FinalPIT 0–ATL 3 Next vs ATL THU 12:35 PM

◆NEWSPirates Place Endy Rodríguez On Injured List◆ROSTERRecalled C Rafael Flores Jr. from Indianapolis Indians◆HOT BATEsmerlyn Valdez: .375 AVG, 4 HR, 11 RBI, 1.165 OPS (last 2 weeks)◆LAST GAMEJared Jones 6.0 IP, 0 ER, 8 K◆NEWSPirates, Joshua Palacios Agree To Minor League Deal◆ROSTERSigned free agent 3B Grae Kessinger to a minor league contract◆ON THE BUMPJared Jones: 2.45 ERA, 18 K (last 2 weeks)◆NEWSKonnor Griffin Out Eight To Ten Weeks Due To Torn Tendon In Left Hand◆ROSTERPlaced C Endy Rodríguez on the 10-day injured list retroactive to July 6, 2026. Left glute strain◆STATOneil Cruz ranks 3rd in the NL in steals (21)◆NEWSAl Holland Passes Away◆ROSTERAcquired RF Joshua Palacios from the Staten Island Ferry Hawks of the Atlantic League◆STATNick Gonzales ranks 3rd in the NL in batting average (.311)◆NEWSNPB's Rakuten Eagles Sign Yunior Marte

The Point

NL Central Check-In: What’s Missing From The Pirates To Feel Legit?

Jan 8 · 01:21:28

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Episode Notes

Tonight on NS9LIVE!, we’re putting the Pittsburgh Pirates under the NL Central microscope. How do they stack up right now against the Brewers, Cubs, Reds, and Cardinals, and are they truly close enough to contend in 2026? We’ll debate whether the roster is “good enough” as-is or if the Pirates have to acquire at least one more bat to feel safe about being a real contender. We’ll also hit the latest roster churn, including Marco Luciano being claimed by the Baltimore Orioles and Tsung-Che Cheng being claimed by the Tampa Bay Rays on January 7, 2026. Then we’ll wrap with a Discord mailbag and answer your questions live.

NL Central Check-In: What’s Missing From The Pirates To Feel Legit?

Episode Notes

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