# Pittsburgh Pirates Finally Real Contenders or Is the Collapse Still Looming?

Page: https://stenobird.com/podcast/locked-on-pirates-daily-podcast-on-the-pittsburgh-pirates-63933/pittsburgh-pirates-finally-real-contenders-or-is-the-collapse-still-looming
Text version: https://stenobird.com/podcast/locked-on-pirates-daily-podcast-on-the-pittsburgh-pirates-63933/pittsburgh-pirates-finally-real-contenders-or-is-the-collapse-still-looming.md
Podcast: [Locked On Pirates - Daily Podcast On The Pittsburgh Pirates](https://stenobird.com/podcast/locked-on-pirates-daily-podcast-on-the-pittsburgh-pirates-63933)
Published: 2026-07-17T12:45:13+00:00
Episode link: https://lockedonpodcasts.com/podcasts/locked-on-pirates/
Audio file: https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/pdrl.fm/c332f6/lockedon.simplecastaudio.com/ca178804-c720-476f-9857-ad70690e8c6a/episodes/34be9405-f0ce-4982-b76e-5185909f6065/audio/128/default.mp3?aid=rss_feed&awCollectionId=ca178804-c720-476f-9857-ad70690e8c6a&awEpisodeId=34be9405-f0ce-4982-b76e-5185909f6065&feed=z3NI6hOx
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Duration seconds: 1871

## Resource

Pittsburgh Pirates surge past expectations, boasting a revamped offense and dominant rotation. Can Paul Skenes and Bryan Reynolds lead Pittsburgh into the heart of the postseason race? Gary Morgan spotlights the club’s transformation, from a relentless batting order featuring Ryan O’Hearn and Brandon Lowe to a pitching staff anchored by Skenes and emerging arms like Braxton Ashcraft and Jared Jones. Key topics include the Pirates’ playoff calculus, their bullpen’s lingering flaws, and the mounting salary cap debate that could reshape MLB’s future. Gary Morgan breaks down how the Pirates stack up against the Cleveland Guardians—MLB’s pitching powerhouse—while raising hard questions about competitive balance, superstar departures, and the real impact of baseball’s revenue disparities. Will Pirates fans finally dare to believe, or will ghosts of past collapses haunt this promising run?

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