North Shore Nine: A Pittsburgh Pirates Podcast

Braxton Ashcraft is headed to the injured list with right arm discomfort, but the early news that there is no structural damage is encouraging.

Alex Stumpf looks at what Ashcraft’s injury means for the remainder of 2026, why there was little reason for the Pirates to shut him down earlier, and whether Pittsburgh should even consider bringing him back this season. Plus, what could the rotation look like without him and why Ashcraft has cemented himself as a major part of the Pirates’ future.

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Jared Jones took a no-hitter into the seventh inning and completely overwhelmed the Chicago White Sox as the Pittsburgh Pirates finished off the sweep with a 2-0 win.

Tyler and Neil break down another dominant start from Jones, the development of his slider and changeup, Oneil Cruz crushing another home run and continuing to rake since returning from the IL, Rafael Flores’ growth behind the plate, Mason Montgomery slamming the door again and a Pirates team suddenly playing some really good baseball.

Plus, the Pirates have now won four straight as they head to Wrigley Fi...

The Pirates are back at .500 after Wednesday’s win over the White Sox, sitting at 73-73 with five straight series wins. Alex Stumpf asks whether finishing with 81 or 82 wins actually means anything after a season that began with the stated goal of making the playoffs, and why a winning record could still matter as Pittsburgh looks toward a crucial 2027 season.

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The Pirates are back to .500 after hanging on for a wild 4-2 win over the Chicago White Sox.

Jim and Neil break down an unconventional bullpen game that saw Pittsburgh use eight pitchers, Brandon Eisert dominate his former team, Esmerlyn Valdez launch his 17th home run and Konnor Griffin deliver another huge two-out hit. Then things got interesting late. Camilo Doval struggled, Luke Weaver nearly let Chicago all the way back in, Jared Triolo made a game-saving defensive play and Mason Montgomery slammed the door for his 11th save.

The Pirates have now won five...

Bubba Chandler delivered one of the most dominant fastball performances in baseball this season in the Pirates’ 9-3 win over the White Sox.

Alex Stumpf breaks down Chandler’s 16 whiffs on 32 swings against his four-seam fastball, the arm-slot adjustment that has helped stabilize his rookie season, and why Chandler may be pitching as well as anyone in the Pirates’ rotation right now.

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The Pirates came out swinging and never looked back, pounding out 18 hits in a 9-3 win over the Chicago White Sox.

DiNardo and Jim break down an offense that scored five runs in the first inning and produced hard contact all night. Konnor Griffin looked like himself again, Rafael Flores continued to make his case behind the plate, Oneil Cruz smoked the baseball, Bryan Reynolds stayed hot and Spencer Horwitz finally broke through.

Bubba Chandler also delivered one of his better starts of the season, throwing six innings with eight strikeouts and zero walks while...

Nick Gonzales has arguably been the Pirates’ most consistent offensive player this season, but his defense is beginning to erase much of that value.

Alex Stumpf looks at Gonzales’ offensive consistency, his struggles defensively at both third and second base, and whether moving him to DH is the Pirates’ best option down the stretch. Ryan O’Hearn’s impending return only complicates the picture, while Brandon Lowe’s future raises an even bigger question about where Gonzales fits in 2027.

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The Pirates somehow took two of three from the Angels despite scoring just three runs all weekend, because their pitching staff absolutely carried them.

DiNardo and Tyler break down Jared Jones' dominant new-look breaking ball, how the Pirates should handle Braxton Ashcraft's unprecedented workload, Paul Skenes showing improved command but still struggling to finish hitters with two strikes, and Mason Montgomery's incredible emergence at the back end of the bullpen.

They also discuss Carmen Mlodzinski finally settling into a true bullpen role, Luke Weaver's bizarre poison ivy situation, and whether the bullpen has quietly become...

The Pirates took two of three from the Angels, including a pair of 1-0 wins, but the bigger issue isn’t going away. Pittsburgh’s offense has been one of the worst in baseball over the last month, and with the Pirates sitting at 71-73 and five games out of a playoff spot, there is almost no margin for error left.

Alex Stumpf looks at the struggles of Spencer Horwitz, Bryan Reynolds and others, the production Pittsburgh is getting from Oneil Cruz and Nick Gonzales, what Ryan O’Hearn could provide if he returns, and why the offens...

The Pittsburgh Pirates shut out the Los Angeles Angels 1-0 behind 5.1 scoreless innings from Paul Skenes and a solo home run from Henry Davis. Skenes still wasn't completely dominant, but his command improved and the Pirates bullpen took care of everything from there.

DiNardo and Doug discuss Skenes' outing, another quiet day from the Pirates offense, the resurgence of Gregory Soto, Carmen Mlodzinski's changing bullpen role and the incredible turnaround Mason Montgomery has made since the beginning of the season.

