How to Watch Guardians at Pirates (April 18): Stream MLB Live, TV Channel

Pittsburgh Pirates come off an old-school win as they open a 3-game series with the visiting Cleveland Guardians on Friday

The Pittsburgh Pirates (8-12) come into Friday’s series opener against the Cleveland Guardians (9-9) at PNC Park in Pittsburgh off consecutive victories for just the second time this season. Cleveland arrives with consecutive defeats after losing two of three to the Baltimore Orioles to open its six-game road trip and has lost three of its last four overall to fall back to the .500 mark. The Pirates are 3-1 on their seven-game homestand after taking three of four from the Washington Nationals.

How to Watch Cleveland Guardians at Pittsburgh Pirates in MLB Today:

Game Date: Friday, April 18, 2025

Game Time: 6:30 p.m. ET

TV: SportsNet Pittsburgh

Live stream the Cleveland Guardians at Pittsburgh Pirates MLB game on Fubo: Start your free trial today!

Oneil Cruz led off the bottom of the first on Thursday with a home run and Andrew Heaney combined with two relievers on a five-hit shutout as Pittsburgh capped their series with the Nationals with a 1-0 win. It is just the second 1-0 win on a leadoff homer for Pittsburgh since 1900 and first since a 1-0 win over the then-Florida Marlins on Sept. 14, 1993. Cruz has homered in consecutive games and improved his slash line to .228/.352/.474 with team-highs of four homers and 10 RBI to go with nine stolen bases.

Tanner Bibee was hit hard on Thursday, surrendering six runs in 5.2 innings in the Guardians 6-2 loss at Baltimore. Their only runs came on back-to-back home runs by Daniel Schneemann and Austin Hedges in the third inning. Gabriel Arias is slashing .268/.333/.500 with four home runs, sharing the team lead with José Ramírez and Kyle Manzardo, while Steven Kwan shares the RBI lead with Manzardo at 11.

Right-hander Carmen Mlodzinski (1-2) opens the series on the hill for the Pirates. He comes in with a 6.23 ERA and 1.77 WHIP in 13 innings with 14 strikeouts after allowing four runs in 4.1 innings in a loss to the Cincinnati Reds on Sunday. Cleveland right-hander Luis L. Ortiz (1-2) returns to face his old club for the first time with a 6.06 ERA and 1.41 WHIP in 16.1 innings. Ortiz struck out 10 and allowed a run over 5.2 innings on Saturday to get his first win of the season against the Kansas City Royals.

Regional restrictions may apply.