The Pirates entered 2026 expecting their rotation to carry them. Instead, even with Braxton Ashcraft becoming an All-Star, the group finished closer to average than elite. Alex Stumpf looks at Paul Skenes’ step back, the progress from Bubba Chandler and Jared Jones, Mitch Keller’s uncertain future and why Pittsburgh may be better off using its pitching depth to add a bat rather than another starter.

Watch or listen to the full episode of OffBeat on North Shore Nine.