The Pirates have now won four straight series as they head into the final weeks...

The Pirates turned in another brutal performance Saturday night, falling 6-1 to the Angels in a game they desperately needed to win.

DiNardo and Doug break down another disappearing act from the offense against a left-handed pitcher, Braxton Ashcraft fading after three dominant innings, the decision to send Isaac Mattson back out for a second inning, and why the Pirates still don't seem to be managing games with the urgency their situation requires.

Bryan Reynolds provided essentially all of the offense with his 16th home run of the season, while Konnor Griffin, Esmerlyn Valdez and...

Konnor Griffin is back, and it didn't take long for him to remind everyone what the Pirates have been missing.

Griffin's speed created the only run of the night as the Pirates beat the Angels 1-0, while Jared Jones delivered one of his best outings of the season. Jones tossed six scoreless innings, generated 19 whiffs on his slider and handed things off to Wilber Dotel and Mason Montgomery to finish the shutout.

Jim and Tyler break down Griffin's immediate impact, Jones' dominant slider, the surprising decision to use Dotel for six outs, Montgomery's continued emergence...

Jack Wilson is officially part of the Pirates Hall of Fame, and Alex Stumpf believes he absolutely belongs.

But Wilson’s induction raises a much bigger question about Pirates history: how do you properly honor the great players who spent their careers on teams that never won anything?

Alex looks back at the Pirates’ 20 consecutive losing seasons, why Wilson deserves his flowers despite never playing a meaningful game in Pittsburgh, and which players from those forgotten years could eventually join him in the Pirates Hall of Fame.

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The Pirates somehow have life again. They’ve won five of their last six series, sit five games back in the Wild Card race, and now Konnor Griffin is expected to return to the lineup Friday.

Jim and DiNardo are live tonight to talk about what Griffin’s return means for the final 21 games, whether this team has actually done enough to make September interesting again, and why the Pirates may have finally stumbled into a bullpen formula that works.

Is this one last push, or just another reason to wonder what could’ve been?

...

The Pirates beat the Giants 5-2 to take the series in San Francisco and make it three straight series wins.

Cody and Doug break down a bizarre afternoon where the Pirates drew seven walks and scored all five of their runs without a run-scoring hit. They discuss Nick Gonzales staying in the batting-title race, Oneil Cruz continuing to look like the player everyone has been waiting for, and another successful Pirates bullpen game.

Plus, should Khristian Curtis be getting starts in September? The guys debate how Pittsburgh should use him down the stretch and whether...

The Pirates let another winnable game slip away Wednesday night, falling 5-4 to the Giants in 10 innings. Alex Stumpf looks at Carmen Mlodzinski’s three perfect innings, the decision to turn to Camilo Doval in extras and all of the smaller mistakes that helped sink Pittsburgh.

With the Pirates now 68-72 and running out of time to make anything of their postseason hopes, Alex explains why this season hasn’t been defined by one bad decision. It’s been “a thousand little paper cuts” from a talented team that has continued to underachieve.

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The Pirates had chance after chance to win this game and simply couldn’t finish the job.

Pittsburgh battled back from a 3-1 deficit to force extra innings, but a costly defensive mistake, another rough night with runners in scoring position and two Giants runs against Camilo Doval in the 10th proved too much in a 5-4 loss.

Jim and Neil break down Bubba Chandler’s start, the Pirates going 1-for-12 with runners in scoring position through nine innings, Oneil Cruz continuing to produce since returning from the IL, Carmen Mlodzinski throwing three perfect innings out...

The Pirates somehow survived one of the wildest games of the season, beating the Giants 13-12 after scoring nine runs in an inning and later blowing a six-run lead.

Alex Stumpf explains why, despite the win, Tuesday's game felt like a perfect representation of why the Pirates are barely hanging onto postseason hopes. Paul Skenes couldn't finish five innings, the pitching staff walked eight, the bullpen nearly gave the game away and Pittsburgh once again showed why it hasn't been able to put together a sustained run this season.

Plus, Alex looks at the Pirates' 6...

What the hell was that?

The Pirates scored nine runs in the third inning, built an 11-5 lead, watched the Giants completely erase it and somehow still walked away with a 13-12 win at PNC Park.

Tyler and Neil break down one of the wildest games of the season, including a rough night for Paul Skenes, Pittsburgh’s ridiculous offensive explosion, another bullpen collapse and the bizarre ninth inning that finally ended it.

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The Pirates’ playoff odds may be nearly gone, but September is far from meaningless.

