The 1989 Pittsburgh Pirates season was the 108th season of the Pittsburgh Pirates franchise; the 103rd in the National League. This was their 20th season at Three Rivers Stadium. The Pirates finished fifth in the National League East with a record of 74–88.

Offseason November 9, 1988: Randy Milligan was traded by the Pirates to the Baltimore Orioles for Pete Blohm (minors).Randy Milligan at Baseball Reference November 28, 1988: Denny González and a player to be named later were traded by the Pirates to the Cleveland Indians for a player to be named later. The deal was completed on March 25, 1989, with the Pirates sending Félix Fermín to the Indians, and the Indians sending Jay Bell to the Pirates.Félix Fermín at Baseball Reference

Regular season

Season standings

Game log

|- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 1 || April 4 || @ Expos || 5–6 || McGaffigan || Robinson || — || 35,154 || 0–1 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 2 || April 5 || @ Expos || 3–0 || Drabek || Johnson || — || 9,137 || 1–1 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 3 || April 6 || @ Expos || 2–3 || Burke || Smiley || Hesketh || 8,722 || 1–2 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 4 || April 7 || @ Cubs || 5–6 || Wilson || Taylor || Williams || 6,195 || 1–3 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 5 || April 8 || @ Cubs || 3–5 || Bielecki || Heaton || Schiraldi || 19,374 || 1–4 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 6 || April 9 || @ Cubs || 3–8 || Sutcliffe || Walk || — || 11,387 || 1–5 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 7 || April 11 || Mets || 4–3 (11) || Robinson || Myers || — || 42,910 || 2–5 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 8 || April 13 || Mets || 4–2 || Smiley || Darling || Robinson || 19,105 || 3–5 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 9 || April 14 || Expos || 6–7 || Hesketh || Medvin || McGaffigan || 15,052 || 3–6 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 10 || April 15 || Expos || 6–4 || Dunne || Johnson || Robinson || 9,658 || 4–6 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 11 || April 16 || Expos || 4–5 (11) || Hesketh || Robinson || Burke || 18,107 || 4–7 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 12 || April 17 || @ Cardinals || 2–4 || Terry || Fisher || Worrell || 25,277 || 4–8 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 13 || April 18 || @ Cardinals || 4–3 || Madden || Worrell || Robinson || 22,198 || 5–8 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 14 || April 19 || @ Cardinals || 7–5 || Walk || Heinkel || Robinson || 29,132 || 6–8 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 15 || April 20 || Phillies || 4–9 || Howell || Dunne || — || 6,977 || 6–9 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 16 || April 21 || Phillies || 2–3 || Youmans || Drabek || Bedrosian || 15,221 || 6–10 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 17 || April 22 || Phillies || 4–3 || Robinson || Carman || — || 14,669 || 7–10 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 18 || April 23 || Phillies || 6–4 || Easley || Bedrosian || — || 16,816 || 8–10 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 19 || April 25 || Padres || 0–1 || Show || Walk || Davis || 5,296 || 8–11 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 20 || April 26 || Padres || 1–3 || Hurst || Drabek || — || 14,126 || 8–12 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 21 || April 27 || Padres || 1–8 || Whitson || Heaton || — || 6,473 || 8–13 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 22 || April 28 || Giants || 1–0 || Smiley || Reuschel || — || 12,913 || 9–13 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 23 || April 29 || Giants || 3–4 || LaCoss || Robinson || — || 11,509 || 9–14 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 24 || April 30 || Giants || 11–1 || Walk || Robinson || — || 20,940 || 10–14

|- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 25 || May 1 || @ Dodgers || 0–1 || Howell || Drabek || — || 27,630 || 10–15 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 26 || May 2 || @ Dodgers || 0–7 || Hershiser || Heaton || — || 29,310 || 10–16 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 27 || May 3 || @ Giants || 5–3 || Smiley || Robinson || Easley || 8,536 || 11–16 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 28 || May 4 || @ Giants || 3–6 || Krukow || Kramer || Lefferts || 11,820 || 11–17 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 29 || May 5 || @ Padres || 4–2 || Walk || Show || — || 53,970 || 12–17 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 30 || May 6 || @ Padres || 2–4 || Hurst || Drabek || Davis || 33,582 || 12–18 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 31 || May 7 || @ Padres || 1–3 || Whitson || Heaton || Davis || 33,144 || 12–19 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 32 || May 12 || Braves || 10–2 || Smiley || Smith || — || 13,378 || 13–19 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 33 || May 13 || Braves || 8–3 || Walk || Smith || — || 15,828 || 14–19 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 34 || May 14 || Braves || 2–5 || Smoltz || Drabek || Boever || 11,403 || 14–20 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 35 || May 15 || @ Reds || 5–6 || Charlton || Robinson || — || 16,030 || 14–21 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 36 || May 16 || @ Reds || 5–0 || Kramer || Mahler || — || 22,595 || 15–21 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 37 || May 17 || @ Reds || 4–5 (10) || Franco || Landrum || — || 23,553 || 15–22 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 38 || May 19 || @ Astros || 0–3 || Scott || Walk || — || 21,413 || 15–23 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 39 || May 20 || @ Astros || 4–5 (12) || Agosto || Kipper || — || 20,595 || 15–24 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 40 || May 21 || @ Astros || 17–5 || Heaton || Clancy || Fisher || 18,942 || 16–24 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 41 || May 23 || @ Braves || 5–2 || Smiley || Smith || — || 6,137 || 17–24 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 42 || May 24 || @ Braves || 4–1 (14) || Landrum || Acker || — || 5,896 || 18–24 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 43 || May 25 || @ Braves || 7–3 || Drabek || Smith || Landrum || 5,517 || 19–24 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 44 || May 26 || Astros || 2–4 || Clancy || Heaton || Smith || 26,637 || 19–25 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 45 || May 27 || Astros || 4–5 (12) || Schatzeder || Robinson || Smith || 22,359 || 19–26 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 46 || May 28 || Astros || 2–9 || Scott || Smiley || Agosto || 25,776 || 19–27 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 47 || May 29 || Reds || 12–3 || Walk || Browning || Kipper || 18,602 || 20–27 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 48 || May 30 || Reds || 2–0 || Drabek || Mahler || Kramer || 14,952 || 21–27 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 49 || May 31 || Reds || 3–4 || Rijo || Heaton || Franco || 22,932 || 21–28

|- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 50 || June 2 || @ Mets || 2–3 (11) || Aguilera || Kramer || — || 42,578 || 21–29 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 51 || June 3 || @ Mets || 3–9 || Darling || Walk || — || 47,835 || 21–30 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 52 || June 4 || @ Mets || 3–4 || Aase || Kipper || Myers || 47,478 || 21–31 |- bgcolor="ffffff" | 53 || June 5 || @ Phillies || 3–3 (8) || || || — || 17,696 || 21–31 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 54 || June 6 || @ Phillies || 4–9 || Sebra || Fisher || Parrett || 16,783 || 21–32 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 55 || June 7 || @ Phillies || 5–7 || Parrett || Kipper || Bedrosian || 15,480 || 21–33 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 56 || June 8 || @ Phillies || 11–15 || Carman || Robinson || — || 18,511 || 21–34 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 57 || June 9 || Mets || 4–3 (10) || Landrum || McDowell || — || 20,819 || 22–34 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 58 || June 10 || Mets || 6–5 || Kipper || Myers || — || 27,463 || 23–34 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 59 || June 11 || Mets || 1–6 || Ojeda || Fisher || — || 37,716 || 23–35 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 60 || June 13 || Phillies || 2–10 || Howell || Madden || — || 11,570 || 23–36 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 61 || June 14 || Phillies || 6–4 || Smiley || Carman || Landrum || 7,407 || 24–36 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 62 || June 15 || Phillies || 5–3 || Drabek || Sebra || Landrum || 15,428 || 25–36 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 63 || June 16 || @ Cardinals || 2–6 || Terry || Kramer || Dayley || 47,186 || 25–37 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 64 || June 17 || @ Cardinals || 7–2 || Robinson || DeLeon || Kipper || 43,924 || 26–37 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 65 || June 18 || @ Cardinals || 12–4 || Madden || Magrane || Landrum || 40,198 || 27–37 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 66 || June 20 || Cubs || 4–5 (11) || Schiraldi || Garcia || Kilgus || 11,713 || 27–38 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 67 || June 21 || Cubs || 0–1 (11) || Maddux || Bair || Williams || 23,970 || 27–39 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 68 || June 22 || Cubs || 0–8 || Sutcliffe || Kramer || — || 16,430 || 27–40 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 69 || June 23 || Cardinals || 2–3 || Magrane || Madden || Worrell || 22,904 || 27–41 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 70 || June 24 || Cardinals || 5–2 || Walk || Terry || Landrum || 36,064 || 28–41 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 71 || June 25 || Cardinals || 5–3 || Smiley || Power || Landrum || 22,514 || 29–41 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 72 || June 26 || @ Cubs || 2–1 || Drabek || Maddux || — || 35,407 || 30–41 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 73 || June 27 || @ Cubs || 5–4 || Kramer || Sutcliffe || Landrum || 35,646 || 31–41 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 74 || June 28 || @ Cubs || 3–1 || Robinson || Bielecki || Landrum || 34,114 || 32–41 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 75 || June 30 || @ Dodgers || 4–3 || Walk || Hershiser || Landrum || 46,411 || 33–41

|- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 76 || July 1 || @ Dodgers || 0–1 || Belcher || Smiley || — || 33,692 || 33–42 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 77 || July 2 || @ Dodgers || 2–3 || Wetteland || Drabek || Howell || 40,789 || 33–43 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 78 || July 3 || @ Dodgers || 4–2 || Robinson || Morgan || Landrum || 29,673 || 34–43 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 79 || July 4 || Giants || 5–3 || Kramer || Robinson || Landrum || 14,186 || 35–43 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 80 || July 5 || Giants || 4–6 || Wilson || Walk || — || 22,242 || 35–44 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 81 || July 6 || Giants || 1–2 (10) || Brantley || Smiley || Lefferts || 18,165 || 35–45 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 82 || July 7 || Padres || 3–0 || Drabek || Hurst || — || 18,907 || 36–45 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 83 || July 8 || Padres || 0–2 || Whitson || Robinson || — || 25,852 || 36–46 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 84 || July 9 || Padres || 3–5 || Grant || Kramer || Davis || 23,584 || 36–47 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 85 || July 13 || @ Giants || 2–3 (13) || Brantley || Garcia || — || 17,178 || 36–48 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 86 || July 14 || @ Giants || 7–4 || Drabek || Reuschel || Landrum || 18,238 || 37–48 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 87 || July 15 || @ Giants || 3–8 || LaCoss || Smiley || — || 27,881 || 37–49 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 88 || July 16 || @ Giants || 1–3 || Garrelts || Robinson || Bedrosian || 44,781 || 37–50 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 89 || July 17 || @ Padres || 4–1 || Kramer || Harris || Landrum || 13,667 || 38–50 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 90 || July 18 || @ Padres || 4–17 || Hurst || Walk || — || 18,777 || 38–51 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 91 || July 19 || @ Padres || 1–9 || Whitson || Drabek || — || 16,412 || 38–52 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 92 || July 21 || Dodgers || 4–1 || Smiley || Belcher || — || || 39–52 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 93 || July 21 || Dodgers || 3–7 || Valenzuela || Heaton || Howell || 27,996 || 39–53 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 94 || July 22 || Dodgers || 4–8 || Martinez || Robinson || — || 31,108 || 39–54 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 95 || July 23 || Dodgers || 3–4 || Hershiser || Kramer || Howell || || 39–55 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 96 || July 23 || Dodgers || 2–1 (10) || Kipper || Crews || — || 34,373 || 40–55 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 97 || July 24 || Dodgers || 7–4 || Walk || Morgan || — || 19,957 || 41–55 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 98 || July 25 || @ Mets || 4–2 || Drabek || Aguilera || Landrum || 38,249 || 42–55 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 99 || July 26 || @ Mets || 3–2 || Smiley || Darling || — || 38,134 || 43–55 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 100 || July 27 || @ Mets || 10–8 || Kipper || Aase || Landrum || 39,447 || 44–55 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 101 || July 28 || @ Phillies || 10–5 || Heaton || Howell || — || || 45–55 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 102 || July 28 || @ Phillies || 1–6 || Harris || Reed || — || 35,569 || 45–56 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 103 || July 29 || @ Phillies || 2–6 || Parrett || Walk || McDowell || 47,277 || 45–57 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 104 || July 30 || @ Phillies || 6–8 || Cook || Kipper || McDowell || 31,341 || 45–58 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 105 || July 31 || Expos || 2–4 || Langston || Smiley || Burke || 13,150 || 45–59

|- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 106 || August 1 || Expos || 4–5 (11) || Burke || Bair || — || 14,912 || 45–60 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 107 || August 2 || Expos || 1–3 || Perez || Reed || Burke || 27,645 || 45–61 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 108 || August 3 || Expos || 1–0 (12) || Bair || McGaffigan || — || 12,292 || 46–61 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 109 || August 4 || Cubs || 2–3 || Bielecki || Drabek || Williams || 29,169 || 46–62 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 110 || August 5 || Cubs || 2–4 || Wilson || Landrum || Lancaster || 23,262 || 46–63 |- bgcolor="ccffcc"