1988 Pittsburgh Pirates season

The 1988 Pittsburgh Pirates season was the 107th season of the Pittsburgh Pirates franchise; the 102nd in the National League. This was their 19th season at Three Rivers Stadium. The Pirates finished second in the National League East with a record of 85–75.

Offseason January 20, 1988: Dave Hostetler was signed as a free agent by the Pirates.Dave Hostetler at Baseball Reference March 26, 1988: Mackey Sasser and Tim Drummond were traded by the Pirates to the New York Mets for Randy Milligan and Scott Henion (minors).Randy Milligan at Baseball Reference March 30, 1988: Hipólito Peña was traded by the Pirates to the New York Yankees for Orestes Destrade.Hipólito Peña at Baseball Reference March 31, 1988: Mike Bielecki was traded by the Pirates to the Chicago Cubs for Mike Curtis (minors).Mike Bielecki at Baseball Reference

Regular season

Season standings

Game log

|- style="background:#cfc;" | 1 || April 5 || @ Phillies || 5–3 || Dunne || Rawley || Robinson || 46,394 || 1–0 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 2 || April 6 || @ Phillies || 5–6 (14) || Maddux || Kipper || — || 15,532 || 1–1 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 3 || April 8 || @ Cardinals || 4–3 || Fisher || Cox || Robinson || 51,647 || 2–1 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 4 || April 9 || @ Cardinals || 0–3 || Mathews || Walk || Worrell || 36,542 || 2–2 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 5 || April 10 || @ Cardinals || 5–3 (11) || Kipper || Worrell || Gott || 31,968 || 3–2 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 6 || April 11 || Phillies || 5–1 || Drabek || Gross || — || 54,089 || 4–2 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 7 || April 13 || Phillies || 7–0 || Fisher || Ruffin || — || 9,825 || 5–2 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 8 || April 14 || Phillies || 4–2 || Walk || Carman || Robinson || 6,222 || 6–2 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 9 || April 15 || @ Cubs || 0–6 || Sutcliffe || Smiley || — || 35,084 || 6–3 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 10 || April 16 || @ Cubs || 4–0 || Drabek || Maddux || — || 30,564 || 7–3 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 11 || April 17 || @ Cubs || 12–7 || Robinson || Schiraldi || — || 29,562 || 8–3 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 12 || April 19 || Cardinals || 3–0 || Fisher || Cox || — || 5,048 || 9–3 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 13 || April 20 || Cardinals || 8–1 || Walk || Mathews || — || 15,522 || 10–3 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 14 || April 21 || Cardinals || 3–9 || O'Neal || Smiley || — || 6,833 || 10–4 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 15 || April 22 || Cubs || 8–4 || Drabek || Lancaster || — || 16,250 || 11–4 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 16 || April 23 || Cubs || 5–4 || Gott || Gossage || — || 20,214 || 12–4 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 17 || April 24 || Cubs || 4–2 || Walk || Sutcliffe || Robinson || 19,934 || 13–4 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 18 || April 26 || @ Giants || 2–0 || Smiley || Reuschel || Gott || 11,738 || 14–4 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 19 || April 27 || @ Giants || 4–6 || Dravecky || Drabek || Price || 10,137 || 14–5 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 20 || April 28 || @ Giants || 2–1 (10) || Robinson || Lefferts || Gott || 10,520 || 15–5 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 21 || April 29 || @ Padres || 3–6 || Hawkins || Palacios || Davis || 16,185 || 15–6 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 22 || April 30 || @ Padres || 5–1 || Walk || Grant || — || 24,357 || 16–6

