Pirates fans get one last insult after watching playoff hopes die

The Pittsburgh Pirates are officially out of the postseason race. But apparently, that wasn't painful enough.

After the Pirates swept the Kansas City Royals over the weekend to improve to 79-77, MLB Network insider Jon Morosi pointed out one final, particularly cruel fact for Pittsburgh fans.

“The Pirates (79-77) would be in a virtual tie for a postseason spot if they were in the AL,” Morosi posted on X Sunday evening.

Wonderful.

Just when Pirates fans were beginning to process another October without their team, here comes a reminder that Pittsburgh picked a particularly inconvenient year to play in the National League.

Morosi wasn't exaggerating, either. The Chicago White Sox currently occupy the final AL wild-card position at 80-76. Pittsburgh, at 79-77, would essentially be right there with them. The Pirates also have a better record than several AL teams still technically hanging around the race.

Instead, Pittsburgh plays in the NL, where the bar has been substantially higher. The Philadelphia Phillies entered Monday holding the final NL wild card at 86-70, while the Arizona Diamondbacks remained alive at 82-74. Pittsburgh sits seven games behind Philadelphia with only six games remaining and has already been mathematically eliminated.

That's a brutal contrast. It also shouldn't become an excuse.

Pirates have no one but themselves to blame for missing playoffs in 2026

The Pirates didn't miss the postseason because Major League Baseball unfairly assigned them to the National League Central. They missed because they spent too much of the season giving away games they could have won.

Pittsburgh finally built a roster capable of hanging around. The offense took a legitimate step forward. Young players emerged. The club upgraded aggressively at the trade deadline. And now, after being eliminated, they're suddenly playing some of their best baseball. Sunday's 4-3 comeback victory completed a sweep of the Kansas City Royals and gave the Pirates 14 wins in their last 20 games.

There is some value in finishing strong. The Pirates still have an opportunity to secure their first winning season since 2018, and the way they've played down the stretch should create legitimate optimism entering 2027. But that's consolation-prize territory.

The Pirates entered this season intending to reach the postseason. They didn't. And perhaps nothing illustrates how frustrating that failure is better than the current standings.

Put this exact Pirates team in the American League, and the final week might involve scoreboard watching, playoff scenarios and meaningful baseball at PNC Park. Instead, Pittsburgh's postseason fate has already been decided. And even after the playoff hopes died, the baseball gods apparently found one last way to rub it in.

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