Pirates just matched a historic feat that ended with a World Series trip

The Pittsburgh Pirates enter the second half in a tenuous position: At 50-47, they're a clear contender and just two games out of the Wild Card race, but they're also 9.5 games back in the NL Central (even after sweeping the Brewers in the final series before the All-Star Break).

They're clearly too good to sell but perhaps not good enough to justify splurging at the trade deadline. And while that's a fate that would condemn most teams to mediocrity, the Buccos may actually be able to bank on their internal talent carrying them to October.

According to OptaSTATS, the Pirates just completed a turnaround that hasn't been matched in 40 years: They finished the first half leading the league in runs per game, just one season after ranking dead last at the same point in the schedule.

Their company is the 1986-87 St. Louis Cardinals, who improved from 79-82 to 95-67 en route to a World Series appearance (which they lost in seven games). While a win would be nice, there probably wouldn't be too many Pirates fans complaining if this team can match that trip to the Fall Classic in 2026.

Pirates are well-balanced enough to make a deep run in October based on 1987 Cardinals' example

That '87 Cardinals team exists in rarified air. Led by Hall of Famer Ozzie Smith, they fielded one of the best offenses and defenses in the league simultaneously. Their pitching staff wasn't too special, but they did get about 20 bWAR out of their rotation and top five relievers combined.

The '26 Pirates aren't quite as prolific defensively, ranking 22nd in Outs Above Average with a cumulative total of -11, but they make up for it with an excellent starting rotation. That group, which is spearheaded by Paul Skenes and Braxton Ashcraft, is fifth in the league in fWAR (9.8) through the All-Star Break.

They absolutely need to address their bullpen at the trade deadline by bringing in a reliever (or two or three), but this Pirates team has the pitching staff to advance deep into October.

Of course, elite pitching would only mean so much without a great offense to back it up, as we found out last year. Thankfully, the Pirates didn't follow the Cardinals' lead by betting on the same core group, instead overhauling their starting lineup by adding Jake Magnum, Brandon Lowe, Ryan O'Hearn, and others. Not only do they rank first in runs per game, but this is also the second-best offense according to wRC+ (111) and OPS (.768).

The National League is a gauntlet this year, featuring three NL Central teams currently slotted above the Pirates in the standings. Following the '87 Redbirds' lead into the World Series will be tough to do in those circumstances, especially now that there's two extra rounds of playoff baseball to survive before getting there.

But in case it wasn't already clear enough, the Pirates have the offense and pitching needed to make a run at the title. If nothing else, they have a historical precedent on their side.

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