North Shore Nine: A Pittsburgh Pirates Podcast

Spencer Horwitz jumped on the first pitch Sunday and helped the Pirates avoid falling below .500… but should that swing lead to something bigger?

Alex Stumpf dives into whether Horwitz has quietly become the Pirates’ best leadoff option, why his on-base profile deserves more attention, and what Oneil Cruz’s recent struggles mean for lineup construction while Ryan O’Hearn is sidelined.

Could Don Kelly make a meaningful change before this homestand?

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The Pittsburgh Pirates salvaged the final game of their series in Toronto with a 4-1 win over the Blue Jays, powered by Mitch Keller’s strong start and three much-needed home runs from Spencer Horwitz, Oneil Cruz, and Esmerlyn Valdez.

Tyler and Doug break down Keller’s role as the Pirates’ stopper, why his consistency matters so much to this rotation, and how the Pirates finally found the over-the-fence power they have been missing. They also dive into Valdez’s first major league hit and first major league home run, Oneil Cruz getting back into one, Spencer Horwitz...

Paul Skenes had one of his rougher starts as the Pittsburgh Pirates fell 5-2 to the Toronto Blue Jays, continuing a frustrating stretch where the offense once again failed to come through with runners in scoring position. Tyler and Doug break down Skenes looking human for the second straight outing, the Pirates’ ongoing issues against left-handed pitching, Don Kelly’s lineup decisions, Oneil Cruz’s rough at-bat, and the early impressions of Jhostynxon Garcia and Esmerlyn Valdez.

They also discuss Henry Davis, Endy Rodriguez, the bullpen, and why this team keeps letting winnable games slip away.

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The Pittsburgh Pirates dropped a frustrating 6-2 game in Toronto, and this one felt like a missed opportunity. Bubba Chandler delivered the most encouraging start of his young MLB career, striking out 11 Blue Jays over five innings while flashing the swing-and-miss stuff that makes him such an important piece of the Pirates’ future.

But the defense and bullpen gave the Pirates almost no margin for error. Costly mistakes extended innings, Dennis Santana struggled again, and the bullpen continued to raise real concerns about whether this group can hold up as the season moves toward June and July.

The Pittsburgh Pirates made another aggressive prospect promotion, calling up Esmerlyn Valdez for his Major League debut after a road trip that already included Jhostynxon Garcia and Wilber Dotel getting opportunities.

On this episode of OffBeat, Alex Stumpf breaks down why Valdez is getting the call, what his power could bring to a Pirates lineup that needs more offense, how he could fit at first base, DH, or in the outfield, and why this move feels different from how the organization has handled similar situations in the past.

Valdez has been one of the Pirates’ mo...

The Pittsburgh Pirates suddenly have a much younger, & interesting roster.

Tonight on NS9LIVE!, Tyler and DiNardo react to Esmerlyn Valdez getting promoted to the big leagues and what it could mean for the Pirates lineup. How much should Valdez actually play? Does this move make sense right now? And is this a real opportunity or just the Pirates trying to patch things together after the Ryan O’Hearn injury?

We also get into the bigger picture: 20-year-old Konnor Griffin starting at shortstop, 22-year-old Esmerlyn Valdez joining the roster, and 23-year-old Jhostynxon Garcia getting called up...

Cody and Neil breakdown Braxton Ashcraft's superb 7 inning outing as well as the Pirates offense getting the job done and collecting 6 runs. BONUS: towards the end of the show news broke that Pirates no. 9 prospect Esmerlyn Valdez has been called up so stay tuned for our reactions!

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The Pittsburgh Pirates picked up a 7-0 win over the St. Louis Cardinals, with Carmen Mlodzinski giving them five scoreless innings and the bullpen finishing the job with four scoreless frames.

But even after a strong day from the relief group, the Pirates’ bullpen situation still feels far from settled.

On today’s episode of OffBeat, Alex Stumpf breaks down the Pirates’ decision to option Isaac Mattson and call up Wilber Dotel, why the move feels like another sign of the team searching for answers, and whether Dotel can actually help stabilize a bullpen that has be...

