The Pittsburgh Pirates suffered yet another defeat, this time being shut out 5-0 by the St. Louis Cardinals on Wednesday. Over the three-game series, Pittsburgh managed only four total runs and has now dropped seven straight games, falling to a 12-26 record for the season.
Calling the situation in Pittsburgh “troubling” might be putting it mildly. The team’s poor performance has led many fans to call for the firing of manager Derek Shelton. While Shelton may not be solely responsible for the Pirates’ ongoing struggles, there’s growing belief that a change is necessary. With an off-day on Thursday and a weekend home series against the Atlanta Braves on deck, the timing could be right to make a managerial switch.
Shelton is in his sixth season with the Pirates and holds a 306-439 record. The team has yet to win more than 76 games under his leadership and has never been close to making the playoffs or finishing with a .500 record. It’s rare for managers to last this long without showing tangible progress.
Still, not all of the blame may lie with Shelton. The Pirates have a solid rotation, though the injury to Jared Jones has been a setback. Outside of Oneil Cruz, the offense has struggled, and the bullpen remains a liability. While Shelton has made some questionable decisions, the overall talent level simply doesn’t stack up in a competitive National League.
Both perspectives hold weight: Shelton has faced significant challenges, but he also hasn’t elevated the team in six years. Even with a flawed roster, the Pirates shouldn’t be among the league’s bottom three. A managerial change might at least inject some energy into the clubhouse. With a break in the schedule, the organization has a chance to reassess—and Shelton could be on the way out.
