MLB Analyst Compares Pirates' Loaded Pitching Staff To Recent Dynasty

Pittsburgh's young, talented rotation reminds former player of legendary Braves staff

Published on Feb. 24, 2026

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The Pittsburgh Pirates have a loaded pitching staff, with young stars like Paul Skenes, Bubba Chandler, Braxton Ashcraft, and Jared Jones. Former MLB player Dan Plesac recently compared the Pirates' rotation to the legendary Atlanta Braves teams of the early 1990s, which featured Greg Maddux, Tom Glavine, John Smoltz, and Steve Avery. While Plesac acknowledged it might be an overstatement, he believes the Pirates' pitching is the best part of a team that has dramatically improved its lineup in the offseason.

Why it matters

The Pirates haven't won a playoff game since 2013 or a championship since 1979, but their talented pitching staff could help change that. If the comparison to the dominant Braves teams proves accurate, the Pirates could be poised for a return to the postseason and potentially their first World Series title in over 40 years.

The details

The Pirates' pitching staff is led by young stars like Paul Skenes, Bubba Chandler, Braxton Ashcraft, and Jared Jones. The team ranked 7th in ERA last year and has more pitching depth than it knows what to do with. Former Pirates player Dan Plesac recently compared the rotation to the legendary Atlanta Braves teams of the early 1990s, which featured Hall of Famers Greg Maddux, Tom Glavine, and John Smoltz, as well as Steve Avery.

  • The Pirates ranked 7th in ERA last year.
  • Plesac made the comparison on a recent episode of MLB Tonight.

The players

Paul Skenes

A young, talented pitcher for the Pittsburgh Pirates.

Bubba Chandler

A young, talented pitcher for the Pittsburgh Pirates.

Braxton Ashcraft

A young, talented pitcher for the Pittsburgh Pirates.

Jared Jones

A young, talented pitcher for the Pittsburgh Pirates.

Dan Plesac

A former MLB player who played two seasons for the Pirates in the mid-1990s and is now an analyst for MLB Network.

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What they’re saying

“It's a very good rotation. It reminds me a little bit going back, and this might be a little bit of an overstatement, of some of those young pitching staffs of the Atlanta Braves before we knew who they were.”

— Dan Plesac, MLB Analyst (MLB Network)

What’s next

The Pirates will look to their talented pitching staff to help them return to the playoffs for the first time since 2013.

The takeaway

The Pittsburgh Pirates have assembled a formidable pitching rotation that has drawn comparisons to the legendary Atlanta Braves teams of the 1990s. If the young Pirates' arms can live up to the hype, it could signal a long-awaited return to the postseason for the franchise.