Despite remaining one of the most dominant pitchers in Major League Baseball, Pittsburgh Pirates ace Paul Skenes is facing an increasingly difficult path toward winning a second National League Cy Young Award. The reigning winner has continued to post elite numbers in 2026, but a combination of fierce competition and a lack of team support may leave him watching another pitcher take home the honor this season.
Skenes entered the year as a favorite to defend his Cy Young crown after establishing himself as one of baseball’s premier arms during his first two major-league seasons. However, while his performance has remained outstanding, two National League rivals have elevated the competition to another level.
According to recent Cy Young projections, Milwaukee Brewers sensation Jacob Misiorowski has emerged as the overwhelming favorite. Misiorowski has been nearly untouchable, posting a microscopic 1.45 ERA, the best mark in Major League Baseball, and collecting the majority of first-place votes in recent award polling. Meanwhile, Philadelphia Phillies left-hander Cristopher Sánchez has also surged ahead of Skenes in the race with an exceptional 1.80 ERA and a dominant season of his own.
That leaves Skenes unexpectedly sitting in third place despite statistics that would normally place him squarely in Cy Young contention. Through 88 innings, the Pirates star owns a strong 2.86 ERA along with 107 strikeouts and only 18 walks, numbers that would be worthy of award consideration in most seasons. The problem is that the standard has become extraordinarily high due to the historic performances being delivered by Misiorowski and Sánchez.
Compounding matters is the lack of support Skenes has received from Pittsburgh. The Pirates have lost seven consecutive games started by their ace, making it difficult for him to build the narrative momentum that often accompanies major awards. Even when Skenes pitches well, the club’s inability to secure victories has hurt his overall case.
A pair of difficult outings earlier in the season also continue to weigh heavily on his résumé. In back-to-back starts against the Phillies and Toronto Blue Jays during May, Skenes surrendered nine earned runs across just 10 innings. Those performances inflated his ERA and created separation between him and the league’s two current frontrunners.
The reality facing Skenes is harsh: to catch Misiorowski and Sánchez, he may need to be nearly flawless for the remainder of the season while also hoping both rivals experience some regression. Although half the season remains and the Pirates star possesses the talent to make a dramatic push, the gap is becoming increasingly difficult to close.
Looking beyond 2026, some observers believe Skenes could face an even longer wait before capturing another Cy Young Award. Potential labor negotiations and concerns surrounding the next Collective Bargaining Agreement could create uncertainty for the 2027 season, meaning a repeat Cy Young campaign may not realistically come until 2028 if he falls short this year.
For now, Skenes remains one of baseball’s elite pitchers. Yet despite his brilliance, the emergence of Misiorowski and Sánchez has transformed the National League Cy Young race into an uphill battle, leaving the reigning winner in the unusual position of needing something close to a miracle finish to reclaim the award.
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