Pirates on Fire, But Roadblocks Ahead | Pittsburgh Pirates News

The Pirates are on a hot streak, winning four straight and climbing back over .500 for the first time since late July—only the Dodgers are playing better. But they face a brutal test: Shota Imanaga, who’s been a near-impenetrable force against them with a microscopic 0.24 ERA in 38 innings. Complicating matters, All-Star starter Braxton Ashcraft is sidelined with arm discomfort, forcing a bullpen-heavy lineup. Paul Skenes takes the mound Saturday against a former Pirate, while Bubba Chandler pitches Sunday. With just 15 games left and a 4.5-game deficit to the final wild card spot, the climb is steep—but momentum is building. Oneil Cruz has been a monster since returning from injury, launching the hardest-hit homer of the season, and other key players may soon rejoin the fray. The Pirates are trending up, but division rivals loom large. They’ve got a shot—if they can keep it together. 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.Report issues to [email protected]. View sources & latest updates:https://sources.thednn.ai/7cfab226ce7a85b0