Jared Jones’ dominant September is changing Pirates 2027 rotation outlook

For a while, the Pittsburgh Pirates weren’t even sure Jared Jones belonged in their rotation when he returned from the injured list. Now, the bigger question might be just how high he belongs in it next season.

Jones delivered perhaps his strongest statement yet Tuesday night, carving through the St. Louis Cardinals for seven scoreless innings in the Pirates’ 2-0 victory. He allowed one hit — a softly struck double that ended his perfect-game bid in the sixth — walked nobody and struck out nine while needing just 86 pitches.

It was Pittsburgh’s fifth consecutive win and 80th victory of the season. Perhaps more importantly, it continued a September run that has completely changed the conversation surrounding Jones. Through four starts this month, Jones owns a 1.08 ERA across 25 innings with 35 strikeouts. Opponents have slugged just .174 against him, the lowest mark among pitchers with at least 20 innings in September.

The Pirates seriously entertained the possibility of using Jones out of the bullpen when he returned from the injured list earlier this season. Pittsburgh wanted to carefully manage his workload, and Jones had missed the opening two months of the year. Jones wasn't particularly interested in the plan, though, maintaining that he viewed himself as a starting pitcher.

September is making his case for him. Jones has flirted with history multiple times this season. He threw six perfect innings against the Atlanta Braves in July before his pitch count forced him from the game. On Sept. 10 against the Chicago White Sox, he carried a no-hit bid into the seventh inning.

Jared Jones’ late-season breakout changes the calculus for Pirates’ rotation in 2027

Tuesday offered another glimpse of just how dominant Jones can be when his command and stuff are working together. He retired the first 16 Cardinals he faced and threw only 59 pitches through five innings.

“I keep flirting with it, but I can’t ever get it done,” Jones said afterward. “I’ll take that start every time of the week.”

The Pirates certainly should, especially considering what it could mean for 2027. Paul Skenes will obviously remain at the front of Pittsburgh’s rotation, and Braxton Ashcraft emerged as another legitimate building block before his late-season arm discomfort. Bubba Chandler has shown why he entered the year as one of baseball’s most highly regarded pitching prospects. But Jones pitching like this changes the ceiling of the entire group.

Instead of entering the offseason wondering whether Jones needs to be protected in a lesser role, Pittsburgh can realistically envision a rotation with Skenes, Jones, Ashcraft and Chandler occupying four spots. Mitch Keller’s eventual return and younger options only add further depth.

There are still questions Jones has to answer. His season has been inconsistent, something he readily acknowledged Tuesday, and staying healthy will always be central to his development. But the Pirates have spent years talking about assembling waves of young pitching capable of sustaining a contender, and Jones’ September is beginning to make that vision look considerably more real.

And after briefly wondering whether he belonged in the bullpen, Pittsburgh should enter 2027 viewing Jones as a potential difference-maker near the top of its rotation.

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