Pirates make improbable Pittsburgh baseball history not done since 1943
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The Pittsburgh Pirates believed heading into this season that they'd have a quality starting pitching rotation.
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So far, so good.
In fact, historic.
The Pirates' starting pitchers haven't allowed a home run in the first nine games of the campaign. In this modern, homer-happy baseball world, that's almost impossible.
The last time a streak lasted this long to begin a season was the 2018 San Francisco Giants, according to MLB Network's Sarah Langs.
For the Pirates, it's been much longer.
They haven't had a streak of homers not giving up homers to start the season since 1943 -- when they went the first 17 games without allowing a four-bagger.
The Pirates' starting rotation is the only one in MLB without a homer allowed
— Sarah Langs (@SlangsOnSports) April 5, 2026
Longest streak by PIT SP to start a season since 1943 (17g)
PIT’s current 9-game streak is longest to start a season in MLB since 2018 Giants (10g)
h/t @MLBNetwork research squad
MORE: Jo Adell robbed 3 home runs in the same game
Paul Skenes, Mitch Keller, Braxton Ashcraft and Carmen Mlodzinski have each made two starts this season. Bubba Chandler has made one.
Chandler has a 0.00 ERA. Keller's is 1.50, Ashcraft at 2.25, Mlodzinski at 4.00 and Skenes at 9.53 after that nightmare (but not hard-hit) first start.
Giving up homers is believed to be more of a skill for pitchers than simply giving up hits, which has a lot more luck involved.
So far, the Pirates have that skill working nicely. If they keep it up, this could be a great season in Pittsburgh.
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