The curtain officially fell on the Pittsburgh Pirates’ season on Sept. 15, when the team was mathematically eliminated from playoff contention. That date marked the franchise’s 10th consecutive season without a postseason appearance, a sobering reminder of how long October baseball has eluded Pittsburgh. As the regular season winds down, the Pirates’ focus naturally shifts from box scores to big-picture questions. Like other non-playoff teams, their eyes are already fixed on 2026. But unlike many rebuilding clubs, Pittsburgh sits at a crossroads: they’ve developed an impressive young pitching staff and sprinkled in star-level talent, yet the roster remains incomplete.
3 burning questions Pirates must address before the end of 2025 postseason