The Pittsburgh Pirates finally snapped out of a rough stretch with a 7-0 win over the St. Louis Cardinals, and Konnor Griffin was right in the middle of it. Griffin went 4-for-5, continued to look more comfortable at the plate, and gave Pirates fans another reason to believe the 20-year-old rookie is becoming a major piece of this team.

Tyler and Neil break down Griffin’s big night, Carmen Mlodzinski’s five shutout innings, Spencer Horwitz continuing to quietly produce, the catching situation with Endy Rodriguez and Henry Davis, and another bullpen performance that somehow stayed clean desp...

The Pirates finally made an aggressive move.

Alex Stumpf breaks down why the promotion of Jhostynxon “Password” Garcia feels different from recent Pirates call-ups, why the timing matters after the Phillies series, and why Pittsburgh couldn’t afford to play it safe with Ryan O’Hearn sidelined.

Can Password provide the spark this lineup desperately needs? And if he succeeds… could he force his way into the Pirates’ long-term plans?

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The Pittsburgh Pirates dropped another frustrating game to the St. Louis Cardinals, losing 9-6 after battling back and taking a lead. Anthony DiNardo and Doug break down Mitch Keller’s outing, the bullpen decisions that changed the game, the continued late-inning struggles, Henry Davis’ offensive issues, missed opportunities from the lineup, and why this loss felt like more than just one bad night.

With the Pirates scoring six runs but still coming up short, the conversation turns to a bigger question: how many winnable games can this team keep giving away?

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With Joey Bart sidelined by a foot infection, the Pittsburgh Pirates are right back in the middle of a major catching question. Henry Davis has improved defensively, controls the run game well, and has earned trust with the pitching staff, but the offensive production has not followed. Meanwhile, Endy Rodriguez is back in the majors after heating up in Triple-A Indianapolis and immediately showing flashes of the bat that once made him one of the Pirates’ most exciting prospects.

On this episode of OffBeat, Alex Stumpf breaks down the Pirates’ catching room, why Davis’ struggles against fastballs are be...

The Pittsburgh Pirates were swept by the Philadelphia Phillies in a series where almost nothing went right. It was not just the bullpen. The offense stayed quiet, the starting pitching failed to set the tone, the defense was sloppy, and the Pirates looked overmatched across the board.

On this episode of Bucco Brew, we break down a brutal series loss, what went wrong in all phases, and why this weekend felt like more than just a bad few games.

We also dive into the Ryan O’Hearn injury and what it means for the Pirates ro...

The Pittsburgh Pirates are coming off their roughest weekend of the season after getting swept by the Philadelphia Phillies, blowing a 6-0 lead on Friday, getting shut out on Saturday and Sunday, and falling to last place in the NL Central.

On today’s OffBeat, Alex Stumpf breaks down why this series felt different, from the bullpen collapse and Dennis Santana’s struggles to Paul Skenes turning in one of his worst starts of the year. The Pirates also lost Ryan O’Hearn to the injured list with a quad strain, creating a major hole in a top-he...

The Pittsburgh Pirates were shut out 6-0 by the Philadelphia Phillies, completing a frustrating sweep in a weekend where just about everything went wrong. Paul Skenes had a rare off day, the offense had no answer for Zack Wheeler, and the Pirates’ outfield situation became even harder to ignore.

Tyler and Doug break down why this series felt so ugly, what went wrong for Skenes, how the Pirates were outscored 20-1 after the seventh inning on Friday, and why the lineup depth is now a major concern with Ryan O’Hearn expected to miss time. They also disc...

The Pittsburgh Pirates were embarrassed again, falling 6-0 to the Philadelphia Phillies in a game that felt over almost immediately. Bubba Chandler struggled from the jump, Bryce Harper delivered the early blow, and Christopher Sanchez completely shut down the Pirates offense with a dominant complete-game performance.

Tyler and Anthony DiNardo break down another ugly Pirates loss, Chandler’s continued issues, the lack of offensive response, the team’s growing roster concerns, Ryan O’Hearn leaving with a quad issue, and why the same offseason concerns are starting to show up in real time.

