ESPN Offers Silver Lining for Pirates, Praises Offensive Improvements
ESPN highlighted Pittsburgh's offensive turnaround as a bright spot from a season that fell short of postseason expectations.
The Pittsburgh Pirates may not be on track for a postseason run in 2026, but ESPN found a glimmer of hope in their offensive improvements. According to MLB writer and analyst Bradford Doolittle, the Pirates' aggressive offseason work on their lineup has resulted in a marked increase in offensive production. In 2025, Pittsburgh finished last in runs per game, but they have climbed to fifth in that category for the current season.
This shift in performance has been driven by a significant improvement in the Pirates' runs per game, weighted on-base average (wOBA), and isolated power (ISO). These gains place the organization in a more positive light as they head into the 2027 season, as they may now have the potential to contend for a winning record for the first time in eight years.
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