Here’s Where ESPN Ranks Pirates Among NL Wild Card Teams

The Pittsburgh Pirates are fighting for a playoff spot with two months to go in the 2024 MLB campaign.

The Pirates currently have a 56-55 record. As a result, Pittsburgh sits 6.0 games back of the Milwaukee Brewers in the National League Central. It’s the NL Wild Card where they’ll need to look if they want to make their first postseason since 2015. Their chances have fallen a bit since the MLB All-Star Game break, as they’re now 3.5 games back of the third wild card spot, which is currently owned by the Arizona Diamondbacks.

After losing two of three games to Arizona in their last series, the Pirates will need to start stringing some wins together with the San Diego Padres and Los Angeles Dodgers ahead on the schedule.

ESPN’s David Schoenfield has ranked every wild card contender following the MLB Trade Deadline. Pittsburgh ranked sixth on Schoenfield’s list, following the Diamondbacks, Padres, New York Mets, Atlanta Braves, and St. Louis Cardinals. Schoenfield writes that a big reason they rank sixth is due to Paul Skenes’ usage down the stretch.

“Give the Pirates credit for actually doing something at the trade deadline — it’s worth noting that De La Cruz comes with three more years of team control and Kiner-Falefa is signed for another season, so they were acquired for an eye to 2025 as much as this season,” Schoenfield wrote. “A big question facing the Pirates: How many innings left for Paul Skenes? He was at 108 between the Pirates and Triple-A entering Sunday’s start, after pitching 129 last year between LSU and the minors. If we assume a 30-inning increase to 160, that gives him a chance to finish the season in the rotation. He pitched 30 innings in June and 28 in July (when he had 11 days off surrounding the All-Star break). The Pirates may need every one of those innings to stay in the race — and if they do make the playoffs, that could lead to a Stephen Strasburg situation, where Skenes is shut down. But the Pirates have to get there first, and that’s a longshot.”

The Pirates came up short in Skenes’ latest start on Sunday, losing 6-5 to the Diamondbacks. They’ll try to get back in the win column Tuesday night when the Padres come to town. First pitch is set for 6:40 p.m. EST at PNC Park.

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