North Shore Nine: A Pittsburgh Pirates Podcast

The Pirates shocked everyone the night before the 2026 MLB Draft, trading the No. 34 overall pick and left-handed pitching prospect Jaden Woods to the Chicago White Sox for infielder Jacob Gonzalez and left-handed reliever Brandon Eisert. On this emergency episode, we break down what Pittsburgh is getting, what it gave up, how Gonzalez fits into the infield, whether Eisert can help the bullpen and...

Mitch Keller lasted just three innings against the Atlanta Braves as his season-long struggles against left-handed hitters continued. Alex Stumpf examines Keller’s extreme platoon splits, the mechanical issues potentially affecting his arsenal and why neither the cutter nor changeup has provided a reliable answer. Can Keller make the necessary adjustments during the All-Star break, or has his decl...

The Pirates have another major injury to deal with after Konnor Griffin is expected to miss about two months. Does that change Pittsburgh's trade deadline plans and force Ben Cherington to target a shortstop? Plus, the bullpen continues to implode while Carmen Mlodzinski remains underutilized, and Mitch Keller turns in another rough outing. Is this just a slump, or has something fundamentally chan...

The Pittsburgh Pirates fell 10 to 5 to the Atlanta Braves, and Cody and Doug had plenty to say about it. Mitch Keller lasted just three innings, the bullpen once again failed to keep the game within reach, and the frustration around the pitching staff continues to grow. On the positive side, Jake Mangum had a huge day at the plate, Bryan Reynolds and Esmerlyn Valdez went back to back, and the offe...

Konnor Griffin’s injury has changed the conversation around the Pittsburgh Pirates trade deadline. On today’s OffBeat, Alex Stumpf looks at why shutting Griffin down was the right decision, how thin the Pirates infield depth has become, and why Jared Triolo, Nick Gonzales and Tyler Callihan may not be enough to get this team through the rest of the season. The bullpen still needs help, but the Pir...

Jared Jones gave the Pirates six perfect innings against the Braves, but Pittsburgh still found a way to lose 3-0. Jim and Neil discuss Jones being pulled after 77 pitches, whether Don Kelly had any real choice, why the offense could not cash in against Grant Holmes, and how Joey Bart ended up delivering the revenge-game gut punch. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for...

Ryan O’Hearn delivered one of the best single-game performances in Pittsburgh Pirates history, driving in a franchise-record 10 runs with three home runs in a massive win over the Braves. Alex Stumpf breaks down why O’Hearn’s historic night mattered even more after the Pirates learned Konnor Griffin is headed to the injured list with a left ring finger injury. With Griffin out, Oneil Cruz and Spen...

Ryan O’Hearn delivered one of the greatest offensive games in Pittsburgh Pirates history, blasting three home runs, driving in 10 runs, and helping lead the Pirates to a 12-4 win over the Atlanta Braves. DiNardo and Tyler break down O’Hearn’s absurd night, Paul Skenes finally getting run support, the Pirates winning three straight, how this offense keeps producing despite injuries, and why Carmen...

The Pirates have operated under one clear assumption: stay in the race, then fix the bullpen at the trade deadline. But what if the help they need is not actually out there? On today’s OffBeat, Alex Stumpf looks at a crowded deadline market, the lack of obvious sellers, and why relievers like Aroldis Chapman, Garrett Whitlock, Luke Weaver, Félix Bautista, Jason Adam, A.J. Minter, Kirby Yates, Kyle...

MLB Pipeline’s Jim Callis joins North Shore Nine for our 2026 MLB Draft preview as the Pittsburgh Pirates get set to pick No. 5 overall. Callis has correctly projected the Pirates’ first round pick three years in a row, but this year feels much less certain. We break down the likely top of the board, why Grady Emerson, Roch Cholowsky and Vahn Lackey may be gone, and what that means for the Pirates...

The Pirates survived Washington, but now the real test begins. On this episode of Bucco Brew, we look ahead at a brutal stretch against the Braves, Brewers, Guardians, Yankees, Cubs, and Diamondbacks while the Pirates are likely still without Oneil Cruz and Spencer Horwitz for at least part of it. What does surviving the next three weeks actually look like? Is .500 baseball enough? We also dive in...

Brandon Lowe was not named to the National League All-Star team, but his season with the Pittsburgh Pirates is becoming impossible to ignore. On today’s OffBeat, Alex Stumpf breaks down Lowe’s 21 home runs, his chase of Neil Walker’s Pirates second base home run record, and why this could go down as one of the greatest seasons ever by a Pirates second baseman. Alex also looks at Bryan Reynolds’ Al...

