How the Beginning of the Pirates Schedule Looks Post Lockout

While Major League Baseball’s lockout is now over with, the delay did cause some scheduling changes for the start of the season.

The Pittsburgh Pirates were originally scheduled to open the 2022 season at home on March 31 against the St. Louis Cardinals, followed by a 3-game road trip at Cincinnati.

Those games will be made up later on in the season, but the Pirates will still open against the Cardinals expect it will take place at Busch Stadium in St. Louis.

Derek Shelton’s team will start the 2022 regular season with a 4-game series at St. Louis and then will return home to PNC Park. The 2022 Pirates Home Opener will take place on Tuesday, April 12 against the Chicago Cubs. Something unusual is that the first pitch for the Home Opener will happen at 6:35 PM.

Not too often have the Pirates had their home opener as a night game. The last time was in 2020 when the start of the season was delayed by COVID. That season, the Pirates Home Opener was at 6:35 PM, which took place on July 27. Prior to that, you’d have to go all the way back to the 2000 season when they opened in prime time against Houston.

As of now, the Pirates home opener is set for 6:35 PM but that could be changed.

Following the 2-game set against the Cubs, the Pirates will stay at home for a 4-game series against the Washington Nationals (April 14-17). Jackie Robinson Day will take place on Friday, April 15.

No official date or opponent has been released for the Pirates exhibition opener.