Pirates’ Last Hope: Oneil Cruz | Pittsburgh Pirates News

The Pirates are clinging to playoff hope with just 12 games left, sitting at .500 and six and a half games out of the final Wild Card spot. After a brutal loss to the Cubs, they’ve got nine straight home games — all must-wins. Their offense ranks fifth in runs, but it’s all riding on Oneil Cruz, who’s been a monster since returning from injury: 18 homers, 63 RBIs, and that signature boom-or-bust power. He strikes out often, but when he connects, he changes games. To even have a shot, they need to win at least 10 of their last 12 — and hope the Padres and Diamondbacks fall. It’s a long shot, but if Cruz delivers, the Pirates might just pull off the impossible. Listen in comfort:Get a discount on a Soli Pillow: http://solipillow.com/discount/dnn. Advertise on DNN:[email protected] This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting.Sources:https://www.si.com/mlb/pirates/onsi/oneil-cruz-key-pittsburgh-pirates-closing-wild-card-gap More coverage & latest updates:https://sources.thednn.ai/6ae7db6a1de8147a Report issues to [email protected].