Explore every episode of the podcast Pirates Insider Podcast

The Pirates won an important game against the Cubs. How meaningful were home runs hit by Ryan O'Hearn and Shawn Ross? And what do they say about the team culture? Jason Mackey also breaks down the Derek Curiel signing and the Pirates' LSU connection before delving into general manager Ben Cherington's comments about the trade deadline.

In this Friday mailbag edition, readers ask whether the Pirates will add rentals, what goes into making pitching decisions, how the lineup looks when Oneil Cruz and Spencer Horwitz come back and more. Jason Mackey also tackles questions on a Brandon Lowe extension and whether we'll see Khristian Curtis again.

Why did Pirates manager Don Kelly pull Bubba Chandler after 6 1/3 innings and 84 pitches on Wednesday? Also, what did we learn about the pitching staff during this most recent road trip? We examine those storylines, as well as some offensive trends on this episode of the Pirates Insider Podcast.

Mitch Keller makes his first start of the second half. What must change with him? And how can the rest of the starters lead the Pirates? We also look to the bullpen and some recent trends involving Wilber Dotel, Yohan Ramirez and Isaac Mattson. Bottom line, the Pirates need their pitchers to be what everyone thought they would be before the season. Jason Mackey breaks it all down here.

Dennis Santana wasn't happy with Jose Caballero, but what about his season in a larger context? The Pirates need him to figure it out now. Why did Braxton Ashcraft struggle and are there concerns there? Esmerlyn Valdez also keeps homering, and Wilber Dotel had another promising outing in relief. Jason Mackey breaks it all down here.

Paul Skenes continued to look like Paul Skenes. Meanwhile, should we just call this the Billy Cook Game? Esmerlyn Valdez homered again amid his breakout rookie campaign, while Ben Cherington addressed what could happen with the bullpen on the Pirates Insider Show. Jason Mackey breaks it all down right here.

The turnaround enjoyed by the Pirates offense has been impressive. What has keyed it? And how stark have the differences been? Jason Mackey breaks down that, as well as some incredible individual player changes that we've seen.

Will the Pirates add at the trade deadline? Does Seth Hernandez have a chance of making a September cameo? What happens when Oneil Cruz and Spencer Horwitz return? Jason Mackey answers fans' questions in this edition of the Pirates Insider Podcast.

Paul Skenes has heard the questions about his velocity. Often, he laughs. He says he doesn't need it to pitch effectively. So, what did the Pirates ace think about his first half? And what sort of numbers are underneath the surface? Jason Mackey takes a deep dive here.

Paul Skenes and Braxton Ashcraft met with the media at Citizens Bank Park, but what was missing from their experience? Also, those two showcased their lighter side with some of their answers. Jason Mackey shares some anecdotes from covering media day and details what this day meant for Skenes and Ashcraft.

A lot to talk about with the Pirates on a Monday morning. They swept the Brewers at PNC Park and saw some encouraging stuff from the offense, the bullpen and Paul Skenes. What happened at the Futures Game? And what did the Pirates do in the MLB Draft that stands out? Jason Mackey breaks it all down here.

The Pirates are 10 games into a stretch of 22 straight against teams .500 are better. What have we learned? Furthermore, what's going on with Mitch Keller and Dennis Santana? The Pirates have shown a lot of fight, and their offense is really good. But they have to find a way to stabilize the bullpen. Jason Mackey breaks it all down here.

Jared Jones had a perfect game going through six innings, but Pirates manager Don Kelly took him out. Was that the right call? What was really to blame in the Pirates' 3-0 loss? Also, Ben Cherington talked before Wednesday's game. Jason Mackey takes a closer look at some of the GM's comments on injuries, the trade deadline and the performance of specific players.

Ryan O'Hearn had himself a day. Not only that, it came after unfortunate news for Konnor Griffin, and it helped Paul Skenes get his first win since May 12. It turned around a dour day for the Pirates, furthering O'Hearn's strong leadership. Jason Mackey takes a closer look at O'Hearn's huge game, as well as what went right for Paul Skenes.

The MLB Draft begins this weekend, and the Pirates have four of the top 51 picks. Pirates senior vice president/assistant general manager Kevan Graves appeared on the Pirates Insider Show and discussed the team's approach, as well as what recent success has meant for confidence in making those selections. It's also a Paul Skenes Day and a crucial one at that.

