Cincinnati Fans Need to Stop Looking Down on the Pittsburgh Pirates

The Reds have struggled against their NL Central rivals in recent years, but it's time to start respecting the Pirates.

Apr. 3, 2026 at 4:25am

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A fractured, geometric painting depicting a baseball game between the Cincinnati Reds and Pittsburgh Pirates, with the players and field broken down into sharp, overlapping planes of color, capturing the intensity and unpredictability of their matchups.A cubist interpretation of the ongoing rivalry between the Cincinnati Reds and Pittsburgh Pirates, highlighting the shifting balance of power in the NL Central.Today in Pittsburgh

Columnist Jason Williams argues that Cincinnati Reds fans need to stop underestimating the Pittsburgh Pirates, who have had recent success against their Ohio rivals. The Pirates have a talented roster, including the NL's best pitcher in Paul Skenes and baseball's top prospect in shortstop Konnor Griffin, and have outperformed the Reds in the standings over the past decade.

Why it matters

This story highlights the need for Cincinnati sports fans to move past their 'we should always beat the Pirates' mentality. The Reds' struggles against their NL Central foes are a sign that the balance of power in the division may be shifting, and fans need to adjust their expectations accordingly.

The details

The Pirates have a 36-25 record against the Reds since 2022 and have won the season series 5 out of the last 8 years. Pittsburgh has also made a playoff appearance more recently than Cincinnati, winning the NL wild-card game in 2013. The Pirates have the same number of World Series titles as the Reds (five), and have never won the NL Central division, which the Reds have only won three times officially.

  • The Pirates took 2 out of 3 games against the Reds this week.
  • Paul Skenes, the NL's best pitcher, is 5-0 with a 0.53 ERA in six career starts against the Reds.
  • Konnor Griffin, the Pirates' top prospect, is scheduled to make his MLB debut on April 3.

The players

Paul Skenes

The NL's best pitcher, who has dominated the Reds with a 5-0 record and 0.53 ERA in six career starts against them.

Konnor Griffin

The Pittsburgh Pirates' top prospect, who is scheduled to make his MLB debut on April 3.

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What they’re saying

“This is an ingrained way of thinking in Cincinnati that needs to change. We all need to stop looking down on the Pirates and thinking of them as easy wins on the schedule.”

— Jason Williams, Columnist

The takeaway

Cincinnati sports fans need to adjust their expectations and start respecting the Pittsburgh Pirates as a legitimate threat in the NL Central. The Reds' struggles against their division rivals in recent years are a sign that the balance of power may be shifting, and fans need to be open to the possibility that the Pirates are no longer the easy win they once were.