|- style="background:#cfc;" | 23 || May 1 || @ Padres || 4–2 || Smiley || Show || Gott || 21,694 || 17–6 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 24 || May 2 || @ Dodgers || 3–6 || Orosco || Drabek || — || 26,821 || 17–7 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 25 || May 3 || @ Dodgers || 6–14 || Belcher || Dunne || — || 26,943 || 17–8 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 26 || May 4 || @ Dodgers || 5–8 || Hershiser || Palacios || — || 30,423 || 17–9 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 27 || May 6 || Padres || 4–1 (12) || Jones || Davis || — || 25,045 || 18–9 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 28 || May 7 || Padres || 2–3 || Show || Gott || — || 24,555 || 18–10 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 29 || May 8 || Padres || 6–2 || Drabek || Jones || — || 20,756 || 19–10 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 30 || May 9 || Giants || 6–8 || Robinson || Robinson || Lefferts || 6,388 || 19–11 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 31 || May 10 || Giants || 6–2 || Palacios || Downs || Gott || 9,275 || 20–11 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 32 || May 11 || Dodgers || 2–1 (11) || Medvin || Pena || — || 26,367 || 21–11 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 33 || May 12 || Dodgers || 7–4 || Smiley || Hershiser || — || 11,072 || 22–11 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 34 || May 13 || Reds || 6–5 || Robinson || Murphy || — || 31,705 || 23–11 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 35 || May 14 || Reds || 3–5 || Soto || Dunne || Franco || 28,059 || 23–12 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 36 || May 15 || Reds || 6–7 (12) || Franco || Jones || — || 33,789 || 23–13 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 37 || May 16 || @ Astros || 2–9 || Deshaies || Walk || — || 13,570 || 23–14 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 38 || May 17 || @ Astros || 2–3 || Scott || Smiley || Smith || 15,000 || 23–15 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 39 || May 18 || @ Astros || 2–4 || Ryan || Drabek || Smith || 19,259 || 23–16 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 40 || May 20 || Braves || 10–3 || Dunne || Glavine || — || 18,880 || 24–16 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 41 || May 21 || Braves || 7–3 || Fisher || Coffman || — || 21,211 || 25–16 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 42 || May 22 || Braves || 4–6 || Mahler || Walk || Sutter || 32,683 || 25–17 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 43 || May 23 || Astros || 0–3 || Scott || Smiley || — || 7,480 || 25–18 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 44 || May 24 || Astros || 5–4 || Gott || Andersen || — || 8,200 || 26–18 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 45 || May 25 || Astros || 4–3 || Dunne || Andujar || Robinson || 8,108 || 27–18 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 46 || May 27 || @ Reds || 3–5 || Pacillo || Fisher || Franco || 29,445 || 27–19 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 47 || May 28 || @ Reds || 5–2 || Walk || Browning || Robinson || 42,232 || 28–19 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 48 || May 29 || @ Reds || 4–2 || Smiley || Rasmussen || Gott || 30,660 || 29–19 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 49 || May 30 || @ Braves || 14–2 || Drabek || Smith || — || 6,893 || 30–19 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 50 || May 31 || @ Braves || 1–11 || Glavine || Dunne || — || 4,483 || 30–20

|- style="background:#fbb;" | 51 || June 1 || @ Braves || 2–14 || Mahler || Fisher || — || 6,059 || 30–21 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 52 || June 2 || Expos || 3–7 || Heaton || Walk || Hesketh || 11,070 || 30–22 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 53 || June 3 || Expos || 2–1 || Smiley || Dopson || — || 19,162 || 31–22 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 54 || June 4 || Expos || 3–7 || Martinez || Drabek || McClure || 30,669 || 31–23 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 55 || June 5 || Expos || 2–3 || Smith || Dunne || Parrett || 36,305 || 31–24 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 56 || June 7 || Cubs || 5–8 || Maddux || Fisher || Gossage || 9,287 || 31–25 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 57 || June 8 || Cubs || 5–1 || Walk || Schiraldi || — || 22,220 || 32–25 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 58 || June 9 || Cubs || 4–3 || Gott || DiPino || — || 8,200 || 33–25 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 59 || June 10 || Phillies || 10–12 || Harris || Robinson || Bedrosian || 20,001 || 33–26 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 60 || June 11 || Phillies || 8–2 || Dunne || Palmer || — || 19,926 || 34–26 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 61 || June 12 || Phillies || 4–5 || Gross || Fisher || Bedrosian || 36,134 || 34–27 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 62 || June 13 || @ Cubs || 8–0 || Walk || Schiraldi || — || 27,142 || 35–27 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 63 || June 14 || @ Cubs || 6–3 || Smiley || Moyer || Robinson || 28,077 || 36–27 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 64 || June 15 || @ Cubs || 4–7 || Perry || Gott || Gossage || 26,126 || 36–28 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 65 || June 17 || Cardinals || 3–7 || Magrane || Dunne || — || 30,267 || 36–29 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 66 || June 18 || Cardinals || 3–6 || Tudor || Fisher || Terry || 36,682 || 36–30 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 67 || June 19 || Cardinals || 3–2 || Walk || McWilliams || Gott || 27,656 || 37–30 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 68 || June 20 || @ Mets || 8–5 || Smiley || Ojeda || Robinson || 42,413 || 38–30 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 69 || June 21 || @ Mets || 0–9 || Darling || Drabek || — || 45,225 || 38–31 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 70 || June 22 || @ Mets || 0–3 || Gooden || Dunne || Myers || 41,816 || 38–32 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 71 || June 23 || @ Expos || 6–4 || Robinson || Parrett || Gott || 14,839 || 39–32 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 72 || June 24 || @ Expos || 5–3 (10) || Gott || McClure || Jones || 15,781 || 40–32 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 73 || June 25 || @ Expos || 5–1 || Smiley || Holman || — || 17,777 || 41–32 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 74 || June 26 || @ Expos || 3–0 (10) || Robinson || Burke || — || 26,593 || 42–32 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 75 || June 27 || Mets || 2–1 || Dunne || Gooden || Gott || 41,489 || 43–32 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 76 || June 28 || Mets || 2–5 || Fernandez || Fisher || McDowell || 45,011 || 43–33 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 77 || June 29 || Mets || 7–8 (11) || McDowell || Kipper || — || 41,217 || 43–34

