Pirates’ Summer Swoon Continues With Rough Start To Second Half

A month that began with so much promise has quickly turned nightmarish for the Pittsburgh Pirates.

When July began, the Pirates were in the midst of a historically dominant six-game winning streak. Their bats were hot, their pitching was lights-out, and they seemed to be gaining momentum after going 14-13 with a plus-21 run differential in June.

That brief surge now looks like a mirage, however, as Pittsburgh’s collapsed over the last few weeks. The Pirates have the worst record in baseball since Independence Day, going 1-11 with a minus-44 run differential over their last 12 games.

Pittsburgh followed up its season-high six-game winning streak with a season-long eight-game losing streak, enduring a brutal road trip against the Seattle Mariners, Kansas City Royals and Minnesota Twins that included five one-run losses. The Pirates managed to squeak out a 2-1 victory over the Twins in their final game before the All-Star Break, avoiding a third straight sweep.

After Oneil Cruz and Paul Skenes provided some highlights for Pittsburgh during the Home Run Derby and All-Star Game, the club appeared poised to bounce back against the Chicago White Sox at home after the break. Instead, the Pirates were swept (for the eighth time this season) by one of the worst teams in baseball, giving the White Sox their first sweep of the year and getting outscored 27-7 in front of their increasingly frustrated fans.

Final: White Sox 7, Pirates 2

The Pirates are swept for the eighth time this year. The White Sox outscored them 27-7 over the three game series. A new low has been reached.

— Noah Hiles (@_NoahHiles) July 20, 2025

The main issue for Pittsburgh, as it’s been for much of the season, has been the lineup. The Pirates have managed just 23 runs over their last 12 games, getting shut out three times during that span. They rank last in MLB in several offensive categories this year, including runs per game (3.33), slugging percentage (.339) and OPS (.638).

Pittsburgh’s pitching has been strong for most of the season, but that’s also unraveled lately. The Pirates have allowed 40 runs over their last five games since Paul Skenes’ most recent start, including 27 to Chicago’s lackluster offense (27th in scoring).

Skenes will try to stop the bleeding tonight against the Detroit Tigers, who have the best record in baseball at 60-40. He’ll face former World Series champ Jack Flaherty, who’s 5-9 with a 4.65 ERA this year.

Despite getting swept over the weekend, Pittsburgh still has a winning record (26-24) at PNC Park this season. However, the Pirates have struggled in interleague play, going 8-25 with a negative-76 run differential against American League opponents.

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