Pirates' Three Keys to Victory in Giants Series: Skenes and Chandler Time
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PITTSBURGH — The Pittsburgh Pirates have one final month to make a real run at the postseason, and they can't wait around any longer.
The Pirates begin their homestand with a three-game series against the San Francisco Giants at PNC Park, Sept. 1-3, marking the last 24 games of the regular season.
Pittsburgh currently sits 67-71 and six games back in the National League Wild Card race, needing to win most of their games this month to have a shot at the playoffs.
The Pirates focus their attention on the Giants, and there are four important things they must do to win this series, or even better, sweep them.
Paul Skenes and Bubba Chandler Must Shove
The Pirates have Paul Skenes starting the series opener on Sept. 1, then Bubba Chandler following up the next game on Sept. 2.
Both pitchers are coming off strong starts against the San Diego Padres at Petco Park, as Skenes threw six scoreless and issued no walks on Aug. 25, and then Chandler almost had a quality start, 5.2 innings with just one earned run.
Skenes had his best start in three months, showing the efficiency and effectiveness he did when he was the 2025 NL Cy Young Award winner.
Chandler has been solid in the second half of 2026, with a 2.95 ERA, while showing better command and issuing fewer walks.
The Pirates can get off to a great start in both of these games if Skenes and Chandler come through and dominate like they know they can.
Keep Hitting for Power
Home runs are a big part of any great team's offense, and when the Pirates have been successful in 2026, they've hit for power.
The Pirates showed off that power in the series win over the St. Louis Cardinals at Busch Stadium, with four home runs total and two home runs in each of the last two games.
Second baseman Brandon Lowe hit a solo home run in the first inning, and rookie catcher Rafael Flores Jr. hit a three-run home run in the fifth inning, giving the Pirates a 5-1 lead in the eventual 6-2 win on Aug. 29.
Rookie right fielder Esmerlyn Valdez hit a two-run, opposite-field home run in the second inning, and then third baseman Jared Triolo crushed a solo shot in the fifth inning, making it 4-0 in the 5-4 series finale victory on Aug. 30.
The Pirates also got a big win over the Padres on Aug. 25, as center fielder Oneil Cruz hit the go-ahead home run against All-Star closer Mason Miller in the ninth inning in the 1-0 win.
Pittsburgh has struggled putting rallies together recently, so if they can get some big hits, they can get the wins they need, even if the offense as a whole isn't performing up to par.
Let the Bullpen Take Control
The Pirates had one of the worst bullpens in baseball for most of the season, but the trade deadline made a big difference, and they now have one of the best bullpens.
Pittsburgh traded for Lake Bachar (Miami Marlins), Kirby Yates (Los Angeles Angels), Luke Weaver (New York Mets) and Camilo Doval (New York Yankees), and all four have played big roles in the bullpen's improvement.
Bachar and Carmen Mlodzinski look like they can handle the bullpen game, which will take place in the series finale on Sept. 3, throwing 5.2 combined innings vs. the Cardinals in the 6-2 win.
Weaver has paired with left-handed pitcher Mason Montgomery for a great set-up/closer duo and one that could be the best in baseball.
Yates, Weaver, Doval and left-handed pitcher Gregory Soto can all throw in different situations for success, and right-handed pitcher Yohan Ramírez has thrived in the middle relief role.
The Pirates bullpen posted a 2.69 ERA in August, and they'll need more of that in September and against the Giants.
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Dominic writes for Pittsburgh Pirates On SI, Pittsburgh Panthers Pn SI and also, Pittsburgh Steelers On SI. A Pittsburgh native, Dominic grew up watching Pittsburgh Sports and wrote for The Pitt News as an undergraduate at the University of Pittsburgh, covering Pitt Athletics. He would write for Pittsburgh Sports Now after college and has years of experience covering sports across Pittsburgh.