Post-Gazette Pirates insider Colin Beazley previews Pittsburgh's three-game series in San Diego and discusses whether the team can build on its recent success in Arizona. Colin breaks down some key Padres' statistics and their sweep of the Pirates earlier this season before previewing the three pitching matchups and concluding with a bold prediction.

After Thursday's OTAs practice from the Steelers' South Side facility, Steelers insiders Ray Fittipaldo and Brian Batko share their key takeaways, including what seems to be an increased role for Payton Wilson at linebacker. Has he ascended to a starter next to Patrick Queen? Or is he just a placeholder until Cole Holcomb is healthy? And on offense, what kind of role can we expect from new running back Kenneth Gainwell?

Post-Gazette sports columnist Jason Mackey joins host Adam Bittner to react to a busy week in Pittsburgh sports news.

Should the GM Omar Khan, coach Mike Tomlin and the Steelers have allocated their offseason budget toward building roster depth for beyond just 2025? With deals similar to the one they made with DK Metcalf? Instead of pursuing a short-term QB solution in Aaron Rodgers? And if they knew Rodgers' indecision would last into OTAs, would they have handled things differently?

What are the biggest storylines around OTAs otherwise? Is it the tackle situation with Broderick Jones and Troy Fautanu? The receivers room with Roman Wilson, Calvin Austin III and Robert Woods jockeying for position behind Metcalf? is it Darius Slay Jr.'s arrival in the secondary? Or the re-loaded running back room with Trey Sermon, Kaleb Johnson and Kenneth Gainwell joining Jaylen Warren?

Then in the third segment, airing on the PG's Pirates YouTube channel, the guys analyze the team's recent hot streak. Is new manager Don Kelly making a meaningful difference compared to Derek Shelton? Or is the offense just getting some better luck? Is Kelly's future tied to Ben Cherington's? Or could Bob Nutting retain Kelly and change GMs this offseason? What should we make of how the club is handling young pitchers Bubba Chandler, Carmen Mlodzinski, Mike Burrows and Braxton Ashcraft? And is Henry Davis finally starting to round a corner?

Post-Gazette insiders Noah Hiles and Colin Beazley discuss the Pirates' three-game series in Arizona, in which the Pirates caught fire midway through the second game for a comeback win Tuesday and a rout on Wednesday. The duo start by discussing the offense in general, as the Pirates scored 19 runs in the final 12 innings of the series, before focusing on Bryan Reynolds and Henry Davis. They then focus more on Davis, with Hiles going in-depth on why Davis should be the Pirates' primary catcher until proven otherwise. They then discuss the pitching and Davis's effect on the pitching staff, especially Pirates ace Paul Skenes. For more Pirates coverage, visit: https://www.post-gazette.com/sports/pirates Visit our sponsor, Greenawalt Roofing at https://greenawaltroofing.com/service-areas/pittsburgh-pennsylvania/

Post-Gazette sports columnist Paul Zeise reacts to the day in Pittsburgh sports news live around 5 p.m. Eastern.

He weighs in on the increasingly frenzied national discourse surrounding Aaron Rodgers, Mason Rudolph and the Steelers' QB situation. Do GM Omar Khan and coach Mike Tomlin deserve the criticism they're getting from Terry Bradshaw and others? Or are people making too much of OTAs and optional practices in late May, with the season still several months away?

Paul welcomes Mike DeCourcy of the Sporting News to break it all down; get Mike's thoughts on College Football Playoff expansion and changes related to the NCAA's House settlement; and talk some Pirates after a win in Arizona on Tuesday night.

Post-Gazette Steelers insiders Christopher Carter and Ray Fittipaldo recap Day 2 of OTAs at the team's South Side facility.

What have tackles Broderick Jones and Troy Fautanu been saying about their approach to 2025? Can Fautanu bounce back from the injury that ruined his rookie season? And can Jones finally live up to his first-round NFL draft hype after two years of inconsistency?

Our duo tackles those questions, then analyzes how the cornerback group is shaping up, with Darius Slay joining Joey Porter Jr., Cory Trice Jr., Beanie Bishop and others. And explains why Wednesday's practice was a slippery one, with Mike Tomlin keeping practice outside despite a heavy dose of rain in Pittsburgh.

On the Wednesday episode of the North Shore Drive podcast, presented by Edgar Snyder & Associates, Post-Gazette Steelers insiders Christopher Carter and Ray Fittipaldo react to national criticism of the team over Aaron Rodgers' absence from OTAs.

Do names like Terry Bradshaw and Joy Taylor have a point in calling out Rodgers, GM Omar Khan and coach Mike Tomlin for the situation? Or are they overstating the impact of Rodgers' absence, with veterans including Mason Rudolph and others shrugging off outside concerns?

Then later, the guys give a first look at other areas of concern. How are tackles Troy Fautanu and Broderick Jones looking as they face pressure amid the departure of Dan Moore Jr.? How are new receivers DK Metcalf and Robert Woods assimilating? And are internal options Calvin Austin III and Roman Wilson prepared to step up at the position following the George Pickens trade to the Dallas Cowboys?

Post-Gazette sports columnist Paul Zeise reacts to the day in Pittsburgh sports news live around 5 p.m. Eastern.

Should the Steelers really be looking at Kirk Cousins as a Plan B to Aaron Rodgers, as reporting from ESPN's Jeremy Fowler suggests? Would the veteran quarterback’s production be worth his hefty price tag for general manager Omar Khan and coach Mike Tomlin? Or are they better off looking internally at options like Mason Rudolph and Will Howard? And what other storylines is Paul monitoring at Steelers OTAs, from the new-look receivers room with DK Metcalf and Robert Woods joining Roman Wilson and Calvin Austin III to the battle at tackle highlighting Broderick Jones and Troy Fautanu?

Paul tackles those topics, then recaps a busy weekend for the Pirates against the Milwaukee Brewers and the start of their West Coast road trip against the Arizona Diamondbacks.

Post-Gazette Steelers insiders Brian Batko and Ray Fittipaldo recap the first day OTAs at the team's South Side facility. What were players saying about Aaron Rodgers as he remains unsigned at the beginning of the offseason program? How much faith do they have in Mason Rudolph as he takes first-team reps for now? How are the receivers looking? From new faces like DK Metcalf and Robert Woods to returning options like Roman Wilson and Calvin Austin III? And how closely should we be watching tackles Broderick Jones and Troy Fautanu in the early going? Our duo tackles those questions and more.

On his weekly Chipped Ham & Football podcast, Post-Gazette Steelers insider Brian Batko welcomes former Steelers linebacker and podcaster Arthur Moats to analyze the team's QB situation as OTAs get underway this week.

How big of a deal is it that Aaron Rodgers still hasn't signed as of Tuesday morning? Why didn't coach Mike Tomlin, former GM Kevin Colbert and current GM Omar Khan have a better succession plan for Ben Roethlisberger to avoid this situation? And what went wrong with Mason Rudolph, Kenny Pickett, Mitch Trubisky, Justin Fields and Russell Wilson that prevented them or someone else from becoming the long-term answer at the position? Our duo tackles those questions and more.