On Tuesday, the Pittsburgh Pirates beat the Los Angeles Dodgers with their bats, outslugging them 9-7. On Wednesday, the Pirates beat them again with their arms, blanking one of the best lineups in baseball 3-0.
It was Pittsburgh’s MLB-leading 17th shutout. Incredibly, 27% of the team’s wins this season have been shutouts.
Thanks to their stellar pitching, the Pirates are allowing the fifth-fewest runs per game (4.06) in baseball. However, they’re tied for the fifth-fewest wins in baseball and are last in the NL Central.
That’s because Pittsburgh ranks last in MLB in numerous offensive categories, including runs per game (3.66), home runs (102), slugging percentage (.353) and OPS (.661). Great pitching is not enough without adequate run support.
Despite falling out of contention early on and selling at the trade deadline, the Pirates are finishing the season strong. They’ve won 11 of their last 15 games despite playing some of the best teams in baseball, taking series from the Toronto Blue Jays, Boston Red Sox and defending World Series champs. Even with a diminished and inexperienced roster, they can hang with anyone.
Story continues below advertisement
With a 24-16 record over its last 40 games and a 51-51 record under interim manager Don Kelly, Pittsburgh has proved its worth investing in this winter. The Pirates have plenty of pitching and the potential to be a dangerous team in 2026 — they just need some bats to get them over the hump.
That will be up to the front office in the offseason. In the meantime, Pittsburgh will go for the sweep on Thursday behind NL Cy Young frontrunner Paul Skenes, who will look to improve on his MLB-leading 2.05 ERA.
He’ll face two-time Cy Young winner Blake Snell in what will likely be another low-scoring game.
Story continues below advertisement
More Pirates: Pirates’ Youth Movement Finishing Season On High Note
Featured image via Charles LeClaire/Imagn Images