2026 MLB Spring Training Boston vs Pittsburgh Preview - Suarez's First Start for Boston, February 25

As the 2026 MLB Spring Training kicks off in earnest, the Boston Red Sox and Pittsburgh Pirates face off in the Grapefruit League.

This game is drawing extra attention as it is expected to feature the first appearance of Ranger Suárez, Boston's marquee offseason pitching acquisition, in a Red Sox uniform.

Let's take a look at the matchup between Boston, who made sweeping roster upgrades this offseason, and Pittsburgh, who are building for the future around their young prospects.

Game Overview

This game at JetBlue Park, the Boston Red Sox's Spring Training home, comes at a crucial time as both teams ramp up their season preparations.

The Red Sox have been on a roll with two consecutive wins since the Grapefruit League opener, while the Pirates also got off to a strong start with a victory against Tampa Bay.

2025 Season Review & Offseason Changes

The Boston Red Sox finished the 2025 season with an 89-73 record, placing third in the American League East.

They successfully reached the postseason for the first time since 2021, but were eliminated in the Wild Card Series by the New York Yankees, falling 2-1 in a heartbreaking loss.

The fact that they made the postseason despite trading Rafael Devers to the San Francisco Giants during the season was a testament to the team's resilience.

The offseason brought a massive wave of roster upgrades.

Following the acquisition of ace Garrett Crochet (18-5, 2.59 ERA, 255K), they signed Philadelphia's left-handed ace Ranger Suárez to a 5-year, $130 million deal and acquired Sonny Gray via trade, dramatically bolstering their starting rotation.

On offense, they brought in Caleb Durbin from Milwaukee and acquired Willson Contreras via trade to shore up their first base options.

Isiah Kiner-Falefa also joined as a utility infielder, expanding their defensive versatility.

The Pittsburgh Pirates finished the 2025 season with a 71-91 record, placing fifth in the National League Central.

A dismal 12-26 start led to the firing of manager Derek Shelton, with bench coach Don Kelly taking over as interim manager and guiding the team to a 59-65 record in the second half.

Despite missing the postseason for the tenth consecutive year, Paul Skenes' Cy Young-caliber performance (10-10, 1.97 ERA, 216K) gave fans tremendous hope for the future.

The Pirates were also aggressive in their offseason moves.

To strengthen the lineup, they signed Brandon Lowe, Ryan O'Hearn (the franchise's largest free agent hitter contract), and Marcell Ozuna (1-year, $12 million), putting significant effort into improving their weak offense.

On the pitching side, they acquired Gregory Soto, Mason Montgomery, and José Urquidy, among others.

Above all, the Spring Training arrival of Connor Griffin, MLB Pipeline's No. 1 overall prospect, is generating the biggest buzz.

Early Spring Training Update

The Boston Red Sox have been cruising since the start of the Grapefruit League.

They opened with a 7-2 victory over Minnesota, and in their second game against Toronto, they pulled out a thrilling 11-10 win in a seesaw battle to extend their streak to two straight.

Notably, prospect Peyton Tolle delivered an impressive pitching performance in the opener, igniting the competition for a rotation spot.

However, it should be noted that many players are absent due to the World Baseball Classic (WBC), so the lineup differs significantly from the projected regular-season starters.

The Pittsburgh Pirates kicked off their Spring Training on February 21 against Baltimore.

They christened their home opener with a 7-4 victory over Tampa Bay at LECOM Park.

Wilber Dotel (first game), Mitch Keller (second game), and Braxton Ashcraft (third game) took the mound in succession as the team ramps up for the season.

No. 1 overall prospect Connor Griffin has been showcasing impressive power from the first week of full-squad workouts, earning praise as the camp MVP.

Head-to-Head History

The Boston Red Sox and Pittsburgh Pirates belong to the American League and National League respectively, and only meet through interleague play.

In the all-time series, Boston holds an 18-14 advantage, and their most famous matchup dates all the way back to the first-ever World Series in 1903.

In their most recent regular-season matchup, the April 2024 series, Boston swept all three games in dominant fashion.

From Pittsburgh's perspective, this Spring Training offers an opportunity to turn things around with their new roster additions.

