North Shore Nine: A Pittsburgh Pirates Podcast

Levi Sterling remains one of the most intriguing young pitchers in the Pirates’ farm system.

Jim and Anthony Murphy break down the 19-year-old right-hander’s deep arsenal, improved results with Bradenton and the development that could determine his future. Can Sterling add the velocity needed to become a legitimate starting pitching prospect, or does his current profile point toward the back of a major-league rotation?

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The Pirates entered the season believing an average offense would be enough if their starting pitching carried the team. Instead, the offense has exceeded expectations while the rotation has been closer to average.

Alex Stumpf explains why Pittsburgh needs Paul Skenes to take control in the second half, pitch deeper into games and give the Pirates a true ace as they fight for a National League Wild Card spot.

OffBeat is presented b...

The Pirates haven’t played in four days, and Pittsburgh has apparently lost its mind.

Jim and Tyler react to the ridiculous ideas of trading Oneil Cruz or Spencer Horwitz for bullpen help before discussing what Ben Cherington should actually do at the deadline. Could the Pirates make a massive offer for Mason Miller? Is Luke Weaver the best realistic target? They also discuss Brooks Raley, Adrian Morejon, the need for another...

Henry Davis entered the season with plenty to prove, but his strong finish to the first half has created some legitimate optimism. Alex Stumpf examines Davis’ recent production, his noticeable mechanical changes and the swing that may show he is finally correcting one of the biggest holes in his game.

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The Pittsburgh Pirates completed the 2026 MLB Draft with 21 selections, led by LSU outfielder Derek Curiel at No. 5 overall. Baseball America’s Carlos Collazo said it might be his favorite draft of the year, but what made Pittsburgh’s class stand out?

Jim breaks down every selection, what each player does well, the biggest concern and what the Pirates appear to be betting on in development. The class began with contact,...

Dennis Santana was arguably the Pirates’ best reliever in 2025. This season, his command has disappeared, his walk rate has nearly doubled and his roster spot could become vulnerable as the trade deadline approaches.

Alex Stumpf breaks down what has changed, whether a different pitch mix or mechanical adjustment could help and why rediscovering the old Dennis Santana would be nearly as valuable as adding another reliever thro...

The Pirates are sending Paul Skenes and Braxton Ashcraft to the 2026 MLB All-Star Game, but neither pitcher will actually appear. Even worse, one of baseball’s highest-scoring offenses will not have a single position player representing it.

Alex Stumpf breaks down the historic snub, why Bryan Reynolds and Brandon Lowe deserved serious consideration and why MLB may need to expand All-Star rosters to better recognize deserving ...

The Pittsburgh Pirates are heading into the All Star break at 50-47, three games above .500 and only two games out of the final National League Wild Card spot after sweeping the first place Milwaukee Brewers.

Ryan and DiNardo break down a huge 4-2 stretch against the Braves and Brewers before reviewing the best, worst and most important developments from the first half of the season. They also look ahead to the second half, the upc...

Alex Stumpf reviews the Pittsburgh Pirates’ complete 2026 MLB Draft class and explains why it feels underwhelming compared to the previous three years. He evaluates Derek Curiel at No. 5, identifies Spencer Evans and Trey Phelps as two picks he likes, raises concerns about Aiden Ruiz and Jason DeCaro, and looks at the difficult signings that could ultimately determine the success of this class.

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The Pittsburgh Pirates closed out the weekend with a 14-5 win to complete a three-game sweep of the first-place Milwaukee Brewers. DiNardo and Doug break down Paul Skenes’ encouraging start, a ridiculous 10-run fourth inning and huge production from Henry Davis, Jared Triolo and Marcell Ozuna.

The Pirates now head into the All-Star break three games over .500 with an offense that continues to produce despite injuries to Konno...

Esmerlyn Valdez delivered again, launching a two-run homer that gave the Pirates an early lead in their 3-2 win over the Brewers. Tyler and Doug break down Bubba Chandler’s start, Brandon Eisert’s shaky debut, Yohan Ramirez’s continued scoreless run, and the bullpen’s nerve-racking effort to finish the victory. The Pirates swept the doubleheader, won the series, and guaranteed themselves a winning record ent...

The Pittsburgh Pirates selected LSU outfielder Derek Curiel with the fifth overall pick in the 2026 MLB Draft, surprising the entire NS9 crew.

After setting the stage for Pittsburgh’s selection, we jump directly to the pick and provide our immediate reaction. We break down Curiel’s elite contact skills, ability to remain in center field, limited power and whether the Pirates passed on players with greater upside.

Anthon...

Duce Gourson may not have one standout tool, but the Pirates infield prospect continues to do everything necessary to help his team win. Jim and Anthony Murphy break down Gourson’s plate discipline, defensive versatility, smart baserunning and potential path to Pittsburgh.

Could the former ninth-round pick eventually become a valuable utility player for the Pirates?

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The Pirates shocked everyone the night before the 2026 MLB Draft, trading the No. 34 overall pick and left-handed pitching prospect Jaden Woods to the Chicago White Sox for infielder Jacob Gonzalez and left-handed reliever Brandon Eisert.

On this emergency episode, we break down what Pittsburgh is getting, what it gave up, how Gonzalez fits into the infield, whether Eisert can help the bullpen and what losing the No. 34 pick means ...

Mitch Keller lasted just three innings against the Atlanta Braves as his season-long struggles against left-handed hitters continued. Alex Stumpf examines Keller’s extreme platoon splits, the mechanical issues potentially affecting his arsenal and why neither the cutter nor changeup has provided a reliable answer.

Can Keller make the necessary adjustments during the All-Star break, or has his decline become another major prob...

The Pirates have another major injury to deal with after Konnor Griffin is expected to miss about two months. Does that change Pittsburgh's trade deadline plans and force Ben Cherington to target a shortstop?

Plus, the bullpen continues to implode while Carmen Mlodzinski remains underutilized, and Mitch Keller turns in another rough outing. Is this just a slump, or has something fundamentally changed?

Jim, Tyler, and DiNardo break ...

The Pittsburgh Pirates fell 10 to 5 to the Atlanta Braves, and Cody and Doug had plenty to say about it. Mitch Keller lasted just three innings, the bullpen once again failed to keep the game within reach, and the frustration around the pitching staff continues to grow.

On the positive side, Jake Mangum had a huge day at the plate, Bryan Reynolds and Esmerlyn Valdez went back to back, and the offense continued to show fight. But wi...

Konnor Griffin’s injury has changed the conversation around the Pittsburgh Pirates trade deadline.

On today’s OffBeat, Alex Stumpf looks at why shutting Griffin down was the right decision, how thin the Pirates infield depth has become, and why Jared Triolo, Nick Gonzales and Tyler Callihan may not be enough to get this team through the rest of the season. The bullpen still needs help, but the Pirates may now have anoth...