# SWEEPING: Pittsburgh Pirates and Esmerlyn Valdez OUTSLUG Brewers, Offense ASCENDS

Page: https://stenobird.com/podcast/locked-on-pirates-daily-podcast-on-the-pittsburgh-pirates-63933/sweeping-pittsburgh-pirates-and-esmerlyn-valdez-outslug-brewers-offense-ascends
Text version: https://stenobird.com/podcast/locked-on-pirates-daily-podcast-on-the-pittsburgh-pirates-63933/sweeping-pittsburgh-pirates-and-esmerlyn-valdez-outslug-brewers-offense-ascends.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: 2026-07-13T04:00:00+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/f601d1cb-2a48-4d37-b9a9-43da385877bc/audio/128/default.mp3?aid=rss_feed&awCollectionId=ca178804-c720-476f-9857-ad70690e8c6a&awEpisodeId=f601d1cb-2a48-4d37-b9a9-43da385877bc&feed=z3NI6hOx
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Duration seconds: 1935

## Resource

Pittsburgh Pirates surge into playoff contention with a thrilling sweep of the division-leading Milwaukee Brewers, sparked by Esmerlyn Valdez’s explosive grand slam and Paul Skenes’ gritty outing. Can this dynamic offense maintain its momentum as key players return from injury? Gary Morgan breaks down the Pirates’ 50-win first half, spotlighting Valdez’s breakout, the emergence of impact bats, and a lineup that’s suddenly feared across Major League Baseball. Discussion covers the team’s dominance against NL Central rivals, new challenges posed by left-handed pitching, and standout performances by Seth Hernandez and Edward Florentino at the Futures Game. The revamped Home Run Derby rules, MLB Draft strategy with Derek Curio and Aiden Ruiz, and a wave of talented college pitchers round out an action-packed episode. Will this new wave power Pittsburgh to October glory?

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## Transcript

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