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MLB NETWORK POSTGAME PANEL – BRAVES 13, PIRATES 8
Costas, Francesa, Kay, Cowherd

Bob Costas (hosting the segment):
“On a crisp October afternoon along the Allegheny, the Atlanta Braves continued to impose their considerable will on this NLCS, outlasting Pittsburgh in a game that felt—at times—like a retrospective on the lively-ball era. Nineteen Atlanta hits, ten home runs between the clubs, and one overriding theme: Alex Peña, a catcher by trade, a thumper by inclination, launched two home runs, including one in the second that set the tone for everything that would follow.
For Pittsburgh, valiant in their refusal to go quietly, the early spark flickered but never fully ignited. They clawed back to within a run twice, but the Braves always had the rebuttal ready. Atlanta, a 111-win monolith in the regular season, stands now one victory away from returning to the World Series. And for the Pirates—last year’s NL champions—the questions are growing louder.”

Michael Kay:
“This game is exactly why the Braves won 111 games. It’s not just the star power, it’s the depth. Look at Zimmerschied—five hits for Martínez, multi-homer games from Peña, McKnight, Zimmerschied—everywhere you look, another guy stepping up. You put up crooked numbers in four of the first four innings, you’re sending a message.
And on the other side, it’s the same old story that’s hurt Pittsburgh all series: the pitching. You can’t give up six in the second and expect to trade punches with this Atlanta lineup. And Jon Tucker… look, I don't want to pile on, but he didn’t have it. Four homers in two innings? That digs a grave your offense just can’t climb out of.”

Colin Cowherd:
“Let me macro this for everybody, because that’s where this thing actually lives.
Atlanta is what happens when a franchise has an identity. Smart scouting, patient development, low drama, high efficiency. This is Silicon Valley baseball. They don’t get flustered. They don’t get rattled. They lose a starter after 3.2 innings? Great—Chavez and García come in and slam the door.
Pittsburgh? This series is exposing what I’ve said all year: they’re a fun team, they’re a clever team, but they’re not a complete team. They can slug, they can scrap, they can be emotional. But they don’t have the bullpen depth, and their rotation behind the top end is duct tape and optimism.
This is why the Braves are on the cusp of the World Series, and the Pirates are in survival mode.”

Mike Francesa:
“Look, look—here’s the whole thing with Pittsburgh, okay? They’re not a bad team. They’re a good team! But you can’t, you absolutely cannot, fall behind 4-0, 8-2, 9-3 to the best team in the sport and expect to win. That's not complicated. That’s not analytics. That’s common sense.
Tucker had no business stayin’ in that game after the second home run. Then he gives up four. Four! You gotta get him outta there. And the bullpen—Garcia, Engelhart—they’re just pouring gasoline on it.
Atlanta? They’re a machine. You’re not beating a machine if you’re giving them free bases, hittin’ nobody out of the bullpen, and letting them take batting practice in your ballpark.
Braves go to the World Series tomorrow unless Pittsburgh gets the game of their life. Simple.”

Costas (closing):
“So the Braves carry a commanding 3–1 lead into tomorrow’s Game 5. Behind them looms Milwaukee, equally dominant. And if baseball is a game of timeless cycles—of rising powers and fading ones—Atlanta looks very much like a team in full bloom, while Pittsburgh must rediscover the magic that carried them so far a season ago.
The stakes grow heavier. The nights grow colder. And October, as always, waits for no one.”