The Pirates Have Something to Prove This Weekend

Alex Stumpf breaks down why this weekend’s series in Chicago feels like the Pirates’ first real test of the 2026 season. With no Paul Skenes or Mitch Keller lined up, the spotlight turns to Carmen Mlodzinski, Braxton Ashcraft, and Bubba Chandler as Pittsburgh looks to prove it can win an important road series against a division rival. Alex digs into what this matchup could reveal about the Pirates, why Bubba Chandler’s command will be under the microscope, what he wants to see from Mlodzinski and Ashcraft, and why the offense also has a chance to make a statement at Wrigley. Join this channel to get access to perks: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC9ZY250XUYiS-yX7xOQCdLA/join Use Promo Code NS9 for 30% off your first order at https://www.gritily.com Use Promo Code NORTHSHORENINE for $20 off your first order at https://www.seatgeek.com LIKE and SUBSCRIBE with NOTIFICATIONS ON if you enjoyed the show! NS9 MERCH: https://northshorenine.myspreadshop.com ►Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/NorthShoreNine ►Website: https://www.northshorenine.com ►Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/northshorenine ►TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@northshorenine ►Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/northshorenine ►Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/northshorenine ►Discord: https://discord.gg/3HVYPg544m ►BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/northshorenine.bsky.social Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.