The Pittsburgh Pirates must be better at preventing runs during the 2027 season.
The Pittsburgh Pirates improved significantly during the 2026 season. The biggest area the team took a step forward in was the batter’s box, as the Pirates went from being the worst offensive team a year ago to one of the best.
Still, Pittsburgh has a way to go after failing to reach its goal of making the playoffs this year.
The Pirates' general manager identified one area where the team must improve in 2027: run prevention.
At the conclusion of the 2026 season, the Pirates had given up 739 runs, ranking 20th in MLB. Opponents averaged 4.56 runs against Pittsburgh throughout the year, ranking 19th in baseball.
The Pirates’ improved lineup only did so much when the team was giving up so many runs on the other side of the ball. That alone prevented Pittsburgh from reaching the postseason for the 12th consecutive season.
So, now the question turns to how the Pirates get better at preventing runs from being scored on them next year.
Sep 4, 2026; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Pittsburgh Pirates second baseman Brandon Lowe (5) takes a throw to begin a double play against the Los Angeles Angels during the fourth inning at PNC Park. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn ImagesImproving defensively is certainly part of the solution. Pick just about any overarching defensive metric, and the Pirates are generally in the same spot: the bottom.
Pittsburgh's total DRS (defensive runs saved) for the season was +1, which ranked 21st in baseball. Its team fielding run value was -21, 26th in MLB. Finally, the Pirates had an outs above average of -21, which ranked 24th-worst in the sport.
Playoff teams do the little things right all across the diamond, and the Pirates can’t say they did that after being one of the worst defensive teams in baseball last season.
Cherington also stressed that run prevention isn’t just about defense. It also comes down to pitching, which was inconsistent for the team all season.
Of course, Paul Skenes’ velocity troubles were a main talking point throughout the year, but the rest of the rotation and pitching staff were just as unpredictable at times.
After pitching had been a strength for the Pirates for so many years, Pittsburgh finished with a 4.15 ERA and a 1.30 WHIP, both of which ranked in the middle of the pack.
With a core of Skenes, Jared Jones, and Bubba Chandler in the rotation, along with the emergence of Mason Montgomery in the bullpen, Pittsburgh can feel good about its pitching bouncing back next year.
However, the defense is a different story. One thing is for sure, though, and that’s that the Pirates still have work to do across the roster to be considered a postseason threat in 2027.
