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

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.

Breaking Down Every Pirates Pick From the 2026 MLB Draft

The Pittsburgh Pirates completed the 2026 MLB Draft with 21 selections, led by LSU outfielder Derek Curiel at No. 5 overall. Baseball America’s Carlos Collazo said it might be his favorite draft of the year, but what made Pittsburgh’s class stand out? Jim breaks down every selection, what each player does well, the biggest concern and what the Pirates appear to be betting on in development. The class began with contact, defense and strong offensive foundations in Curiel, Aiden Ruiz, Chris Rembert and Andruw Giles before shifting heavily toward pitching. We also discuss Jason DeCaro, Tre Phelps, Spencer Evans, Grant Govel, Malachi Washington and the rest of Pittsburgh’s 2026 draft class. Did the Pirates land one of the best classes in baseball, and which player outside Curiel are you most interested in following? Subscribe for more daily Pittsburgh Pirates coverage from North Shore Nine. 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.

Dennis Santana Is Running Out of Time With the Pirates

Dennis Santana was arguably the Pirates’ best reliever in 2025. This season, his command has disappeared, his walk rate has nearly doubled and his roster spot could become vulnerable as the trade deadline approaches. Alex Stumpf breaks down what has changed, whether a different pitch mix or mechanical adjustment could help and why rediscovering the old Dennis Santana would be nearly as valuable as adding another reliever through a trade. Read Alex’s work at Book Rule Bucs: https://bookrulebucs.substack.com/ North Shore Nine is presented by FanDuel. 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.