Megan: It was a throw that shouldn't have been thrown. A short hop by Oseilvis Basabe. A runner scoring from third with two outs in the bottom of the ninth. The Pittsburgh Pirates didn't just win; they survived a 13-12 bloodbath against the San Francisco Giants last night, and now they are staring down the barrel of a decisive series finale tonight.
Steve: And if you were holding your breath during that ninth inning, you aren't alone. We are still processing the chaos from PNC Park. But while we catch our breath, we need to talk about who is on the mound tonight, who is actually healthy enough to play, and whether this offense can keep riding the momentum or if the Giants will strike back.
Megan: Welcome to the Beatline Podcast Network! I’m Megan Miller, and as always, I’m joined by my favorite baseball brain, Steve. Good morning, everyone. It is September 2nd, 2026. If you missed the madness last night, you are in for another treat tonight. Here is what we are covering: First, the pitching matchup for Game Three of this rivalry. Second, the injury report and how it changes the lineup. And third, our bold prediction for who takes the final game of this three-game set.
Steve: That’s right. The Pirates are sitting at 68-71, fourth in the NL Central. The Giants are 57-82, fourth in the NL West. This isn’t a playoff race, but pride matters. And after last night? There is a lot of emotion in Pittsburgh right now.
Megan: Let’s dive straight into it. Last night ended with Brandon Lowe scoring on an error, but before that, he had a huge day. He led the Pirates with a four-hit outing. Now, tonight, we need to look at the pitchers. Who is starting for Pittsburgh?
Steve: Paul Skenes. It has to be Paul Skenes. With Mitch Keller and Braxton Ashcraft either injured or already having pitched recently, Skenes is the ace. He is on the active roster. The Giants are sending someone out there, but we don't have their probable starter listed yet. However, knowing San Francisco, they might try to exploit the rest days in the Pirates' rotation.
Megan: Skenes makes sense. You want your best guy when the energy is this high. But Steve, remember where we started this series? On August 30th, we talked about Braxton Ashcraft facing Quinn Mathews. Then yesterday, we discussed Skenes returning to the rotation. Now he is on the mound again for the finale. Is that too much for him so soon?
Steve: It’s tight, but Skenes is durable. The concern usually lies with the guys behind him. Look at the list: Bubba Chandler is available, but we have to ask about his velocity after a long layoff. Luke Weaver is there, but he’s been shaky. Gregor Blanco? No, wait, Gregory Soto. Soto is the closer. If Skenes goes deep, Soto needs to close it out. But if Skenes struggles early, do we trust Yohan Ramirez or Evan Sisk in a high-leverage spot?
Megan: That’s the scary part. The bullpen depth is thin. We know Mitch Keller is on the 60-Day IL. Konnor Griffin is also out. Ryan O'Hearn is on the 10-Day IL. So the rotation is stretched. Skenes has to go at least six innings. If he does, Camilo Doval might get a look if Soto is saved for a save situation, but Doval is more of a setup man here.
Steve: Exactly. And let’s not forget Kirby Yates. He’s on the roster. If the Giants are hitting hard, like they did last night, maybe Yates gets a start? No, that’s crazy. He’s a reliever. But his presence gives flexibility. The key tonight is Skenes’ first five innings. If he keeps the Giants’ low-scoring offense—57 wins, after all—in check, the Pirates’ power should carry them.
Megan: Okay, so Skenes is the anchor. But what about the Giants? They came back from behind last night. They scored 12 runs. That doesn’t feel like a 'low-scoring' team on Tuesday night. How do we adjust the narrative?
Steve: You adjust by remembering sample size. Yes, they scored 12. But they also gave up 13. Their defense was porous. Oseilvis Basabe made a critical error. That’s not sustainable. Skenes throws strikes. He induces swings and misses. If he avoids the mistake pitches, the Giants’ hitters—who have struggled with consistency all year—will likely fade. They are fourth in the NL West for a reason.
Megan: I agree. The error was costly, but it was a defensive breakdown, not necessarily a pitching failure. Skenes can handle that. Let’s move to the other side of the ball. The offense. Brandon Lowe had four hits last night. Esmerlyn Valdez and Jared Triolo homered in the previous game against St. Louis. Who else is contributing?
Steve: Oneil Cruz. He’s been the heartbeat of this lineup. Even with Drew Gilbert listed as Day-To-Day, Cruz is playing center field. He provides speed, he draws walks, and he puts pressure on the pitcher. Then you have Bryan Reynolds. He’s the steady hand. Spencer Horwitz at first base. He’s been solid against lefties. And Nick Gonzales at third. He’s not a big power guy, but he makes contact.
Megan: Right. And we have to talk about the injuries again because they are piling up. Victor Bericoto is on the 10-Day IL. Jesus Rodriguez is on the 10-Day IL. Marcelo Mayer is on the 10-Day IL. JT Brubaker is on the 15-Day IL. Endy Rodriguez is on the 60-Day IL. This is a battered club.
Steve: It is. And notice who is missing from the outfield. Billy Cook is active, Jake Mangum is active, but Oneil Cruz is the primary center fielder. If Cruz gets hurt, who steps up? Maybe Nick Yorke moves over? Yorke is at third base now, but he can play corner outfield. Jacob Gonzalez is at shortstop. Jared Triolo is also at shortstop. Wait, Triolo is SS? Yes. So Gonzalez might be the bench infielder.
