Pirates’ Wild Card Hopes on Thin Ice | MLB News

0:00It's September 7th. This is MLB News today, baseball coverage powered by AI. The Pittsburgh Pirates are making a late season push, currently sitting at 71 wins and 73 losses. With just 18 games left, they're 5.5 games back in the National League Wildcard race. It's a long shot, with their chances hovering around 1.1%, but stranger things have happened in baseball. They've turned things around after a rough patch in the second half, winning six of their last seven series. This recent success is largely thanks to their pitching staff, especially the bullpen, which has been lights out since the trade deadline. They added some serious arms, and it's paid off big time. On the offensive side, they're getting a boost with key players returning from injury. Having guys like O'Neill Cruz and Connor Griffin back in the lineup brings much needed speed, power, and defense. They'll need their bats to come alive alongside the stellar pitching to keep the playoff dream alive. Looking at the standings, they've got four teams ahead of them for that final wildcard

1:01spot. The path ahead is tough, with a challenging schedule featuring several teams currently in playoff contention. They'll need to play their best baseball in these final weeks. It's a tight race and a tough climb, but the pirates are showing signs of life. They've got the pitching, and now they need their offense to step up and string together some wins. The next few weeks will tell the story of whether they can shock everyone and make a postseason appearance.