The 1990 Pittsburgh Pirates season was their 109th season; the 104th in the National League. This was their 21st season at Three Rivers Stadium. The Pirates finished first in the National League East with a record of 95–67. They were defeated four games to two by the Cincinnati Reds in the NLCS.

Offseason December 4, 1989: Gordon Dillard was drafted by the Pirates from the Philadelphia Phillies in the 1989 rule 5 draft.Gordon Dillard at Baseball-Reference January 14, 1990: Mark Ross was signed as a free agent by the Pirates.Mark Ross at Baseball-Reference January 31, 1990: Wally Backman was signed as a free agent by the Pirates.

Regular season Barry Bonds became the first Major Leaguer in history to have a .300 batting average, 100 RBI, 100 runs and 50 stolen bases in the same season. With 33 home runs, he became the second to have 30 home runs and 50 steals in a season, following Cincinnati's Eric Davis in 1987.

Season standings

Game log

|- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 1 || April 9 || @ Mets || 12–3 || Drabek || Gooden || — || 47,919 || 1–0 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 2 || April 11 || @ Mets || 0–3 || Viola || Smiley || Franco || 16,880 || 1–1 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 3 || April 12 || @ Mets || 6–2 || Heaton || Fernandez || — || 16,544 || 2–1 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 4 || April 13 || Cubs || 0–2 || Maddux || Walk || Williams || 44,799 || 2–2 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 5 || April 14 || Cubs || 1–4 || Harkey || Drabek || Williams || 13,226 || 2–3 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 6 || April 15 || Cubs || 4–3 (10) || Patterson || Lancaster || — || 6,289 || 3–3 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 7 || || Cardinals || 4–6 || DeLeon || Smiley || Horton || 7,136 || 3–4 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 8 || || Cardinals || 7–2 || Heaton || Mathews || — || 3,981 || 4–4 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 9 || || Cardinals || 0–3 || Tudor || Walk || Dayley || 11,626 || 4–5 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 10 || || @ Cardinals || 5–1 || Drabek || Magrane || — || 20,495 || 5–5 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 11 || April 20 || @ Cubs || 9–4 (7) || Roesler || Bielecki || — || 15,171 || 6–5 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 12 || April 21 || @ Cubs || 4–3 || Smiley || Wilson || Landrum || 37,091 || 7–5 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 13 || April 22 || @ Cubs || 3–2 || Heaton || Nunez || Power || 33,583 || 8–5 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 14 || || @ Cardinals || 4–7 || Tudor || Walk || — || 22,748 || 8–6 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 15 || April 24 || @ Giants || 4–1 || Drabek || Garrelts || Landrum || 10,881 || 9–6 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 16 || April 25 || @ Giants || 7–4 (12) || Patterson || Bedrosian || — || 10,698 || 10–6 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 17 || April 26 || @ Giants || 2–1 || Smiley || LaCoss || — || 10,493 || 11–6 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 18 || || @ Padres || 9–4 || Heaton || Show || — || 23,376 || 12–6 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 19 || || @ Padres || 4–3 || Walk || Benes || Landrum || 26,473 || 13–6 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 20 || || @ Padres || 10–1 || Drabek || Rasmussen || — || 27,206 || 14–6

|- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 21 || || @ Dodgers || 1–4 || Belcher || Terrell || — || 31,292 || 14–7 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 22 || || @ Dodgers || 2–6 || Valenzuela || Smiley || — || 32,089 || 14–8 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 23 || || Braves || 6–4 || Heaton || Smoltz || Ruskin || || 15–8 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 24 || || Braves || 4–2 || Drabek || Lilliquist || Patterson || 17,108 || 16–8 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 25 || || Padres || 4–1 || Walk || Hurst || Power || 9,653 || 17–8 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 26 || || Padres || 10–2 || Terrell || Show || — || 10,694 || 18–8 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 27 || May 9 || Reds || 6–2 || Smiley || Armstrong || Landrum || 17,149 || 19–8 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 28 || May 10 || Reds || 4–10 || Charlton || Power || — || 15,071 || 19–9 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 29 || May 11 || Astros || 4–3 || Drabek || Deshaies || Landrum || 24,734 || 20–9 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 30 || May 12 || Astros || 3–1 || Heaton || Portugal || Power || 16,066 || 21–9 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 31 || May 13 || Astros || 5–1 || Walk || Gullickson || Landrum || 16,658 || 22–9 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 32 || May 14 || @ Reds || 3–5 || Armstrong || Terrell || Myers || 24,211 || 22–10 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 33 || May 15 || @ Reds || 4–5 (11) || Layana || Patterson || — || 13,353 || 22–11 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 34 || || @ Braves || 1–6 || Lilliquist || Heaton || Hesketh || 6,340 || 22–12 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 35 || || @ Braves || 9–3 || Walk || Clary || — || 19,001 || 23–12 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 36 || || @ Braves || 1–2 || Glavine || Terrell || Hesketh || 26,170 || 23–13 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 37 || || @ Braves || 11–13 || Smith || Kipper || Boever || 8,288 || 23–14 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 38 || May 21 || @ Astros || 2–3 (11) || Agosto || Power || — || 8,116 || 23–15 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 39 || May 22 || @ Astros || 8–4 || Heaton || Schatzeder || — || 8,661 || 24–15 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 40 || May 23 || @ Astros || 3–7 || Agosto || Ruskin || — || 10,961 || 24–16 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 41 || May 25 || Giants || 8–9 || Burkett || Terrell || Brantley || 24,644 || 24–17 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 42 || May 26 || Giants || 10–4 || Drabek || Garrelts || — || 25,150 || 25–17 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 43 || May 27 || Giants || 5–2 || Heaton || Reuschel || Power || 23,943 || 26–17 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 44 || || Dodgers || 6–5 || Landrum || Howell || — || 26,171 || 27–17 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 45 || || Dodgers || 9–5 || Patterson || Valenzuela || Ruskin || 10,252 || 28–17 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 46 || || Dodgers || 5–3 || Terrell || Martinez || Landrum || 22,198 || 29–17

|- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 47 || June 1 || Expos || 1–4 || Gross || Drabek || Mohorcic || 27,410 || 29–18 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 48 || June 2 || Expos || 4–3 (10) || Landrum || Hall || — || 47,374 || 30–18 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 49 || June 3 || Expos || 3–4 || Sampen || Belinda || Schmidt || 27,817 || 30–19 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 50 || June 4 || Cubs || 6–2 || Patterson || Boskie || Landrum || 9,257 || 31–19 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 51 || June 5 || Cubs || 6–5 || Belinda || Williams || — || 20,642 || 32–19 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 52 || June 6 || Cubs || 6–1 (7) || Drabek || Maddux || — || 21,164 || 33–19 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 53 || June 7 || @ Mets || 5–4 || Ruskin || Musselman || Kipper || 28,443 || 34–19 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 54 || June 8 || @ Mets || 1–7 || Fernandez || Walk || — || 29,710 || 34–20 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 55 || June 9 || @ Mets || 3–9 || Cone || Patterson || — || 38,379 || 34–21 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 56 || June 10 || @ Mets || 3–8 || Ojeda || Terrell || — || 46,868 || 34–22 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 57 || || @ Cardinals || 8–7 || Belinda || Niedenfuer || Landrum || 27,403 || 35–22 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 58 || || @ Cardinals || 6–3 || Heaton || DeLeon || Landrum || 30,815 || 36–22 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 59 || || @ Cardinals || 6–5 || Huismann || DiPino || Reed || 26,926 || 37–22 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 60 || June 15 || Mets || 5–7 || Ojeda || Terrell || Franco || 35,935 || 37–23 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 61 || June 16 || Mets || 11–6 || Kipper || Viola || — || 43,653 || 38–23 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 62 || June 17 || Mets || 3–4 || Gooden || Heaton || Franco || 35,652 || 38–24 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 63 || June 19 || @ Phillies || 1–2 (10) || Carman || Landrum || — || 29,781 || 38–25 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 64 || June 20 || @ Phillies || 2–7 || Ruffin || Patterson || — || 40,256 || 38–26 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 65 || June 22 || @ Expos || 3–4 || Sampen || Belinda || Schmidt || 22,968 || 38–27 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 66 || June 23 || @ Expos || 1–6 || Smith || Drabek || — || 27,605 || 38–28 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 67 || June 24 || @ Expos || 5–3 || Heaton || Martinez || Belinda || 41,054 || 39–28 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 68 || June 25 || Phillies || 5–0 || Reed || de Jesus || — || 29,369 || 40–28 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 69 || June 26 || Phillies || 1–0 || Ruskin || Ruffin || Belinda || 25,807 || 41–28 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 70 || June 27 || Phillies || 5–3 || Kipper || Howell || Landrum || 40,207 || 42–28 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 71 || || @ Cardinals || 1–5 || Tewksbury || Drabek || Smith || 22,602 || 42–29 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 72 || June 29 || @ Giants || 3–7 || Wilson || Heaton || Brantley || 21,231 || 42–30 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 73 || June 30 || @ Giants || 4–3 || Kipper || Thurmond || Belinda || 31,159 || 43–30

|- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 74 || July 1 || @ Giants || 8–5 || Tibbs || Oliveras || Landrum || 36,441 || 44–30 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 75 || || @ Padres || 4–3 (14) || Patterson || Schiraldi || — || 13,842 || 45–30 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 76 || || @ Padres || 5–3 || Landrum || Lefferts || — || 33,949 || 46–30 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 77 || || @ Padres || 4–5 || Show || Heaton || Harris || 10,897 || 46–31 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 78 || || @ Dodgers || 9–6 || Reed || Martinez || Patterson || 36,231 || 47–31 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 79 || || @ Dodgers || 6–3 || Smiley || Morgan || — || 33,386 || 48–31 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 80 || || @ Dodgers || 2–4 || Belcher || Terrell || — || 38,977 || 48–32 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 81 || || @ Dodgers || 7–2 || Drabek || Wells || — || 37,271 || 49–32 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 82 || || Padres || 4–3 (15) || Patterson || Schiraldi || — || 10,960 || 50–32 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 83 || || Padres || 4–1 || Drabek || Rasmussen || Belinda || 16,108 || 51–32 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 84 || || Padres || 8–4 || Power || Harris || — || 27,955 || 52–32 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 85 || || Padres || 1–4 || Whitson || Heaton || Lefferts || 34,386 || 52–33 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 86 || July 16 || Giants || 1–6 || Garrelts || Reed || — || 28,304 || 52–34 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 87 || July 17 || Giants || 3–6 || Robinson || Smiley || — || 23,098 || 52–35 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 88 || July 18 || Giants || 11–2 || Drabek || Wilson || — || 38,430 || 53–35 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 89 || || Dodgers || 4–2 || Walk || Morgan || Power || 23,198 || 54–35 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 90 || || Dodgers || 0–6 || Belcher || Heaton || — || 39,498 || 54–36 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 91 || || Dodgers || 11–6 || Kipper || Wells || — || 26,818 || 55–36 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 92 || July 23 || @ Expos || 0–5 || Martinez || Smiley || — || 27,499 || 55–37 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 93 || July 24 || @ Expos || 5–3 || Drabek || Gross || Belinda || 24,444 || 56–37 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 94 || July 25 || @ Expos || 7–8 (10) || Sampen || Belinda || — || 21,669 || 56–38 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 95 || July 26 || Phillies || 4–12 || Mulholland || Heaton || — || 24,088 || 56–39 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 96 || July 27 || Phillies || 3–5 || Cook || Reed || Boever || 29,117 || 56–40 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 97 || July 28 || Phillies || 3–4 || Parrett || Landrum || Boever || 37,022 || 56–41 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 98 || July 29 || Phillies || 2–1 || Drabek || Combs || — || 33,018 || 57–41 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 99 || July 31 || @ Cubs || 9–1 || Patterson || Boskie || — || 35,126 || 58–41

|- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 100 || August 1 || @ Cubs || 0–5 || Maddux || Reed || — || 34,542 || 58–42 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 101 || August 2 || @ Cubs || 8–5 || Smiley || Wilson || Walk || 34,493 || 59–42 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 102 || August 3 || @ Phillies || 11–0 || Drabek || Ruffin || — || 36,057 || 60–42 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 103 || August 4 || @ Phillies || 3–1 (10) || Patterson || McDowell || Power || 45,305 || 61–42 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 104 || August 5 || @ Phillies || 6–8 || Carman || Ruskin || Boever || 40,142 || 61–43 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 105 || August 6 || @ Phillies || 10–1 || Tomlin || Mulholland || — || || 62–43 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 106 || August 6 || @ Phillies || 4–3 (10) || Landrum || McDowell || — || 30,827 || 63–43 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 107 || August 7 || Expos || 4–3 (12) || Ross || Mohorcic || — || 23,666 || 64–43 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 108 || August 8 || Expos || 2–6 || Martinez || Drabek || — || 21,180 || 64–44 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 109 || August 9 || Expos || 6–7 (10) || Frey || Landrum || Sampen || 21,499 || 64–45 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 110 || || Cardinals || 3–8 || Dayley || Kramer || — || 23,701 || 64–46 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 111 || || Cardinals || 2–3 || Magrane || Tomlin || Smith || 46,720 || 64–47 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb"