The Pittsburgh Pirates are coming off a season that gave them real momentum, but not enough to silence the skepticism.
In a Bleacher Report prediction, Zachary D. Rymer projected Pittsburgh to finish 84-78 in 2027.
That would mark another winning season, though still not a trip to the playoffs. Rymer said the biggest question is the same one hovering over the club now.
"The Pirates got close to making the playoffs for the first time since 2015, but further progress in 2027 will hinge on fixing Paul Skenes," Rymer wrote.
That forecast would give the Pirates only a modest step forward from 2026, when they went 82-80 and posted their first winning record since 2018. They were in the National League Wild Card mix for much of the year, but a brutal 7-16 stretch from late July to mid-August knocked them out of position.
Pittsburgh also had trouble with left-handed pitching all season, going 18-33 against starters from that side. At the same time, the bullpen was a problem for much of the year before the trade deadline brought in some useful help.
The lineup had its own interruptions. Long-term injuries hit first baseman Ryan O'Hearn, Spencer Horwitz, shortstop Konnor Griffin and center fielder Oneil Cruz, undercutting what had been a strong offensive group.
Skenes, the pitcher Rymer singled out, finished 10-11 with a 3.82 ERA, nearly doubling the damage from his previous two seasons.
There is also the chance Pittsburgh loses Brandon Lowe in free agency. He led the team and all MLB second basemen with 35 home runs, a .493 slugging percentage and an .824 OPS.
Even with that uncertainty, the Pirates still have plenty working in their favor. Their starting rotation could be a real strength if Skenes rebounds, Braxton Ashcraft builds on his first All-Star nod, Jared Jones stays healthy for a full season, Mitch Keller bounces back from a rough 2026 and injury, and Bubba Chandler takes another step in his second year.
The bullpen has room to improve too. Mason Montgomery emerged as the best closer in baseball, and Luke Weaver arrived at the trade deadline to work as his setup man. Lake Bachar, Carmen Mlodzinski and Yohan Ramírez are also expected to play key roles in a mix of bullpen jobs.
Offensively, Pittsburgh still has reasons to believe. The club was one of the best in baseball in the first half of 2026, and several pieces are positioned to matter again.
Griffin will be healthy for his sophomore season. Cruz put together his best year in 2026 despite the injuries.
O'Hearn and Horwitz were both excellent before their setbacks. Bryan Reynolds led all of MLB with 40 doubles and was also outstanding before the All-Star break.
If the Pirates bring Lowe back, that would help keep the lineup intact and give them another real shot at pushing deeper into the playoff race.
In Other News...
Pirates Can't Ignore One Big Esmerlyn Valdez Question
Esmerlyn Valdez is headed into winter ball with Leones del Escogido fully recovered from the left hamstring strain that ended his September, and the Pirates will be watching closely. The young slugger flashed real power in his rookie season, finishing with 17 home runs in 72 games, but his first year in the big leagues also came with the uneven production that usually reminds a front office how much work still remains.
For Pittsburgh, that makes Valdez both part of the plan and part of the question. The organization likes the upside, but it cannot afford to bank its 2027 offense entirely on internal growth from a player still learning how to put together a full season, which is why the club is weighing established offensive help as it looks ahead. Winter ball should give Valdez another chance to sharpen his game, but it will not answer everything the Pirates need to know. [Read more 🡒]
Pirates May Have To Choose Between A Needed Bat And Rotation Help
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On the pitching side, the names being floated show the range of possibilities, from Foster Griffin and Trevor Rogers to Robbie Ray and Patrick Sandoval. Sandoval is the most intriguing fit because he could give Pittsburgh a lower-cost path to rotation depth after an injury-marred stretch, but even that kind of move would come with tradeoffs if the Pirates decide the bat is the bigger priority. [Read more 🡒]
Pirates Face A Tough Bullpen Decision With Derek Diamond
Derek Diamonds rise through the Pirates system has put the organization in a familiar but uncomfortable spot as the offseason approaches. The right-handed pitching prospect earned the clubs Kent Tekulve Reliever of the Year honor after a strong minor league season, and that kind of progress tends to force a front office to confront some difficult roster math.
Now comes the part Pittsburgh has to weigh carefully: Diamond is eligible for the upcoming Rule 5 Draft, which means the Pirates have to decide whether to use one of their limited 40-man roster spots to keep him protected. With other Rule 5-eligible prospects in the mix and only so much room to maneuver, the decision is less about Diamonds value than about how much the Pirates can afford to squeeze onto a crowded roster. [Read more 🡒]