2026 Pirates Thread

[BCS PSU]

I wish I was that optimistic
Chandler has been better recently and Skenes looked good his last time out
Absolutely need to upgrade the pen though if they want a shot. Need a legit closer IMO

The problem with the starting pitching is that, while Skenes has stabilized somewhat and Chandler has become more reliable, Ashcraft has been pretty poor since June.

Also, while Jones has pitched really well lately, the brain trust won’t let him go more than five.

Finally, none of the starters ever go deep into games, which negatively affects a bull pen which isn’t good under the best circumstances.

 

[KingLando]

The problem with the starting pitching is that, while Skenes has stabilized somewhat and Chandler has become more reliable, Ashcraft has been pretty poor since June.

Also, while Jones has pitched really well lately, the brain trust won’t let him go more than five.

Finally, none of the starters ever go deep into games, which negatively affects a bull pen which isn’t good under the best circumstances.

Yupp--agreed. I expect Ashcraft to bounce back but...

 

[LB99]

The problem with the starting pitching is that, while Skenes has stabilized somewhat and Chandler has become more reliable, Ashcraft has been pretty poor since June.

Also, while Jones has pitched really well lately, the brain trust won’t let him go more than five.

Finally, none of the starters ever go deep into games, which negatively affects a bull pen which isn’t good under the best circumstances.

This is the trend in MLB though, it is not exclusive to the Pirates.

 

[BCS PSU]

Yupp--agreed. I expect Ashcraft to bounce back but...

I actually heard today on Mark Madden’s show that Ashcraft may be shut down sometime in September like the Nationals did with Strasburg a long time ago.

 

[KingLando]

Bucs added Ron Marinaccio from the Padres for "signing bonus pool" considerations--that's one way to cancel out the money coming in