Starting Pitcher Matchup

Ranger Suárez, the centerpiece of Boston's offseason acquisitions, is expected to take the mound for the Red Sox in this game.

Suárez is a proven left-hander who posted a career record of 42-24 with a 3.47 ERA with the Philadelphia Phillies, and this outing will mark his first official game in a Red Sox uniform.

A finesse pitcher who relies on his changeup and sinker as primary weapons, his forte is neutralizing hitters' bat speed.

Pittsburgh's starting pitcher has not yet been officially announced.

With Wilber Dotel, Mitch Keller, and Braxton Ashcraft having pitched in order during the early Spring Training rotation, other rotation candidates such as Bubba Chandler or José Urquidy are likely to take the mound in this game.

Given the nature of Spring Training, the starter's outing will likely be limited to 2-3 innings, with various bullpen arms following in relay.

Key Players

Ranger Suárez (Boston Red Sox, LHP)

This is the biggest storyline of the game.

Suárez, who posted a stellar 12-7 record with a 2.58 ERA during the 2024 season with Philadelphia, begins a new chapter in Boston.

The key focus of this game will be assessing the condition and stuff of Suárez, who will form a left-handed one-two punch alongside Garrett Crochet, in his first Spring Training appearance.

Roman Anthony (Boston Red Sox, OF)

Coming off an impressive rookie campaign in 2025, Roman Anthony has been penciled in as Boston's leadoff hitter for the 2026 season.

Alongside a powerful outfield group (Jarren Duran, Ceddanne Rafaela, Wilyer Abreu), Anthony will be a core piece of the Boston lineup, and his hitting form during Spring Training will be closely watched.

Connor Griffin (Pittsburgh Pirates, SS/OF)

MLB Pipeline's No. 1 overall prospect Connor Griffin is the hottest name of this Spring Training.

From the first week of full-squad workouts, he has been hammering balls off the batting cage roof, earning rave reviews as the camp MVP.

While his chances of making the regular-season roster remain uncertain, there is great anticipation to see how much maturity he shows while gaining real-game experience in the Grapefruit League.

Game Key Points

1. Suárez's Adjustment to Boston

This is the first appearance for Ranger Suárez, who signed a massive 5-year, $130 million contract.

His chemistry with the new catching corps, the pitching plan from Boston's coaching staff, and above all, his health status will be the main points of interest.

As it is his first Spring Training outing, he is expected to go 2-3 innings with around 30-40 pitches, with the focus being on command and pitch feel rather than velocity.

2. Pittsburgh's Revamped Lineup Potential

It will be important to see how offseason acquisitions Brandon Lowe, Marcell Ozuna, and Ryan O'Hearn perform in live game action.

With Oneil Cruz and Bryan Reynolds combining for a franchise-record 342 strikeouts during the 2025 season, the key question is whether the new lineup construction can address this issue.

In particular, Ozuna's power (39 home runs in the 2024 season) and the kind of synergy it creates in Pittsburgh's lineup will be worth watching.

3. Prospect Battles on Both Sides

Spring Training is also the stage for prospects to shine.

For Boston, Connelly Early, who is competing for the fifth starter spot, and Peyton Tolle, who impressed in the opener, are looking for additional opportunities.

For Pittsburgh, young players such as Connor Griffin, Wilber Dotel (who spent the full 2025 season at Double-A), and David Matoma are expected to make an impact.

Viewing Guide

As an early Spring Training game, the focus is more on individual player conditioning and testing new combinations rather than the final result.

For Boston fans, Ranger Suárez's debut is the main attraction.

Depending on the stuff Suárez displays as he forms what could be the American League's best left-handed duo alongside Garrett Crochet, expectations for Boston's 2026 season could shift significantly.

For Pittsburgh fans, the new lineup combinations are the centerpiece.

With the experience of Brandon Lowe and Marcell Ozuna added to Oneil Cruz's explosive power-speed combination (20 HR, 38 SB in 2025), fans can get their first impression of how much the weak lineup from last season has improved.

Additionally, with Spring Training overlapping with the WBC season, both teams may be missing some of their regular starters.

This makes bench depth and prospects' live-game experience all the more important in this matchup.

Don't miss the first head-to-head meeting between these two teams as they gear up for the regular season.