Are Bubba Chandl...

On this episode of Bucs On Deck, Jim and Anthony Murphy break down Jhostynxon “The Password” Garcia, one of the most intriguing outfielders in the Pittsburgh Pirates system.

Garcia came over from the Boston Red Sox in the Johan Oviedo trade and has already shown why the Pirates were interested. He brings real raw power, the ability to play all three outfield spots, legitimate center-field defense, and enough athleticism to be more than a one-dimensional corner bat.

The big question is whether the chase and swing-and-miss concerns will limit his ceiling, or if his power and...

The Pittsburgh Pirates had this game in their hands, and then the bullpen completely gave it away.

On tonight’s NS9 Postgame Show powered by Primanti Brothers, DiNardo and Jim break down the Pirates’ brutal 11-9 loss to the Philadelphia Phillies after blowing leads of 6-0 and 8-3. The offense did its job, Braxton Ashcraft gave them enough to win, but the late innings turned into a disaster as Mason Montgomery, Gregory Soto, and Dennis Santana could not close the door.

This episode dives into the growing concern around the Pirates bullpen, whether Ben Cherington need...

Ryan O’Hearn helped power the Pittsburgh Pirates to a series win over the Colorado Rockies, and his recent swing adjustments may be a major sign for an offense that looks dramatically different from last season.

Alex Stumpf breaks down how O’Hearn has fit into the Pirates lineup, why his left-handed power and defensive versatility have mattered, and how the additions of O’Hearn, Brandon Lowe, Marcell Ozuna and Konnor Griffin have helped create a deeper, more consistent offense. Plus, a look at why this Pirates lineup is no longer completely dependent on Bryan Reynolds or Oneil...

Jared Jones is eligible to return from the IL on May 25, and all signs point toward that happening soon. But the bigger question around the Pirates is not just when he returns, it is what role he returns to.

On tonight’s NS9LIVE!, we dive into Jones’ upcoming return, the recent bullpen question he brushed off, the reaction to his demeanor, and the fact that both Ben Cherington and Don Kelly have avoided giving a direct short-term answer about his role. Long term, everyone agrees Jones is a starter. But short term? That answer has been much...

Cody and Doug breakdown the action from the Pirates chilly day game win over the Rockies! Don Kelly's Opener approach prevails, and the Buc's offense stays hot!

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The Pittsburgh Pirates’ bullpen has been searching for answers, and Brandan Bidois is now getting his first real opportunity in the big leagues.

On today’s OffBeat, Alex Stumpf breaks down Bidois’ promotion, why the timing raised some questions, and what makes the Pirates’ young reliever such an interesting arm. Bidois was the Pirates’ 2025 Minor League Reliever of the Year and brings a unique high arm angle, mid-90s fastball, and a different look that could give hitters problems.

But with Pittsburgh’s right-handed relief group struggling, was this call-up about Bidois being fully ready, or simply ab...

The Pittsburgh Pirates looked like they were in complete control against the Colorado Rockies, with Mitch Keller perfect through four innings and the offense jumping out to an early 3-0 lead. Then everything unraveled.

Jim and Neil break down the Pirates’ frustrating 10-4 loss, Keller’s six-run fifth inning, the missed offensive opportunities, and why going 1-for-9 with runners in scoring position came back to bite them. They also dive into the continued concerns with the bullpen, including Brandan Bidois’ MLB debut, Justin Lawrence’s ongoing struggles, and whether the Pirates need to make changes soon.

Plus...

Paul Skenes delivered another dominant start for the Pittsburgh Pirates, striking out 10 Colorado Rockies hitters over eight scoreless innings while allowing just two hits. Alex Stumpf breaks down why this may have been Skenes’ best start of the season, how his pitch mix helped him overwhelm Colorado, and why Don Kelly made the right call by not sending him back out for the ninth inning.

The discussion also gets into Skenes’ pursuit of his first true nine-inning complete game, how the Pirates should manage his workload, and why keeping him fresh for the full season matters more than...

Paul Skenes is no longer just the Pirates’ ace. He might be the best pitcher alive.