Alex Stumpf breaks down five things that still matter over the final month of the season, including what Camilo Doval can prove before an offseason decision, Konnor Griffin’s return, Braxton Ashcraft’s workload, whether Paul Skenes can finish looking like himself again, and the biggest question of all: what exactly can the Pirates count on from this offense heading into 2027?

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September is arriving, and while the Pirates sit at 67-71, there are still plenty of reasons to pay attention over the final month.

Jim and DiNardo discuss what they want to see from the organization in September, which players deserve opportunities with expanded rosters, and what answers the Pirates still need on players like Hunter Barco, Thomas Harrington, Camilo Doval and Rafael Flores.

Plus, Konnor Griffin has begun his rehab assignment with Double-A Altoona and is eligible to return September 4. What should we expect when Griffin returns, how does he change this lineup, and why...

Mason Montgomery has quietly become one of the Pirates’ most dominant relievers, and Alex Stumpf thinks it might be time to stop dancing around the obvious question: should Montgomery just be the closer?

After another scoreless appearance Sunday, Montgomery has now gone all of August without allowing a run while piling up strikeouts and saves. Alex breaks down the sinker that has helped change Montgomery’s season, why his success shouldn’t be dismissed as matchup-dependent, and why the Pirates should use September to see if they already have their ninth-inning answer for 2027.

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The Pirates held on for a 5-4 win over the Cardinals to take another road series, with Braxton Ashcraft capping off a stellar month of August.

Jim and Doug break down another strong outing from Ashcraft, Esmerlyn Valdez going deep against a lefty, Oneil Cruz creating havoc on the bases, Brandon Lowe continuing his huge season and Mason Montgomery slamming the door in the ninth. They also discuss Don Kelly's bullpen management after Camilo Doval nearly let a three-run lead disappear.

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The Pirates got some much-needed offense Saturday as Brandon Lowe and Rafael Flores each went deep in a 6-2 win over the St. Louis Cardinals.

Tyler and Doug break down Lowe's outstanding season, why Flores needs to be playing every day down the stretch, and a bullpen that has suddenly become a legitimate strength. But even in a win, the Pirates continued to show the sloppy defense, poor baserunning and fundamental mistakes that have plagued them throughout the season.

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Pirates second-round pick Chris Rembert has gotten his professional career underway in Bradenton, and there is already plenty to dig into.

Jim and Anthony Murphy break down Rembert’s impressive bat speed, advanced approach and ability to make contact while examining the biggest question in his profile: where does the power come from? They also discuss his opposite-field approach, early success on the bases, defensive outlook at second base and what the Pirates could try to unlock as he develops.

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The Pirates looked every bit like a team ready for the season to end Friday night, committing three errors and managing just one run in a 4-1 loss to the Cardinals.

Tyler and Doug break down another miserable performance against a left-handed starter, the Pirates’ atrocious defense, Jared Triolo inexplicably hitting leadoff, Esmerlyn Valdez’s recent swing-and-miss issues and a better, but still uneven, start from Jared Jones. They also get into the bigger problem surrounding this team: the same issues have been showing up all season, and nothing ever seems to change.

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The Pirates’ playoff hopes are virtually gone, so the goal for the final month has to change.

Alex Stumpf explains why Pittsburgh should use September to get real answers from its young pitchers, including Hunter Barco, Khristian Curtis, Wilber Dotel, Antwone Kelly and Thomas Harrington. With an open spot in the rotation, there are opportunities to find out who could actually factor into the Pirates’ plans for 2027.

Alex also looks ahead to the construction of next year’s rotation, the need for veteran stability and what the Pirates could ultimately decide to do with Mitch Keller...

The Pirates entered the All-Star break with a 110 wRC+, tied for the second-best mark in baseball. Since the break? Their 76 wRC+ ranks dead last.

Jim and Tyler break down how Pittsburgh’s offense completely fell apart, including the massive second-half declines from Bryan Reynolds, Spencer Horwitz and others, the impact of injuries, their continued inability to hit left-handed pitching and one very interesting theory about MLB’s midseason AI ban.

They also discuss Endy Rodriguez’s latest major injury, what it means for his future and the Pirates’ catching situation, plus the latest CBA proposals involvin...

Another major injury has put Endy Rodriguez’s future with the Pirates in question.

Alex Stumpf looks at Endy’s latest surgery, his expected recovery timeline, the possibility of a difficult roster decision this winter, and where he fits in a catching room that now includes Rafael Flores Jr. and Henry Davis.

Rodriguez showed real signs of turning the corner offensively in 2026, which makes another lengthy absence even tougher to swallow.

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The Pirates had chance after chance to finish off a sweep in San Diego and simply could not come through. Pittsburgh went 1-for-13 with runners in scoring position, stranded 10 runners and was shut out 3-0 by the Padres.