The Pirates stayed in the fight. In the process, they showcased what it will take to properly handle this current 22-game stretch against teams .500 or better. Konnor Griffin was incredible. The bullpen got it done. And the offense -- on this entire road trip -- showed how it can beat opponents a variety of ways. Jason Mackey breaks it all down here.

The Pirates were again struggling to hit with runners in scoring position ... until Esmerlyn Valdez came through in a big way. Again. What has he added? What makes him different? Jared Jones and Carmen Mlodzinski formulated some excellent pitching, and the Pirates split a series with the Phillies. Jason Mackey breaks it all down here.

Paul Skenes struggled against the Phillies, allowing eight runs (seven earned) over four innings. What bugged Skenes? Should there be greater concern considering the Pirates have now dropped his past nine starts? Also, Seth Hernandez and Edward Florentino were selected to the MLB All-Star Futures Game. Jason Mackey breaks it all down here.

The Pirates' struggles against left-handed pitching continued, this time against Cristopher Sanchez. What did he do to give them problems? Bubba Chandler was solid through six innings, though he didn't like the way his outing ended. Still, what did Chandler think about his work in June? Finally, Konnor Griffin and Esmerlyn Valdez have a special relationship. Jason Mackey breaks down the game and that story here.

The Pirates earned their most resilient win of the year on Monday in Philadelphia. What did Esmerlyn Valdez do? How did Braxton Ashcraft steady himself? And what did the Pirates offense show about its approach all year? Jason Mackey breaks down all of that, as well as Endy Rodriguez's big home run in the ninth inning.

There have been concerns about Paul Skenes' velocity, and there shouldn't be. Let's break down those, as well as what went into the Pirates' 6-4 loss to the Reds on Friday night at PNC Park, gleaning what might be useful for the second half of their season.

The Pirates reached the midpoint of their season with a 5-1 victory over the Mariners Thursday at PNC Park. Bubba Chandler was solid. Henry Davis homered among his two hits. How do those storylines fold into the rest of the season? Also, what are some other questions the Pirates must consider in the second half? Jason Mackey breaks it all down here.

Braxton Ashcraft was outstanding and continued to fill up the strike zone. The Pirates offense erupted, as well. It all led to a lopsided win over the Mariners. Jason Mackey breaks down what made Ashcraft's outing so unique, as well as what he's been doing so well this season. We also got some news on Konnor Griffin and what could happen with Jared Jones' next start.

Mitch Keller filled up the zone with strikes and got a lot of fly ball outs. He also delivered his eighth quality start of the season. But it was one pitch that left him frustrated. North Allegheny product Cole Young hit the decisive homer while continuing the tradition of WPIAL guys hurting their hometown team. The bullpen is trending in a better direction, but the Pirates still struggled to hit with runners in scoring position. Jason Mackey breaks it all down here.

The Pirates suffered a 2-1 loss when Billy Cook's cleat made contact with Kyle Karros' glove at third base. It was a frustrating way to drop a game and a series, especially considering the Pirates had the bases loaded with one out in the ninth inning. Paul Skenes pitched well and delivered his eighth quality start. But the Pirates offense is missing Oneil Cruz and Konnor Griffin. Jason Mackey breaks it all down here.

The Pirates suffered a 4-3 loss that encapsulated a lot of their season. They struggled against a lefty starter in Kyle Freeland. They fought back and took a lead. And then the bullpen couldn't hold it. They also struggled to execute and have quality at-bats with men on base. Jason Mackey breaks it all down here.

Do the Pirates have interest in Hunter Stratton? We found out Thursday night that, yeah, they do. What about other relievers the team could add? How will a possible lockout impact urgency? Why hasn't Carmen Mlodzinski pitched more? Taking your questions on a Friday from Denver.

The Pirates offense had one of its biggest games of the year, erupting for a dozen runs to earn a series victory over the Athletics. What's up with Ryan O'Hearn? Could Marcell Ozuna's homer become the spark he has needed? Jason Mackey also discussed Braxton Ashcraft's outing and when we might see Konnor Griffin again.

Bryan Reynolds' red-hot June continued with four hits and two home runs during the Pirates' 6-5 victory over the Athletics at Sutter Health Park. What has fueled his recent run? Also, Mitch Keller steadied himself and gave the Pirates a chance, while the bullpen enjoyed a strong performance. Jason Mackey breaks all of that down here.

The Pirates suffered a lopsided loss to the Athletics, as Jared Jones and Carmen Mlodzinski combined to allow 11 runs over seven innings. When will that piggyback situation be broken up? What led to the Pirates' struggles on Monday? And what we can expect out of Mitch Keller's next start on Tuesday? Jason Mackey breaks it all down here.

