{"podcast":{"title":"Locked On Pirates - Daily Podcast On The Pittsburgh Pirates","slug":"locked-on-pirates-daily-podcast-on-the-pittsburgh-pirates-63933","podcast_index_feed_id":63933,"rss_url":"https://feeds.simplecast.com/z3NI6hOx","website_url":"https://lockedonpodcasts.com/podcasts/locked-on-pirates/","image_url":"https://image.simplecastcdn.com/images/ca178804-c720-476f-9857-ad70690e8c6a/2cab38d9-c9b3-4276-a749-f55220662add/3000x3000/uploads-2f1552678703350-zocgph5npv9-17b26d8b6719b088db2f96353560e458-2flocked-on-pirates-podcast-bg-new.jpg?aid=rss_feed","author":"Locked On Podcast Network","episode_count":500,"summary":"Locked On Pirates podcast is your daily ticket to stay ahead of the game and the first to know the latest news, analysis, and insider info for the Pittsburgh Pirates and Major League Baseball. Hosted by Ethan Smith, a writer for Inside the Bucs, the Locked On Pirates podcast provides your daily Pirates fix with expert, local analysis, and coverage of all aspects of the Pirates franchise. Locked On Pirates takes you beyond the scoreboard for the inside scoops on the biggest stories from within the Pirates locker room and all over MLB. The Locked On Pirates podcast is part of the Locked On Podcast Network. Your Team. Every Day.","last_synced_at":"2026-10-01T18:23:08.296039+00:00","page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/locked-on-pirates-daily-podcast-on-the-pittsburgh-pirates-63933"},"episode":{"title":"Pittsburgh Pirates Rotation SHAKEN as Braxton Ashcraft Faces First True MLB Push Back","slug":"pittsburgh-pirates-rotation-shaken-as-braxton-ashcraft-faces-first-true-mlb-push-back","published_at":"2026-07-21T04:00:00+00:00","page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/locked-on-pirates-daily-podcast-on-the-pittsburgh-pirates-63933/pittsburgh-pirates-rotation-shaken-as-braxton-ashcraft-faces-first-true-mlb-push-back","show_page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/locked-on-pirates-daily-podcast-on-the-pittsburgh-pirates-63933","url":"https://lockedonpodcasts.com/podcasts/locked-on-pirates/","audio_url":"https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/pdrl.fm/c332f6/lockedon.simplecastaudio.com/ca178804-c720-476f-9857-ad70690e8c6a/episodes/425d2cbc-3d2f-4881-a4c9-f33a374539c0/audio/128/default.mp3?aid=rss_feed&awCollectionId=ca178804-c720-476f-9857-ad70690e8c6a&awEpisodeId=425d2cbc-3d2f-4881-a4c9-f33a374539c0&feed=z3NI6hOx","summary":"Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Braxton Ashcraft hits a rough patch as major league hitters figure him out—can he make the crucial adjustments before the season slips away? Meanwhile, rookie Esmerlyn Valdez launches a historic power surge, blasting 14 home runs in just 32 games and rapidly emerging as a top contender for National League Rookie of the Year. Gary Morgan breaks down Ashcraft’s mechanical struggles, fatigue issues, and the league’s counterattack, raising critical questions about the Pirates’ pitching depth and the front office’s trade deadline strategy. The discussion spotlights Valdez’s game-changing at-bats, how his presence is reshaping Pittsburgh’s lineup, and evaluates whether Ben Cherington’s biggest mistake would be ignoring the pressing need for a veteran starter. Mailbag questions tackle bullpen roles, the impact of potential roster moves, and what it will take for the Pirates to turn this season’s promise into a postseason run.","meta_description":"Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Braxton Ashcraft hits a rough patch as major league hitters figure him out—can he make the crucial adjustments before the seaso…","key_points":[],"chapters":[],"topics":[],"duration_seconds":2051,"processing_state":"not_requested","actions":[{"name":"request_transcript","method":"POST","url":"https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/locked-on-pirates-daily-podcast-on-the-pittsburgh-pirates-63933/episodes/pittsburgh-pirates-rotation-shaken-as-braxton-ashcraft-faces-first-true-mlb-push-back/transcription-requests","description":"Idempotently request low-priority transcript generation for this episode."},{"name":"read_markdown","method":"GET","url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/locked-on-pirates-daily-podcast-on-the-pittsburgh-pirates-63933/pittsburgh-pirates-rotation-shaken-as-braxton-ashcraft-faces-first-true-mlb-push-back.md","description":"Read the agent-friendly Markdown representation of this episode resource."}]}}