Pirates just matched a franchise feat not seen since 2015 with series win over Diamondbacks

A year ago, the Pittsburgh Pirates were unraveling.

Through 38 games in 2025, they were 12-26, buried in the standings and spiraling badly enough that managerial change felt inevitable. The energy around the franchise was toxic. The offense couldn’t score. The bullpen couldn’t hold leads. Every close game seemed to end the same way, and by the time Derek Shelton was fired, it felt less like a shocking move and more like an overdue mercy.

Fast forward one year, and the contrast is impossible to ignore.

The Pirates improved to 21-17 with Thursday’s 4-2 win over the Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field, securing their fourth consecutive road series victory against a National League opponent — something the franchise hasn’t accomplished since 2015.

That year, of course, also happens to be the last time the Pirates reached the postseason. Coincidence or not, the similarities are becoming harder to dismiss.

The 2026 Pirates are bringing back memories of franchise's last playoff team

This version of the Pirates doesn’t feel fragile. It feels functional and steady, like they have a chance to win every night.

Mitch Keller delivered another strong outing Thursday, allowing just two runs over six innings while continuing the most consistent stretch of baseball of his season. Gregory Soto slammed the door in the ninth for another save. Brandon Lowe and Joey Bart both homered, giving Pittsburgh enough offense to survive even without an explosive night at the plate.

And maybe that’s the biggest difference from a year ago: this team no longer needs everything to go perfectly just to win a game.

Last year’s Pirates constantly looked like they were waiting for something bad to happen. This year’s group looks like it expects to win.

The bullpen has stabilized behind Dennis Santana and Soto. Keller has settled in after an uneven start. Paul Skenes still gives them ace-level dominance every fifth day. Oneil Cruz has become far more dangerous against left-handed pitching. Nick Gonzales has emerged as one of the team’s most reliable hitters. Konnor Griffin’s arrival injected legitimate excitement into the lineup.

Even the vibe feels different. The Pirates are winning ugly games, close games, low-scoring games and comeback games. They’re doing it on the road. They’re surviving injuries. They’re getting contributions from different places every night instead of relying on one or two players to carry the roster.

No, this doesn’t guarantee a playoff berth. The NL Central remains crowded, and there’s still a long way to go. But after what fans endured a year ago, this much is undeniable:

What a difference a year makes.

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