Paul Skenes delivered a quality start and struck out 10, but the Pirates again failed to hit with runners in scoring position. Was there anything wrong with Skenes' start? They also made an interesting choice in the eighth inning. Jason Mackey breaks down that, as well as what general manager Ben Cherington said on the Pirates Insider Show Sunday.

Spencer Horwitz's hit by pitch helped to secure a 3-2 victory at PNC Park, but the biggest takeaway might've been a more mature Bubba Chandler nearly delivering a quality start and striking out six. The bottom of the order was solid, Bryan Reynolds robbed another home run, and Yohan Ramirez provided some drama in the eighth. Jason Mackey breaks it all down here.

The Pirates got a better start from Braxton Ashcraft, but some of their pitching problems persisted in a loss to the Marlins. Ashcraft and manager Don Kelly talked about improvement needing to come from this group. Jason Mackey breaks down where and how that could happen.

The Pirates tried twice to eclipse Dodgers leads but couldn't do it, dropping the series. Mitch Keller talked about needing to improve, while the Pirates felt like they learned some valuable lessons against the Braves and Dodgers. What are they? And who has stepped up with injuries to Oneil Cruz and Konnor Griffin? Jason Mackey breaks it all down here.

It was the Tyler Callihan game. But it was also "a gritty, Pittsburgh win." Callihan homered twice, including once off Shohei Ohtani. Spencer Horwitz went deep, too. And the Pirates rallied to erase a five-run deficit against the Dodgers. Jason Mackey breaks it all down here.

Paul Skenes was outstanding against the Dodgers. However, Wilber Dotel and Brandan Bidois struggled in relief, while the Pirates didn't get much going after the first inning. It's fair to worry about a few things out of this one, but not the Pirates ace. Jason Mackey breaks it all down here.

Bubba Chandler pitched the best he has all year, but the Pirates encountered bullpen troubles and struggled to hit with runners in scoring position. Jason Mackey breaks it all down here.

The opened their series against the Braves with a frustrating loss. Let's break Mitch Keller's start, his recent trends and what has been happening with the starting rotation. There weren't many individual performances to highlight, but Evan Sisk, Dennis Santana and Marcell Ozuna served as bright spots.

Jared Jones and Carmen Mlodzinski both pitched very well in a 5-1 victory at Daikin Park. It was the prototype for what the Pirates are trying to do with their pitching. Let's dive a little deeper into that strategy. Meanwhile, Ryan O'Hearn had a big game, and the Pirates played much better defense. A lot to discuss.

The Pirates blew a five-run lead and suffered an 11-9 loss to the Astros on Wednesday, which was obviously frustrating. Let's talk about the bullpen and what needs to change, as well as strides made with the catching situation and what's been happening with Paul Skenes.

The Pirates homered three more times, continuing their impressive offense season. Jake Mangum had four hits, Bubba Chandler bounced back from a rough start, and Wilber Dotel continued to give the Pirates length. What does it mean? Pirates Insider Jason Mackey breaks it all down on today's episode of the Pirates Insider podcast.

The Pirates swept the Twins behind another fantastic performance from Braxton Ashcraft, Ryan O'Hearn returning with a home run and Nick Gonzales going deep for the first time this year. There was also plenty of news with Konnor Griffin going on the 10-day injured list and Carmen Mlodzinski winding up on the reserve list. Jason Mackey breaks down all of that and more on Monday's episode of the Pirates Insider Podcast.

The Pirates had a big lead, lost it and came back. Funny what having a better offense can do. Pirates Insider Jason Mackey breaks down Jake Mangum's big game, as well as what has gone right for Spencer Horwitz and Oneil Cruz. Ryan O'Hearn will return Sunday. What does that mean? And when can Pirates fans expect to see Carmen Mlodzinski? Those questions are answered and more.

Bryan Reynolds hit a walkoff homer. Oneil Cruz crushed a 450-foot bomb into the Allegheny River. Oh, and Jared Jones made his first MLB start since Sept. 27, 2024.

They added up to a 6-5 Pirates win at PNC Park, but Wilber Dotel might've been the biggest big-picture story of them all. What he did out of the bullpen served as a prototype for what's possible.

Those storylines coming together the way they did showed what this team is capable of.

Host Jason Mackey breaks it all down in his daily podcast.

05/14/2026