Ben Cherington addressed the Pittsburgh Pirates’ pitching struggles during a radio interview on May 27, 2026, according to the Pirates Insider Show on 93.7 The Fan. The general manager acknowledged that results have not met expectations, but he believes improvement is on the horizon.
What happened
Cherington noted the combination of inconsistent performance and bad luck has hampered the pitching staff this season. “Still really see a lot of potential in this group,” he said. “We know to win as many games as we aim to win this year, we’re gonna need a little more consistency on the run prevention side.”[2]
The Pirates have a 4.22 ERA, which ranks 18th in Major League Baseball. Over the past month, only four teams have performed worse, with a 4.96 ERA. Cherington emphasized, “We’re getting beat with runners on base,” referencing the team’s OPS of .782 in those situations, one of the highest in MLB.[1]
Why it matters
The performance of the pitching staff is crucial as the Pirates aim to remain competitive in a challenging season. Cherington stated that the organization must not only address internal inconsistencies but also consider external options to bolster the roster as they head into July.[3]
Background
On May 20, 2026, the Pirates faced challenges when Oneil Cruz was placed on the injured list due to two non-displaced fractures in his left hand. “Sometimes small fractures show up on MRI or CT scans and not an X-ray,” Cherington explained, emphasizing the importance of properly diagnosing injuries to ensure player health.
What’s next
The Pirates will continue monitoring their pitching staff and are expected to explore external options before the trade deadline on July 31, 2026.
