Could a surprise contender from the Steel City be the team to finally halt the Los Angeles Dodgers' dynasty? According to one ESPN analyst, the Pittsburgh Pirates might just be the dark horse that ends the Dodgers' quest for a three-peat.

David Schoenfield recently joined five other ESPN analysts in picking a team capable of knocking off the reigning champions in the postseason. While he admits it's "admittedly a long shot," the reasoning is compelling. After all, the Pirates haven't tasted playoff baseball in over a decade, but this season could be different.

Schoenfield's case hinges on postseason strategy. History shows that the Dodgers are vulnerable in the Division Series—they lost in 2019, 2022, and 2023 despite winning 106, 111, and 100 games respectively. If the Pirates can secure a spot and face Los Angeles in the NLDS, they'd have a secret weapon: ace Paul Skenes could start two of the five games. That alone gives Pittsburgh a fighting chance.

But it's not just about Skenes. The Pirates' rotation is deeper than many realize. Mitch Keller and Braxton Ashcraft have delivered strong early returns, while Bubba Chandler could emerge as "a big-time force" if he tightens his control. And in the bullpen, Pittsburgh boasts an arsenal of power arms, with lefties Mason Montgomery and Gregory Soto perfectly suited to neutralize the Dodgers' fearsome left-handed trio of Shohei Ohtani, Freddie Freeman, and Max Muncy.

Offensively, the Pirates have made significant strides. New additions Brandon Lowe and Ryan O'Hearn are paying dividends, while Oneil Cruz has exploded out of the gate. Bryan Reynolds is bouncing back from a down 2025, and rookie sensation Konnor Griffin is looking increasingly comfortable at the plate. As Schoenfield puts it, "This looks like a sneaky-good offense, especially if Griffin continues to improve."

ESPN insider Jeff Passan called Schoenfield's case "solid," though he noted a potential complication: the Pirates might need to use Skenes in the Wild Card Series just to get there. Still, for a team looking to snap an 11-year playoff drought, the path to October glory—and a potential upset for the ages—is suddenly looking clearer.