Pirates postseason hype is 'hogwash' according to ESPN analyst

The Pittsburgh Pirates' offseason had many holding out hope for success in 2026. While the first series of the year didn't go well, there are still plenty of hopeful fans for the team.

However, not everyone believes in the Pirates as a sneaky postseason contender. There are some reasons for concern, and it wouldn't be a surprise to see an analyst of two express caution about putting the Pirates down as a postseason team.

ESPN analyst Jesse Rogers has some reservations about the Pirates, and called the postseason hype that's been building for Pittsburgh "hogwash." Rogers is hitting the brakes on the Pirates hype train this season.

Pirates hype quelled by ESPN analyst

"All this talk that the Pirates have improved enough offensively to make the postseason is hogwash," Rogers writes. "...They're improved in some areas. Great. They're still not good enough to contend for the postseason and have already lost a Paul Skenes start. They can't do that very often and expect to make noise in 2026."

The Pirates aren't two series deep into the 2026 season, and the concerns with the team before the year have already begun to come true.

Paul Skenes struggled in his first start of the year, allowing five earned runs in the bottom of the first inning before being pulled from the game.

Some of that might've been the fault of Oneil Cruz in center field, but the struggles of the Pirates as a whole are still very apparent.

More: Three ways Pirates' Paul Skenes could lose NL Cy Young Award

Konnor Griffin is still in the minors, and there's no guarantee he will actually be good once he's called up to the Major Leagues.

Marcell Ozuna could easily have a bad season, and it would not be a surprise after his regression last season. And while Brandon Lowe and Ryan O'Hearn have looked solid thus far, neither is the superstar who can help carry the lineup to a postseason spot.

Rogers' reservations about the Pirates being a postseason contender are warranted. They've already begun to impact them just four games into the season.

Pittsburgh might be a year or two early in 2026, even if they end up having a bit more success than they normally do. But being a postseason contender and a threat to win the NL Central might be a bit too much hype for the Pirates in 2026.

More MLB news:

• Reds’ Hunter Greene to be out until July amid brutal injury news
• Dodgers’ Roki Sasaki will return to rotation, not bullpen according Dave Roberts
• Joey Wentz is out for the season with a torn ACL for the Braves
• Braves predicted to trade Bryce Elder for Lars Nootbaar
• Jesus Luzardo’s $135 million extension is a steal for Phillies
• This 19-year MLB record is finally over for the Giants
• Luis Gil sent down to minor leagues in strange Yankees roster move
• Jacob DeGrom is only 149 strikeouts from 2,000 for his career