The Pittsburgh Pirates returned to PNC Park to play the Minnesota Twins on Wednesday amid a six-game losing streak with MLB’s worst record and third-worst team batting average.

If there is one constant for the Pirates, it’s their inconsistent batting order. Derek Shelton has started a different lineup in all 12 games, something the rookie manager insists is a sign of versatility.

“To say we’ll have an actual set lineup, I wouldn’t say that,” Shelton said. “I would think we will continue to see guys — some guys hit in certain spots, then other guys continue to bounce around.”

It hasn’t worked well so far as the Pirates (2-9) are batting .194 entering Wednesday.

They have used three leadoff hitters, three players batting second, three in the three-hole, three at cleanup, three at No. 5 and four at No. 6. Only one Pirates player has batted in the same spot in every start, with Guillermo Heredia hitting seventh five times.

“We’re not really worried about where we’re hitting in the lineup,” Pirates second baseman Adam Frazier said. “Just go up there and try to put together good at-bats.”

Problem is, they’re not doing that, either. Their 3.36 runs per game is fifth-worst in the majors.

Shelton said from the start he would use the universal designated hitter as a position where he could mix and match to give everyday players a day off from the field while keeping their bat in the lineup. Colin Moran has been DH four times, Josh Bell three times and Jose Osuna and Gregory Polanco twice each.

Shelton has emphasized the positives of going deep into the roster, getting plenty of playing time for versatile backups such as Phillip Evans, Erik Gonzalez, Cole Tucker and Heredia. All have started at least five games. Of the players who have started eight games or more, only Evans (.394) and Moran (.243) are batting above the Mendoza line.

“Very obviously, we need to take a look at guys, and we need to continue to get guys in for different spots,” Shelton said. “I think consistency of a lineup, to some degree, is important, but we’re also in a situation where we have to play guys, and we need to get looks at guys in a 60-game season moving forward. So I think you’re going to see a good majority of our roster play.”

Except for one thing: It’s not very obvious.

Yes, it’s a shortened season, with 60 games scheduled in a 66-day span. The Pirates are about the third of the way through a 17-game stretch without a day off, including six times where a night game is followed by a day game. So Shelton was asked to explain his rationale for the need to play the backups so often and to constantly shuffle the order.

“I think that’s a fair question, but when you have guys that are versatile like we do, and the fact that we are in a 17-game stretch, and we’re going night-day, we’re going to make sure guys get the rest they have to get,” Shelton said. “Some of it comes down to when guys start to swing the bat better or play defense better. Then you have a more consistent lineup. Right now, with the fact that we have some guys that are struggling a little bit, you’re going to take a look and see what other guys can do.”

The results haven’t been good:

• After batting leadoff in 75 games last season — where he slashed .328/.374/.502 — shortstop Kevin Newman did so in the first two games this season before dropping to second, where he is batting. 208 in six games.

• With Polanco sidelined by a positive test for covid-19, Frazier started the season hitting in the three-hole and batted .25 in the first two games. He returned to leadoff, where he slashed .273/.328/.409 in 79 games last season.

“Leadoff’s somewhere I’m comfortable,” Frazier said. “Been there kind of my whole life. We’re all kind of searching right now.”

• Bryan Reynolds led the Pirates with a .314 batting average last season, hitting .305 in 93 games in the second spot in the order and .307 in 21 games in the fifth. After going hitless in 10 at-bats at No. 2 this season, Shelton dropped Reynolds to fifth, where he’s 4 for 20 with four walks and nine strikeouts.

“I can’t speak for other guys, but I’m as comfortable at five as I am at two,” Reynolds said, “so wherever he wants to put me, I’m more than happy to go in there and give it my best shot.”

• Bell slashed .276/.363/.564 with 36 home runs and 115 RBIs in the 140 games he batted fourth last season. This summer, Bell batted cleanup in two games before moving to third in the order, where he is slashing .148/.172/.259 with one homer, one walk and 11 strikeouts.

• Moran fared best hitting sixth in 49 starts last year (.315/.352/.500) but was 3 for 7 in the five-hole in the first two games this season before replacing Bell at cleanup. Moran hit five home runs but is on an 0-for-9 run.

The Pirates are still searching for answers, and seeing the same lineup for the first time this season might be a start.

So far, it’s a season out of order.

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