Paul Skenes delivered another ridiculous performance for the Pittsburgh Pirates, going eight dominant innings and continuing to build a real case as the best pitcher in baseball. DiNardo and Doug break down Skenes’ latest masterpiece, his absurd season numbers, why his efficiency matters, and how his presence changes the entire outlook for the Pirates.

They also discuss a strong day across the Pirates organization, including Jared Jones throwing four shutout innings, Justin Garcia’s monster game, Murf Gray staying hot, O...

Seth Hernandez is wasting no time making noise in the Pittsburgh Pirates farm system. After dominating in Low-A with eye-opening strikeout numbers, an ERA under one, and three secondary pitches producing massive whiff rates, Hernandez has already earned a promotion to High-A Greensboro.

On today’s OffBeat, Alex Stumpf breaks down why Hernandez’s stuff has been so overwhelming, what makes his fastball-changeup-slider-curveball mix so advanced, and why Greensboro could be the next real test in his development. He also looks at whether Hernandez could follow a Konnor Griffin-style rise through the system and potentially reach Altoona befo...

The Pittsburgh Pirates offense has been night and day compared to last season. They’re top five in baseball in runs scored, and six everyday players currently have a wRC+ of 115 or higher. On this episode of Bucco Brew, we break down what has changed, how real this offensive surge feels, and why this version of the Pirates looks so much more dangerous.

We also give Braxton Ashcraft the love he deserves. With a 2.77 ERA and the team lead in innings pitched, Ashcraft has been one of the best stories of the Pirates season. If Paul Skenes wa...

The Pirates had a series win, a winning road trip, and another very winnable game slip through their fingers.

On today’s episode of OffBeat, Alex Stumpf breaks down the Pirates’ frustrating extra-inning loss, why Don Kelly made the right call going to the bullpen after Bubba Chandler’s outing, and why the bigger issue is what happened next.

Gregory Soto has been outstanding. Mason Montgomery has carved out a real role. But beyond that, the Pirates’ bullpen depth — especially from the right-handed side — is becoming a real concern. Dennis Santana is struggling, Yohan Ramirez had a rough...

The Pittsburgh Pirates dropped the series finale against the San Francisco Giants in a frustrating game that felt very much within reach. Bubba Chandler gave the Pirates a chance, the offense created traffic, and the team had multiple opportunities to take control — but missed chances, defensive mistakes, and more bullpen concerns proved costly.

On this NS9 Postgame Show powered by Primanti Brothers, Anthony and Doug break down where the game went wrong, the Pirates going just 2-for-15 with runners in scoring position, Ryan O’Hearn’s rough defensive moments, Don Kelly’s bullpen decisions, and the growing concern...

The Pittsburgh Pirates finally got the offensive explosion they were waiting for, putting up 13 runs and 20 hits in a blowout win over the San Francisco Giants. Tyler and Neil break down the Pirates’ massive night at the plate, another dominant start from Braxton Ashcraft, Joey Bart’s revenge game, Nick Gonzales continuing to hit, Oneil Cruz coming through against a lefty, and what this win means for the rest of the road trip.

The NS9 Postgame Show Powered by Primanti Brothers also looks at how the Pirates are finding ways to win even when the offense had been...

Murf Gray has been one of the hottest hitters in the Pirates’ minor league system, and on this week’s Bucs On Deck, Jim and Anthony Murphy break down what makes his early pro performance so interesting.

Gray, a competitive balance pick in last year’s draft, is already showing an intriguing offensive profile in Bradenton with power, hard contact, strong bat-to-ball skills, and the type of production that could push him quickly through the system. But the biggest question may be on the defensive side: can he stick at third base, or does a potential move to fir...

The Pittsburgh Pirates dropped a late-night game to the San Francisco Giants, and while the offense had its issues, the bigger concern once again came from the middle relief group.

Carmen Mlodzinski gave the Pirates six innings and kept them in the game, even if it was not the cleanest or most convincing start. But once the game turned to the bullpen, Justin Lawrence struggled to execute and the Giants opened things up. Anthony DiNardo and Tyler break down whether Don Kelly made the right move, why the blame cannot fall entirely on the manager, and why...

