For seven long seasons, the Pittsburgh Pirates have been stuck in the basement of the National League. A decade without a playoff berth. But something incredible is happening in the Steel City this year—and General Manager Ben Cherington is finally getting to talk about a winning formula.

After taking two of three from the Colorado Rockies, the Pirates enter Friday with a sparkling 24-20 record and a plus-32 run differential. That's not just good—it's the kind of number that gets fans dreaming of October baseball. According to FanGraphs, Pittsburgh now has a 58.9 percent chance of reaching the postseason.

So, what changed? Let's start with the obvious: Paul Skenes. The reigning NL Cy Young winner is still dealing, keeping the pitching staff among the league's elite (eighth in ERA). But the real story is the offense. After finishing dead last in scoring in 2024, the Pirates are now sixth in runs per game. That's a stunning turnaround from averaging 3.6 runs per contest to a robust 5.0—a 38.9 percent jump. If they keep this pace, they'd become the first Pittsburgh team to average five runs per game since 1940.

Cherington credits a deeper lineup for the surge. Over the offseason, he added Brandon Lowe, Ryan O'Hearn, and Marcell Ozuna, injecting much-needed pop into the order. "The simplest thing is we're deeper, and we have fewer guys that are struggling as big-league hitters," Cherington told The Athletic. He even believes there's room to grow: "I actually don't believe we've gotten to our best offense yet. We're not quite clicking against left-handed starters."

That's the one area of concern. Against lefty pitchers, the Pirates are slashing just .219/.296/.372. With most of their top bats being left-handed, Cherington may need to swing a trade for a right-handed bat before the deadline. But for now, the optimism is real. Homegrown stars like Oneil Cruz are finally stepping up, and the clubhouse buzz is undeniable.

From last-place laughingstock to legitimate contender—the Pirates are writing a comeback story worth watching. And for fans who love repping their team's gear, there's never been a better time to wear the black and gold.