The 2026 Pittsburgh Pirates season is officially dead.

At 63-69, the Pirates sit 8.5 games out of a Wild Card spot with just 30 games remaining after an incredible collapse. On today’s Bucco Brew, we look back at how a season that once had legitimate postseason hopes completely fell apart and what actually went wrong.

We’re also digging into one of the biggest explanations surrounding this team: injuries.

The Pirates had injuries. But did injuries actually kill their season?

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The Pirates were supposed to be ready in 2026. They improved the roster over the winter, aggressively addressed the bullpen at the trade deadline and had a Wild Card spot within reach less than a month ago.

Instead, they've collapsed again.

Alex Stumpf looks at why this late-season collapse feels different from 2011, 2012 and 2024, why the usual excuses don't completely work this time, and how several of the players Pittsburgh was counting on have failed to deliver during the most meaningful stretch of the season.

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The Pirates finished an awful weekend in Los Angeles with a 4-0 loss and a three-game sweep at the hands of the Dodgers. Cody and Doug discuss a team that looked simply uncompetitive, the organizational failures that led them here, and why Ben Cherington's process is no longer good enough.

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The Pirates dropped their second straight to the Dodgers, falling 4-3 in another game that was there for the taking.

Tyler and Neil break down Pittsburgh's missed opportunities at the plate, Jared Jones' command issues, another strong showing from Oneil Cruz since returning from the IL, and a Pirates team that continues to find ways to let winnable games slip away.

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The Pirates fought all the way back against the Dodgers, but a golden opportunity in extra innings went completely to waste.

Oneil Cruz continued his ridiculous return with another home run, the bullpen delivered 5.2 excellent innings, and Pittsburgh had runners at the corners with nobody out in the 10th. They still couldn't score, and the Dodgers eventually walked it off, 5-4.

DiNardo and Neil break down the missed opportunities, Bubba Chandler's uneven start, the decision to remove Rafael Flores, Henry Davis' struggles, and another huge night from Cruz.

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Alex Stumpf came into this homestand ready to declare the 2026 Pittsburgh Pirates dead. Instead, they took two of three from both the Red Sox and Tigers and kept the tiniest bit of hope alive.

Now comes the real test. The Pirates head out for a nine-game road trip against the Dodgers, Padres and Cardinals with essentially no margin for error. Alex looks at what it would take to get back into the Wild Card race, the concerns surrounding Paul Skenes, the return of Oneil Cruz and why this really could be Pittsburgh’s last stand.

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The David Bednar trade deserves another look.

Rafael Flores has started making an impact in Pittsburgh, including a huge two-homer performance in Wednesday's comeback win. So one year later, do we feel differently about the Pirates' return for Bednar? Was moving him ultimately the right call, or is the return still underwhelming?

DiNardo and the crew also discuss Oneil Cruz making an immediate impact after returning from the 60-day IL, Endy Rodríguez landing back on the IL and what the Christian Bethancourt addition could mean for Pittsburgh's catching situation.

Then it's time to preview a brutal six-game road trip against the Dodgers and Padres, beginning with Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Tarik Skubal and Blake Snell in Los Angeles.

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Rafael Flores Jr. came off the bench Wednesday and became the first player in Pirates history to hit two home runs in a game, including a ninth-inning shot off Kenley Jansen that helped set up Pittsburgh’s walk-off win.

Alex Stumpf breaks down why Flores’ offensive success looks legitimate, what still needs to improve behind the plate and whether the Pirates may finally have a long-term answer at catcher. Plus, how Henry Davis, Endy Rodríguez, Ryan O’Hearn and Pittsburgh’s plans for 2027 could factor into Flores’ future.

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Rafael Flores came off the bench and homered twice before Brandon Lowe walked it off in the ninth as the Pirates beat Detroit 4-3 and took another series. Cody and Doug react to the dramatic finish, Oneil Cruz's return and the growing concern surrounding Paul Skenes.

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Termarr Johnson is set to undergo ACL reconstruction along with a procedure on his LCL, putting his timeline for 2027 into question. Alex Stumpf looks at what the significant knee injury means for Johnson’s future and a Pirates organization that once appeared to have a clear succession plan at second base.

With Brandon Lowe’s future in Pittsburgh uncertain, Johnson eligible for the Rule 5 Draft and a potential MLB lockout adding another complication, the Pirates could have a difficult decision to make with the former No. 4 overall pick this winter.

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