Last season, Paul Skenes had to perform nearly flawlessly for the Pittsburgh Pirates to stay competitive. That situation has changed.
In 2025, Skenes often pitched under intense pressure, knowing even a single mistake could cost his team, despite his dominant performances. However, things look different in 2026.
The Pirates’ offense, which frequently struggled to produce runs during Skenes’ outings last year contributing to his 10-10 record despite a stellar 1.97 ERA and a National League Cy Young Award win has improved significantly. Changes in both the roster and overall performance have made a noticeable impact.
During a 16-5 win over the Washington Nationals, the offense exploded, including a 10-run sixth inning so long that Skenes jokingly wished it would end just so he could pitch again. By the time it was over, 14 batters had stepped up, the Nationals had used two pitchers, and Skenes’ outing ended after six dominant innings.
A year earlier, the Pirates’ offense ranked among the league’s worst scored three runs or fewer in 18 of Skenes’ 32 starts. Wanting improvement, the 23-year-old pushed the organization to aim higher in 2026. In response, the Pirates made bold moves to strengthen their lineup and support their talented young pitching staff.
So far, those decisions are paying off.
After ranking last in runs, home runs, and RBIs in 2025, Pittsburgh now sits in the top 10 in all three categories. Brandon Lowe, acquired from the Tampa Bay Rays, made history by recording back-to-back five-RBI games, including a key performance in the big inning. He already has six home runs. Ryan O’Hearn, signed in free agency, has contributed 13 RBIs, while Bryan Reynolds is thriving in a deeper lineup than ever before.
Another encouraging sign is Oneil Cruz, whose talent has often been inconsistent. He extended his hitting streak to 12 games and delivered a strong performance, including a powerful RBI hit.
Overall, the Pirates are starting to look like a serious contender. Skenes has already benefited, with the team scoring 38 runs across his first four starts this season compared to needing 11 starts to reach that total in 2025.
With stronger offensive support, Skenes can now pitch more freely and experiment. He recently became one of the fastest pitchers in MLB history to reach 400 strikeouts, achieving the milestone in just 59 starts.
Aside from allowing a home run to CJ Abrams early in the game, Skenes was nearly flawless, mixing his fastball with effective offspeed pitches. He even joked about possibly throwing only changeups in his next start.
While that’s unlikely, having more reliable options—and no longer needing perfection to win is a major advantage.
The win over Washington came shortly after a tough loss to the Chicago Cubs, but the Pirates responded with their strongest offensive showing of the season. It highlighted a resilience that could define their season.
As Skenes noted, teams in the National League Central are known for their toughness and now, the Pirates are showing they can match that level.
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