Pirates' upcoming stretch will tell fans everything they need to know

Entering June, the Pirates were among the biggest surprises in baseball. The team that was once known for its pitching is now an offensive powerhouse, leading the NL Central in runs scored. You would be excused if you were feeling a bit good about this team’s chances, but the real test is still on its way as Pittsburgh faces a pair of postseason favorites over the next week.

The Pirates’ mettle will be tested during back-to-back series against the juggernaut Braves and the reigning champion Dodgers between June 5 and 11. If Pittsburgh comes through unscathed (or at least treads water in the standings), the team will get a reprieve against the cellar-dwelling Marlins and Rockies and the underwhelming A’s. A misstep against Atlanta and/or L.A., though, could spell doom for the Pirates’ season.

June looks like a make-or-break month for the Pirates’ playoff hopes

On the whole, with a few notable exceptions, the Pirates have beaten the teams they were supposed to beat this season. That, in large part, has led them to their current standing in a Wild Card spot. Against the lowly AL, for example, Pittsburgh is 11-6. Facing more stout opposition, though, the Pirates haven’t fared as well, holding a 20-19 record against teams at or above .500.

A few things are in the Pirates’ favor in these upcoming series. Pittsburgh is slated to face the bottom of Atlanta’s rotation, avoiding Cy Young contender Chris Sale. Meanwhile, Braxton Ashcraft, riding a hot streak, will attempt to silence the Braves’ bats.

That sets up Paul Skenes and Jared Jones to go head-to-head with the Dodgers and Shohei Ohtani, another Cy Young favorite. While the Dodgers hold a 110-62 record against the Pirates going back to 2000, the Bucs have owned the Boys in Blue when they visit PNC Park. The Pirates are 9-3 at home against the Dodgers since 2022.

Seven other NL teams are, like the Pirates, in line for a Wild Card spot or within two games of one. The closeness of the race, even at this early stage of the season, demands that teams rise to the moment. Now is the time for this iteration of the Pirates to prove whether they belong in a playoff conversation that will almost certainly involve the Braves and the Dodgers or if they are destined to cool as the chill of autumn sets in.

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