Nick Gonzales has quietly forced his way into a bigger role for the Pittsburgh Pirates, and suddenly third base is not as simple as Jared Triolo returning from the injured list and taking the job back.

On today’s episode of OffBeat, Alex Stumpf looks at the Pirates’ third base situation, why Gonzales has earned real playing time, and why Triolo’s Gold Glove defense still matters for a team with serious defensive issues elsewhere on the field. The conversation goes beyond offense, digging into how the Pirates can best support a young pitching staff, especially with outfie...

Tonight on NS9LIVE!, we’re starting with the NS9 Really Stupid Question before looking back at some Pirates takes we may need to apologize for.

Ty Ty is ready to apologize for saying the Pirates wasted money on Gregory Soto, who has been lights out. DiNardo is walking back even entertaining the idea of trading Mitch Keller. And both are owning up to going under on Brandon Lowe’s season home run total after he just launched his 10th.

We’re also taking a bigger look at Donny Ball as Don Kelly reaches 162 games as Pir...

The Pittsburgh Pirates took another series, beating the Arizona Diamondbacks 4-2 behind another strong start from Mitch Keller. DiNardo and Doug break down Keller’s continued reliability, the Pirates’ improved rotation, timely offense from Brandon Lowe and Spencer Horwitz, and why this team feels much different than past versions.

The guys also discuss how the Pirates responded after a rough series against St. Louis, why the offense no longer feels completely dependent on one or two players, and what this strong start to the West Coast trip says about the club moving forward.

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Jared Jones made his second rehab start with Indianapolis, and while the box score was not perfect, the bigger takeaway was clear: the power stuff is still there, the fastball touched 100 MPH, and he got through the outing healthy. Now the Pirates have a real decision coming.

On today’s OffBeat, Alex Stumpf breaks down Jones’ rehab outing, why the bullpen conversation exists, and why moving him into a relief role may not be as simple as it sounds. From workload concerns to late-inning transition challenges to the value of keeping him on a starter’s schedule, this e...

Paul Skenes delivered another dominant performance for the Pittsburgh Pirates, throwing eight shutout innings with seven strikeouts and no walks in a 1-0 win over the Arizona Diamondbacks. Jim and Neil break down just how special Skenes has been, why this start was exactly what the Pirates needed after a rough loss, and how his historic numbers continue to stack up against some of the best pitchers of the live ball era.

The offense, however, remains a concern. Brandon Lowe’s first-inning home run was the only run of the night, as the Pirates went 0-for-8 with ru...

Paul Skenes is still one of the most dominant pitchers in baseball, but Alex Stumpf thinks there may be an even better version hiding underneath the current results.

In today’s OffBeat, Alex breaks down how Skenes’ pitch mix has evolved in 2026, why the changeup usage has exploded, where the curveball disappeared to, and whether the Pirates ace is relying too heavily on the fastball/changeup combination instead of utilizing his full arsenal.

Is this just natural evolution for an elite pitcher… or is the best version of Paul Skenes still ahead of us?

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The Pittsburgh Pirates opened their series against the Arizona Diamondbacks with an ugly 9-0 loss, and this one got away early. Jim and Neil break down a rough first inning that featured defensive mistakes from the Pirates’ outfield, including more concern around Bryan Reynolds and Oneil Cruz playing together defensively.

They also discuss Bubba Chandler’s strange outing, where he walked six but still battled through five innings and kept the Pirates within reach before the bullpen let things fully unravel. Yohan Ramirez struggled, Evan Sisk helped save the bullpen, Dennis Santana had another rough appearance, and Konn...

Konnor Griffin is heating up, and this stretch feels like more than just a hot week at the plate.

On today’s episode of OffBeat, Alex Stumpf breaks down Griffin’s strong series against the Reds, his recent 10-game surge, and the swing adjustments that may be helping the Pirates’ young shortstop settle into the major leagues. From simplifying his leg kick to quieting his hands and getting himself into a better position to hit, Griffin is showing real signs of growth at just 20 years old.

Alex also explains why the biggest takeaway may not be the...