3 Reasons the Pirates Could Miss the Playoffs in 2026

Alex Stumpf takes a realistic look at the 2026 Pittsburgh Pirates and breaks down three reasons they could miss the postseason. From concerns about how the rotation’s workload will hold up over a full season, to the volatility in the bullpen, to what could be a major defensive step back, this episode focuses on the biggest red flags surrounding the roster heading into Opening Day. Alex also sets the stage for tomorrow’s follow-up episode, where he’ll flip the conversation and give three reasons the Pirates can make the playoffs. Subscribe to North Shore Nine for more Pirates coverage. Purchase Tailgate game tickets: https://www.gofevo.com/event/Northshore9tailgate0418 Join this channel to get access to perks: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC9ZY250XUYiS-yX7xOQCdLA/join Use Promo Code NS9 for 30% off your first order at https://www.gritily.com Use Promo Code NORTHSHORENINE for $20 off your first order at https://www.seatgeek.com LIKE and SUBSCRIBE with NOTIFICATIONS ON if you enjoyed the show! NS9 MERCH: https://northshorenine.myspreadshop.com ►Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/NorthShoreNine ►Website: https://www.northshorenine.com ►Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/northshorenine ►TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@northshorenine ►Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/northshorenine ►Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/northshorenine ►Discord: https://discord.gg/3HVYPg544m ►BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/northshorenine.bsky.social Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.