Pirates surge to .500 under Don Kelly, flipping a rocky start into competitive, fundamentals-first baseball. The rotation—led by Paul Skenes at the vanguard of a deep seven-man group including Mitch Keller, Johan Oviedo, Braxton Ashcraft and Bubba Chandler—has flourished, with Jared Jones waiting in the wings. The lineup leans on Pham, Reynolds and McCutchen, with Henry Davis stabilizing behind the plate and Cruz showing flashes amid a power drought. Hayes’ Reds-era exit creates a middle-order need this off-season.