Jim and Tyler break down the brutal offensive approach, missed opportunities from Bryan Reynolds, Esmerlyn Valdez, Oneil Cruz and Nick Gonzales, plus a solid outing from Bubba Chandler despite not having his best stuff.

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Esmerlyn Valdez has emerged as one of the most important pieces of the Pirates’ lineup, providing something that has become increasingly rare across baseball: legitimate right-handed power.

Alex Stumpf looks at what has made Valdez’s rookie season so encouraging, why his .541 slugging percentage stands out among right-handed hitters, and the concerns that remain with his strikeout and whiff rates. Even if Valdez is penciled into the 2027 lineup, Pittsburgh still needs to find another right-handed bat.

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Oneil Cruz provided the only offense the Pirates needed.

Cruz launched a ninth-inning home run off Mason Miller to break a scoreless tie and lift Pittsburgh to a 1-0 win over the Padres. Even better, Cruz apparently told Hannah Mears before the at-bat, “Pay attention. I’m about to hit a home run.”

DiNardo and Neil break down the incredible Cruz homer, an encouraging outing from Paul Skenes, another dominant night from the Pirates bullpen, and Pittsburgh taking the first two games of the series in San Diego.

Skenes tossed six scoreless innings with t...

The Pirates entered 2026 expecting to contend. Instead, year seven of the Ben Cherington era is ending with Pittsburgh essentially eliminated from the postseason picture.

Alex Stumpf looks at what that means for Cherington’s future, but also why this winter presents a unique problem. With an MLB lockout looming in December, the Pirates may have very little time to conduct a GM search, reshape the front office, address coaching and scouting, and prepare a roster that still has Paul Skenes, Oneil Cruz and a potentially competitive core.

Is Pittsburgh better off making a change, or wo...

The Pirates somehow escaped San Diego with a 3-2 win in 12 innings after Nick Gonzales finally delivered the go-ahead run. DiNardo and Neil break down another tremendous start from Braxton Ashcraft, a brutal night from the offense, the bizarre balk that cost Ashcraft a run, and a bullpen that kept the Pirates alive long enough to win it.

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The 2026 Pittsburgh Pirates season is officially dead.

At 63-69, the Pirates sit 8.5 games out of a Wild Card spot with just 30 games remaining after an incredible collapse. On today’s Bucco Brew, we look back at how a season that once had legitimate postseason hopes completely fell apart and what actually went wrong.

We’re also digging into one of the biggest explanations surrounding this team: injuries.
The Pirates have accumulated just 593 total injured-list days this season, 27th in MLB. Meanwhile, teams like the Dodgers, Cubs, Diamondbacks, Braves, Padres and Brewers have dealt with subs...

The Pirates were supposed to be ready in 2026. They improved the roster over the winter, aggressively addressed the bullpen at the trade deadline and had a Wild Card spot within reach less than a month ago.

Instead, they've collapsed again.

Alex Stumpf looks at why this late-season collapse feels different from 2011, 2012 and 2024, why the usual excuses don't completely work this time, and how several of the players Pittsburgh was counting on have failed to deliver during the most meaningful stretch of the season.

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The Pirates finished an awful weekend in Los Angeles with a 4-0 loss and a three-game sweep at the hands of the Dodgers. Cody and Doug discuss a team that looked simply uncompetitive, the organizational failures that led them here, and why Ben Cherington's process is no longer good enough.

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The Pirates dropped their second straight to the Dodgers, falling 4-3 in another game that was there for the taking.

Tyler and Neil break down Pittsburgh's missed opportunities at the plate, Jared Jones' command issues, another strong showing from Oneil Cruz since returning from the IL, and a Pirates team that continues to find ways to let winnable games slip away.

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The Pirates fought all the way back against the Dodgers, but a golden opportunity in extra innings went completely to waste.

Oneil Cruz continued his ridiculous return with another home run, the bullpen delivered 5.2 excellent innings, and Pittsburgh had runners at the corners with nobody out in the 10th. They still couldn't score, and the Dodgers eventually walked it off, 5-4.

DiNardo and Neil break down the missed opportunities, Bubba Chandler's uneven start, the decision to remove Rafael Flores, Henry Davis' struggles, and another huge night from Cruz.

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Alex Stumpf came into this homestand ready to declare the 2026 Pittsburgh Pirates dead. Instead, they took two of three from both the Red Sox and Tigers and kept the tiniest bit of hope alive.

Now comes the real test. The Pirates head out for a nine-game road trip against the Dodgers, Padres and Cardinals with essentially no margin for error. Alex looks at what it would take to get back into the Wild Card race, the concerns surrounding Paul Skenes, the return of Oneil Cruz and why this really could be Pittsburgh’s last stand.

Do...