Pirates sweep Brewers, climb power rankings ahead of All-Star Break

The Pittsburgh Pirates completed a three-game sweep of the Milwaukee Brewers at home, entering the All-Star Break with a winning record for the first time since 2016. This marks a significant turnaround for the team, which struggled offensively last season. Recent trades and player performances, particularly from rookie Esmerlyn Valdez, have contributed to this success. Despite losing rookie Konnor Griffin to an injury, the Pirates moved up in Bleacher Report's power rankings from No. 16 to No. 11 due to their strong performance against Milwaukee. The team had previously faced the Atlanta Braves, losing the series 1-2.

• 10:21 PMYahoo Sports — Pirates climb power rankings after impressive sweep of division rival