bachar vs. Michael Wacha
Lake Bachar draws the Sunday start for Pittsburgh. The right-hander has been working his way through a big league workload, and a late-September assignment at PNC Park is the kind of moment that defines where a young pitcher stands heading into the offseason. This is a legitimate test.
On the other side, Michael Wacha brings considerable experience to the mound. The veteran has made a career out of competing deep into seasons and keeping lineups off-balance with his mix. He is not a pitcher Pittsburgh can take lightly, regardless of where both clubs sit in the standings on game day. Wacha knows how to pitch, and he will attack the Pirates lineup with a plan.
Keys to Watch for Pittsburgh
- Bachar's command and pitch count: How long Bachar can work into this game will determine how much stress the Pirates bullpen absorbs on a Sunday afternoon. Keeping the Royals off the bases early is critical.
- Generating offense against Wacha: Wacha is the type of pitcher who can make a lineup look passive if hitters don't stay aggressive early in counts. Pittsburgh needs to make him work and not let him settle into a rhythm.
- Late-inning bullpen management: September rosters give managers options, and how Pittsburgh deploys its relievers in a close game could be the deciding factor.
- Capitalizing on scoring chances: Against a seasoned starter, squandered opportunities have a way of becoming the story. The Pirates need to cash in when runners are in scoring position.
Prediction
This is a game that comes down to how Bachar handles Wacha's experienced counterpart across the diamond. If Bachar can give Pittsburgh five or six competitive innings and the offense generates enough traffic against Wacha, the Pirates have a legitimate shot at home. PNC Park on a September Sunday is a good place to play baseball, and Pittsburgh will lean on that. Call it a tight, low-scoring game that goes to the Pirates in a 4-2 final — but Wacha is more than capable of flipping that script if the Pittsburgh lineup goes quiet.
Catch the action on SportsNet Pittsburgh on TV or locally on Sports Radio 93.7 KDKA The Fan.
