The Pirates Can’t Take Esmerlyn Valdez Out of the Lineup

Jared Jones Dominates as Pirates Crush Guardians, 7-1

The Pittsburgh Pirates opened Saturday’s doubleheader with a convincing 7-1 victory over the Cleveland Guardians. Jared Jones delivered another dominant performance, striking out nine over five innings while allowing just one run. Newly acquired infielder Jacob Gonzalez crushed a 428-foot, two-run homer, while Esmerlyn Valdez and Nick Gonzales also went deep. Carmen Mlodzinski followed Jones with three scoreless innings as the Pirates extended their winning streak to four games and improved to 51-47. Jim and Tyler break down the complete victory from Progressive Field. The NS9 Postgame Show is presented by FanDuel and powered by Primanti Brothers. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com [https://pcm.adswizz.com] for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Levi Sterling Scouting Report | Pirates Prospect Breakdown

Levi Sterling remains one of the most intriguing young pitchers in the Pirates’ farm system. Jim and Anthony Murphy break down the 19-year-old right-hander’s deep arsenal, improved results with Bradenton and the development that could determine his future. Can Sterling add the velocity needed to become a legitimate starting pitching prospect, or does his current profile point toward the back of a major-league rotation? Subscribe to the Bucs On Deck Substack for daily coverage of the entire Pirates organization: https://bucsondeck.substack.com/ Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com [https://pcm.adswizz.com] for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The Pirates Need Paul Skenes to Be an Ace Again

The Pirates entered the season believing an average offense would be enough if their starting pitching carried the team. Instead, the offense has exceeded expectations while the rotation has been closer to average. Alex Stumpf explains why Pittsburgh needs Paul Skenes to take control in the second half, pitch deeper into games and give the Pirates a true ace as they fight for a National League Wild Card spot. OffBeat is presented by FanDuel. Subscribe to Alex’s Book Rule Bucs Substack: https://bookrulebucs.substack.com/ Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com [https://pcm.adswizz.com] for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The Pirates Trade Rumors Are Getting OUT OF HAND

The Pirates haven’t played in four days, and Pittsburgh has apparently lost its mind. Jim and Tyler react to the ridiculous ideas of trading Oneil Cruz or Spencer Horwitz for bullpen help before discussing what Ben Cherington should actually do at the deadline. Could the Pirates make a massive offer for Mason Miller? Is Luke Weaver the best realistic target? They also discuss Brooks Raley, Adrian Morejon, the need for another starting pitcher and the Robert Hassell III acquisition. The Pirates are three games over .500 and firmly in the playoff race. Now it is time to find out whether the front office is ready to improve the roster for the second half. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com [https://pcm.adswizz.com] for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Is Henry Davis Finally Becoming the Hitter the Pirates Drafted?

Henry Davis entered the season with plenty to prove, but his strong finish to the first half has created some legitimate optimism. Alex Stumpf examines Davis’ recent production, his noticeable mechanical changes and the swing that may show he is finally correcting one of the biggest holes in his game. Subscribe to Alex’s Book Rule Bucs Substack: https://bookrulebucs.substack.com/ Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com [https://pcm.adswizz.com] for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.