The Pittsburgh Pirates are facing a challenging future as they aim to end their nine-year playoff drought, the longest in the National League. Analysts predict that they may not return to postseason play until 2026, despite having a promising young pitching trio of Paul Skenes, Mitch Keller, and Jared Jones.

While Skenes had an impressive rookie season, the team's offensive struggles remain a significant hurdle. With key players like Bryan Reynolds and Oneil Cruz, the Pirates need to bolster their lineup to avoid another disappointing season. The pressure is mounting on manager Derek Shelton and general manager Ben Cherington as they seek to turn the franchise around.

The Pittsburgh Pirates must prioritize improving their bullpen for the 2025 season after a disappointing performance in 2023, where they ranked 27th in ERA and blew 36 leads.

David Bednar's struggles as a closer and the uncertainty surrounding free agents like Aroldis Chapman highlight the need for change. Fortunately, the Pirates' farm system boasts several promising pitching prospects, including top prospect Bubba Chandler, who could help bolster the roster.

With a surplus of starting pitchers in the minors, the team faces tough decisions on how to utilize their talent effectively. While free agency may not be a primary focus, adding a veteran reliever could still be beneficial.

Aaron Civale delivered a stellar performance, pitching six scoreless innings as the Milwaukee Brewers triumphed over the Pittsburgh Pirates 5-2. Joey Ortiz contributed to the victory with a triple and a double, showcasing his versatility as a rookie.

The Brewers, already champions of the National League Central, are gearing up for the postseason, having secured their Wild Card Series slot. Civale's impressive form since joining the team has sparked speculation about his role in the upcoming series.

The Pittsburgh Pirates concluded their home schedule with a disappointing 5-2 loss to the Milwaukee Brewers. Mitch Keller had a challenging outing, giving up runs but managing to limit further damage at times. The Brewers' Joey Ortiz and Brice Turang capitalized on Keller's struggles, while Colin Holderman and Ryan Borucki faced similar issues on the mound.

Despite a two-run homer from Bryan De La Cruz, the Pirates were unable to mount a comeback. The team will now head to New York for the final series of the season against the Yankees.

Liover Pegeuro delivered a clutch two-run double, and Luis Ortiz excelled on the mound as the Pittsburgh Pirates edged the Milwaukee Brewers 2-1 Wednesday night.

Ortiz pitched seven solid innings, allowing just one run and striking out five batters. Pegeuro, recently called up from the minors, made a significant impact with his double that brought in two runs. Despite some late-game tension, Aroldis Chapman secured the save for the Pirates.