|- style="background:#cfc;" | 78 || July 1 || @ Giants || 5–2 (10) || Robinson || Hammaker || — || 39,484 || 44–34 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 79 || July 2 || @ Giants || 1–2 || LaCoss || Rucker || Garrelts || 22,355 || 44–35 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 80 || July 3 || @ Giants || 0–4 || Downs || Dunne || — || 25,463 || 44–36 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 81 || July 4 || @ Padres || 3–4 (10) || Davis || Gott || — || 35,406 || 44–37 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 82 || July 5 || @ Padres || 3–2 || Walk || Jones || Jones || 10,415 || 45–37 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 83 || July 7 || @ Padres || 2–0 || Smiley || Hawkins || Gott || 16,076 || 46–37 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 84 || July 8 || @ Dodgers || 4–3 || Drabek || Leary || Gott || 40,690 || 47–37 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 85 || July 9 || @ Dodgers || 8–2 || Dunne || Hillegas || — || 46,662 || 48–37 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 86 || July 10 || @ Dodgers || 7–2 || Walk || Hershiser || — || 43,014 || 49–37 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 87 || July 14 || Giants || 9–2 || Fisher || Reuschel || — || 28,325 || 50–37 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 88 || July 15 || Giants || 8–5 || Kipper || Downs || Gott || 28,315 || 51–37 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 89 || July 16 || Giants || 10–1 || Drabek || LaCoss || — || 28,997 || 52–37 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 90 || July 17 || Giants || 5–4 || Robinson || Price || Gott || 25,512 || 53–37 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 91 || July 19 || Padres || 2–6 || Jones || Smiley || — || || 53–38 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 92 || July 19 || Padres || 9–5 || Fisher || Hawkins || — || 15,847 || 54–38 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 93 || July 20 || Padres || 3–2 || Walk || Rasmussen || Gott || 24,575 || 55–38 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 94 || July 21 || Dodgers || 3–2 || Drabek || Hershiser || Gott || 27,510 || 56–38 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 95 || July 22 || Dodgers || 2–4 || Belcher || Dunne || Howell || 44,888 || 56–39 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 96 || July 23 || Dodgers || 2–6 || Leary || Smiley || — || 35,817 || 56–40 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 97 || July 24 || Dodgers || 1–2 || Hillegas || Fisher || Howell || 35,677 || 56–41 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 98 || July 25 || @ Cardinals || 1–5 || Tudor || Walk || — || 30,763 || 56–42 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 99 || July 26 || @ Cardinals || 2–1 || Drabek || Cox || Gott || 32,735 || 57–42 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 100 || July 27 || @ Cardinals || 3–2 (10) || Robinson || Dayley || Gott || 31,618 || 58–42 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 101 || July 29 || @ Mets || 0–1 || Ojeda || Smiley || — || 49,584 || 58–43 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 102 || July 30 || @ Mets || 0–3 || Fernandez || Fisher || Myers || 50,815 || 58–44 |- style="background:#fbb;"