In his weekly Pirates mailbag podcast, Post-Gazette insider Noah Hiles answers reader questions. Among them: Why is Bubba Chandler, whom the Pirates will call up this weekend, starting in a long-relief role out of the bullpen rather than as a starting pitcher? Did the team move pitcher Andrew Heaney to the bullpen so he wouldn't reach his contract's innings bonus? Would the Pirates really be better if owner Bob Nutting had hired now-Milwaukee Brewers general manager Matt Arnold instead of Ben Cherington? Could Andrew McCutchen see some action at first base? And should the Pirates approach Konnor Griffin with a long-term deal offer before he gets too expensive? Noah answers those questions and more.

On his weekly Chipped Ham & Football podcast, Post-Gazette Steelers insider Brian Batko welcomes former defensive lineman Breiden Fehoko to talk about training camp and the preseason, after his bid to make the team fell short.

He explains his feelings about leaving the team and what he was seeing from former teammates. How are defensive line rookies Derrick Harmon and Yahya Black looking up close? And how quickly can they find their way alongside Cam Heyward and Keeanu Benton? Why should fans not sleep on Nick Herbig as a key piece of the defense, even as he sits behind T.J. Watt and Alex Highsmith on the depth chart? And which QBs does Breiden like in the 2026 NFL draft in Pittsburgh? Our duo tackles those questions and more.

Post-Gazette Pirates insider Noah Hiles reacts to news that top pitching prospect Bubba Chandler is set to be promoted to the MLB club this weekend for a series against the Colorado Rockies.

Why was now the right time for Chandler in the eyes of GM Ben Cherington and manager Don Kelly? Are they making the right move in using him out of the bullpen to start? Or should he be in the rotation alongside names like Paul Skenes, Mitch Keller and Braxton Ashcraft? And what doe this promotion mean for 2026 rotation spot, with competition including Mike Burrows, Johan Oviedo and others? Noah tackles those questions and more.

In this clip from the Wednesday episode of the North Shore Drive podcast, presented by Edgar Snyder & Associates, host Adam Bittner welcomes Post-Gazette insider Christopher Carter to ponder the starters he's most interested to see in the NFL preseason finale against the Carolina Panthers.

How much of Jonnu Smith will we see? And where will he line up in comparison to his tight end teammates including Pat Freiermuth and Darnell Washington? How will coach Mike Tomlin deploy veteran DBs Jalen Ramsey, Darius Slay Jr. and Joey Porter Jr.? And how will those guys communicate after the breakdowns in the secondary at the end of last season? How will RB Jaylen Warren look running behind offensive linemen Broderick Jones, Mason McCormick, Troy Fautanu and Zach Frazier? And how will DC Teryl Austin split the snaps among LBs Patrick Queen, Payton Wilson and Cole Holcomb? Our duo tackles those questions and more.

In this clip from the Wednesday edition of the North Shore Drive podcast, presented by Edgar Snyder & Associates, host Adam Bittner welcomes Post-Gazette insider Christopher Carter to analyze the leadership and locker room presence Aaron Rodgers is bringing to the Steelers.

What do Skylar Thompson's glowing remarks about Rodgers tell us about how his new teammates are receiving him? To what degree is he defying the "circus" label that accompanied him from the New York Jets? Has he humbled himself because of that experience? Does he see value in just being one of the guys in coach Mike Tomlin's locker room alongside other veterans like T.J. Watt, DK Metcalf, Cam Heyward and Jalen Ramsey? And how does his leadership style compare to that of Russell Wilson last year? Our guys tackles those questions and more.

Post-Gazette insiders Brian Batko and Ray Fittipaldo recap Tuesday's Steelers practice at UPMC Rooney Sports Complex on the South Side.

What should we make of All-Pro defensive lineman and team captain Cam Heyward returning to practice amid news of a contract dispute? What went into coach Mike Tomlin's decision to NOT play Heyward, T.J. Watt, DK Metcalf and Aaron Rodgers in the final preseason game Thursday against the Carolina Panthers? Will Rodgers struggle to adjust when the regular season comes because he hasn't thrown in a game with his group of wide receivers including Metcalf, Roman Wilson and the injured Calvin Austin III? Besides that group of four, Tomlin said all other players are in consideration to play. Should he give his new-look secondary some run together and give new faces like Jalen Ramsey and Darius Slay Jr. time to mesh with Joey Porter Jr.? Our duo tackles those questions and more.

On Konnor Griffin's Double-A debut day, Post-Gazette Pirates insider Colin Beazley gives his thoughts on the Pirates' No. 2 farm system ranking and the four top-100 prospects that earned that nod: Griffin, Bubba Chandler, Seth Hernandez and Edward Florentino. Beazley recaps a good week for the Altoona Curve, then gives updates on Hunter Barco, Rafael Flores, Bubba Chandler, Johan Oviedo, Termarr Johnson, Nick Cimillo, Callan Moss, Ivan Brethowr and Florentino.

In this clip from the Tuesday episode of the North Shore Drive podcast, Post-Gazette sports columnist Jason Mackey welcomes Steelers insider Ray Fittipaldo to analyze the defense's depth at linebacker and ongoing communication issues.

How much has the team's depth at linebacker grown in the offseason? How much will projected starters Patrick Queen and Payton Wilson play? And how often might they be rested in favor of reserves like Cole Holcomb, who's been shining in Steelers training camp and the NFL preseason? And where will rookie Jack Sawyer find his niche in the outside linebacker group behind names like T.J. Watt, Alex Highsmith and Nick Herbig?

The guys tackle those questions, then explain whether they're concerned about communication issues that plagued the defense down the stretch. Especially because veterans like Jalen Ramsey and Darius Slay Jr. have not gotten the chance to mesh with new teammates like DeShon Elliott, Joey Porter Jr. and Juan Thornhill much in the preseason.

On the Tuesday edition of the North Shore Drive podcast, Post-Gazette sports columnist Jason Mackey welcomes Steelers insider Ray Fittipaldo to analyze the team's situation at wide receiver and in the running game.

Should fans be alarmed about Calvin Austin III's injury after he suggested there is a chance he may miss NFL Week 1 against the New York Jets? Would Gabe Davis be an adequate replacement at WR2 behind DK Metcalf, following his latest visit with the team for a physical? And where does Roman Wilson belong in the pecking order after his strong preseason?

Our duo tackles those questions, then takes stock of the way Arthur Smith's offense has run the ball thus far. Did Kaleb Johnson show improvement against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers? Do young offensive linemen Broderick Jones, Troy Fautanu, Mason McCormick and Zach Frazier need to show they can perform when they count before fans can really count on the unit? And how much of a difference with Darnell Washington, Pat Freiermuth and Jonnu Smith make for the blocking schemes when they're in the lineup more regularly?

Post-Gazette high school sports insiders Mike White and Keith Barnes launch their new weekly podcast talking all things WPIAL and City League football.

In the first segment, they ponder player of the year candidates with Fort Cherry's Matt Sieg, Pine-Richland's Jay Timmons and McKeesport's Kemon Spell topping the list; analyze which programs have the best chance at PIAA championships; and debate the updated transfer rules and what that mean for players including Anthony Smith of Southmoreland and Khalil Taylor of Seton LaSalle.

Later, the guys preview the top six games of Week 0, including Central Catholic-La Salle College; Imani Christian-Clairton and Woodland Hills-North Allegheny. Then they check in on what former high school standouts Gene Matsook of Rochester and Ray Reitz of Jeannette are up to in their "Where Are They Now?" segment.