Megan: Wait, let me double-check the positions. Jacob Gonzalez is SS. Jared Triolo is SS? That seems redundant. Oh, I see. Triolo might be the utility player or playing second? No, Brandon Lowe is at second base. So Triolo must be the backup infielder. Or maybe he’s playing short when Gonzalez rests. Either way, the versatility is key. Henry Davis is catching. Christian Bethancourt is catching. Rafael Flores Jr. is catching. Three catchers. That’s unusual.
Steve: Three catchers because of the injury bug. Rafael Flores Jr. had a great series against St. Louis. He hit a homer in that 5-4 win. He’s young, he’s energetic. He’s probably getting the start today. Henry Davis is the veteran backup. Bethancourt is the emergency option. But Flores is the one driving the offensive momentum. Remember, Megan, you predicted a homer from him last time. Did he deliver?
Megan: He did! In the 5-4 win over the Cardinals, yes. But last night, the headline was Lowe. Was Flores involved in the 13-12 thriller? The brief doesn't specify his stats for last night, only Lowe’s four-hit game. But Flores has been hot. If Skenes gives us six good innings, Flores needs to produce. The Giants’ pitching staff is weak. They’ve lost 82 games. They can’t withstand sustained pressure.
Steve: Agreed. The Giants are 57-82. They are struggling. Their bullpen is tired. They played a 13-inning marathon or a late-night extra frame? No, it was nine innings, but it felt longer. Camilo Doval is on the mound for them? No, we don't know their starter. But their relievers have been working hard. If Skenes pushes past the seventh, the Pirates’ bullpen has to hold the line. Gregory Soto is the closer. He’s reliable. But if the game is tied in the ninth, he needs to be sharp.
Megan: What if the Giants score early? Do we panic? No. We stick to the plan. The Pirates’ offense is young. Oneil Cruz, Bryan Reynolds, Spencer Horwitz. They can swing the bat. Last night, they scored 13 runs. That’s not a fluke. That’s execution. They capitalized on errors. They walked the pitcher. They kept the at-bats alive. That’s how you beat bad teams.
Steve: But let’s be careful. The Giants are desperate. When a team is 57-82, they play loose. They take risks. They might steal bases. Oneil Cruz has to be alert. If the Giants try to bunt, if they try to squeeze, the Pirates’ defense has to be perfect. Because one mistake, like Basabe’s error, can change everything. We saw it last night. It happened. Can it happen again?
Megan: Hopefully not. But if it does, the offense is ready to respond. We’ve seen it. Brandon Lowe, Esmerlyn Valdez, Jared Triolo. They are clicking. The question is, can they maintain this level of production against a Giants team that is trying to rally? Let’s talk about the keys to the series. What does Pittsburgh need to do to close this out tonight?
Steve: First, pitch to contact. Skenes has to trust his defense. Don’t walk anyone. Second, execute the fundamentals. No throwing errors. No dropped pop-ups. Third, capitalize on opportunities. If the Giants make a mistake, punish it. Fourth, manage the bullpen. Save Soto for the ninth unless absolutely necessary. Fifth, keep the energy high. This crowd is electric. Use it.
Megan: I love that list. Especially number two. No throwing errors. Basabe’s mistake cost us nothing, but it could have cost us everything. We can’t afford that slip-up tonight. The focus has to be absolute. And Steve, what about the Giants? Are they capable of winning this game? Or is it inevitable?
Steve: Inevitable? No sport is inevitable. But highly probable. The Pirates are better. They are healthier, relatively speaking. They have Skenes. They have an offense that is scoring runs. The Giants are 57-82. They are fighting for pride, but they lack the firepower to consistently match Pittsburgh. Unless their starter dominates, which is unlikely, the Pirates should win.
Megan: So, predictions time. Last time, you predicted a 2-1 victory. I predicted 4-3. Then yesterday, you said 6-3 with a Flores homer. I said 4-2 with Cruz driving in two. Tonight, we have the finale. What is the score? And who is the hero?
Steve: I’m going with 5-2. Paul Skenes dominates for seven innings. The bullpen holds the line. The offense explodes in the fifth inning. Oneil Cruz hits a solo homer. Brandon Lowe adds a double. It’s a professional win. Not a brawl, but a statement.
Megan: 5-2. Solid. I’m going higher. I think the offense keeps rolling. I predict 7-3. Rafael Flores Jr. goes deep again. He’s too hot to stop. Bryan Reynolds drives in two. The Giants give up five runs in the sixth. It’s a sweep. The Pirates close out the series with a bang.
Steve: Two different scores, but both point to a Pirates victory. Whether it’s 5-2 or 7-3, the result is the same. The Pirates take the series. The momentum is with them. The injuries are managed. The pitching is sound.
Megan: That’s right. The Pirates survive the wild 13-12 thriller and head into tonight’s finale with confidence. We’ll see you after the game for the recap. Before we go, please subscribe, rate, and review the Beatline Podcast Network. Share this episode with your fellow Pirate fans. Let’s get this series swept!
Steve: Go Pirates. See you next time.