The Pittsburgh Pirates beat the Washington Nationals 11 to 5 after turning a tight game into a late blowout. Konnor Griffin delivered the go ahead 2 run single in the 8th, Brandon Lowe followed with a massive 3 run homer, and Henry Davis added insurance in the 9th. Bryan Reynolds also went deep as the Pirates offense picked up Bubba Chandler and pulled away late in Washington. Download our app! :...

The Pittsburgh Pirates bounced back on the Fourth of July with a 7-1 win over the Washington Nationals, getting back to .500 behind another strong start from Braxton Ashcraft. DiNardo and Doug break down Ashcraft’s outing, Konnor Griffin stealing home, Brandon Lowe’s All-Star case, the offense finding different ways to score, the Yohan Ramirez experience, and what this win means as the Pirates try...

Easton Carmichael has quickly emerged as one of the most complete catching prospects in the Pittsburgh Pirates system. Jim and Anthony Murphy break down the 2025 third-round pick’s advanced defense, quick release, contact-driven bat, athleticism, surprising speed and potential path to Double-A Altoona. Carmichael is hitting .300/.349/.500 with a 110 wRC+ for Greensboro while throwing out 22 of 77...

The Pirates lost 9-5 to the Nationals, and somehow the offense was not the biggest issue. Mitch Keller was hit hard again, Isaac Mattson struggled out of the bullpen, and the pitching staff continues to look like a much bigger problem than anyone expected. DiNardo, Tyler break down Keller’s rough outing, the pressure on Bill Murphy, why the Pirates may need more than just bullpen help at the deadl...

Esmerlyn Valdez delivered the biggest swings in the Pirates’ series finale against the Phillies, but his recent production is becoming about more than one good game. Alex Stumpf explains why Valdez has earned an extended opportunity as an everyday player, the improvements he is already showing at the plate and why the Pirates cannot justify giving Marcell Ozuna more at-bats right now. Could Valdez...

Alex Stumpf joins NS9LIVE! to discuss Paul Skenes’ current struggles and his nine-start losing streak. What has happened to the velocity, splinker and breaking pitches that made Skenes nearly unhittable, and is fatigue beginning to become a legitimate concern? The crew also breaks down the Pirates’ catching situation as Endy Rodriguez continues to hit his way into a larger role. Then, they close t...

The Pittsburgh Pirates beat the Philadelphia Phillies 6-1 to earn a series split, with Esmerlyn Valdez once again at the center of the offense. Cody and Neil break down Valdez’s three RBI and first career triple, Jared Jones’ encouraging four-inning start, Carmen Mlodzinski’s three scoreless innings and clean work from Gregory Soto and Mason Montgomery as the Pirates finally put together a complet...

The Pirates are sending Seth Hernandez and Edward Florentino to the MLB Futures Game, and Alex Stumpf believes both could become mainstays in Pittsburgh sooner rather than later. Hernandez has 100 strikeouts in 62⅓ innings and the competitive mindset to match, while Florentino combines major power with an advanced approach and impressive makeup. On today’s OffBeat, Alex explains why both prospects...

Paul Skenes turned in the worst start of his major league career, allowing a career high seven earned runs over four innings as the Pittsburgh Pirates lost 10-6 to the Philadelphia Phillies. The Pirates have now lost nine consecutive games started by Skenes, while his declining fastball velocity and recent performance are becoming legitimate concerns. Jim and Tyler break down what went wrong for S...

Bubba Chandler’s final line did not reflect how well he pitched in the Pittsburgh Pirates’ 8-0 loss to the Phillies. Chandler reached the seventh inning for the first time in his career, issued only two walks and showed signs that an important mechanical adjustment is starting to pay off. Alex Stumpf breaks down Chandler’s improved arm slot, his renewed fastball command and why his recent progress...

The Pittsburgh Pirates were completely overmatched by Cristopher Sánchez in an 8-0 loss to the Philadelphia Phillies. The offense finished with only four hits, Bryan Reynolds’ 34-game on-base streak ended and Marcell Ozuna struck out three times. Jim and Tyler discuss why Bubba Chandler pitched much better than his final line, Don Kelly’s decision to leave him in during the seventh inning and anot...

The Pirates entered 2026 hoping an average offense would be enough to support their pitching. Instead, the offense has become the strength of the team. After finishing 2025 with an 82 wRC+, the Pirates are up to 110 this season, ranking second in baseball and producing at a level comparable to the 1971 Lumber Company. Alex Stumpf breaks down the historic improvement, the depth throughout the lineu...

The Pirates looked dead after falling behind 5-0, but their offense completely flipped the game in an 11-7 win over the Phillies. Esmerlyn Valdez homered for the fourth straight game and reached base four times, Endy Rodriguez crushed a three-run homer in the ninth and Braxton Ashcraft battled through six innings after a rough start. Jim and Neil break down the six-run fifth inning, Valdez’s conti...