Team Performance & Standings
The Pirates have endured a difficult season, currently holding a 61–77 record, placing them last (5th) in the NL Central, trailing the division leader by 24 games. (StatMuse FOX Sports) Their playoff odds have effectively evaporated, sitting at under 0.1%. (Baseball Reference)
Offensive Struggles
Offensively, Pittsburgh has been historically poor:
- The team ranks dead last in MLB in runs scored, on pace for only about 473 runs, which would rank among the lowest totals in modern 162-game history. (Reddit, Rum Bunter)
- Their slash line is abysmal, around .184/.273/.290, with a wOBA of .255 and wRC+ of 61—placing them near the bottom across nearly every rate category. (Rum Bunter, Just Baseball)
- The Pirates have been shut out 12 times this season—the most in MLB—accounting for 13.3% of their games. (SportsNet Pittsburgh)
- Veteran commentary hasn't sugarcoated the truth: “Once again, MLB’s worst offense… manager Shelton was fired.” (The Washington Post, SI)
Pitching Bright Spots
Despite the overall struggles, the pitching staff—especially rookies—has given fans glimpses of hope:
- Paul Skenes has delivered a dominant 1.88 ERA, allowing just 56 hits over 91 innings—yet holds a lackluster 4–6 record due to minimal run support. (The Wall Street Journal, ESPN.com)
- He remains a top-tier performer and a cy-worthy ace, but his win-loss record belies the quality of his outings. (The Wall Street Journal Over the Monster)
- Rookie Mike Burrows has also made an impact, amassing 16 starts with a respectable 4.23 ERA across 111 innings following his May call-up. (CT Insider)
- The Pirates recently enjoyed a 5–2 week, including a sweep of the Rockies, highlighted by strong outings from Skenes and contributions from Jared Triolo. (Brew Crew Ball)
- Veteran Mitch Keller has had flashes of effectiveness (tying for third in MLB with 16 quality starts), but his August ERA soared to 7.88, pushing his season ERA to 4.35 and raising concerns about his consistency in the stretch run. (Bucs Dugout)
Off the Field & Looking Ahead
- Attendance remains weak: averaging just 17,713 fans per game, ranking 26th in MLB. Team management cited poor performance and weather as contributing factors. (The Sun)
- The season also saw the midseason managerial change—Derek Shelton was fired after a 12–26 start; Don Kelly took over as interim manager but hasn't turned things around. (Baseball Reference, The Washington Post)
- Despite the bleak standings, fan engagement remains strong. A recent SB Nation poll found that 74% of fans plan to follow the Pirates for the rest of the season, buoyed by optimism around young talent like Skenes, Bubba Chandler, and Konnor Griffin. (Bucs Dugout)
Summary
The 2025 Pittsburgh Pirates season has been a harsh blend of offensive futility and budding pitching promise. With a record of 61–77, they sit at the bottom of the NL Central, with playoff hopes virtually extinguished. Their offense has been historically bad, ranking last in runs scored and frequently shut out. Yet, the pitching staff—headed by ace Paul Skenes and supported by Mike Burrows—has delivered standout performances, offering a silver lining amid the despair. Veteran Mitch Keller has had bright moments but lacks consistency. Off-field challenges, including low attendance and a midseason managerial change, reflect the turbulent year. Still, fans remain invested, driven by faith in a young nucleus that may shape future seasons.
