Last season, Paul Skenes pitched with the weight of the entire Pittsburgh Pirates offense on his shoulders. Every start was a high-wire act; even with his Cy Young-caliber stuff, a single mistake could spell defeat because run support was virtually non-existent. It was a season of brilliant, lonely dominance, where his 1.97 ERA was overshadowed by a .500 win-loss record.
What a difference a year makes. The narrative for the Pirates' ace has completely flipped in 2026. Gone are the days of hoping for one or two runs. Now, when Skenes takes the mound, the bats are firing on all cylinders.
The proof was on full display in a recent 16-5 demolition of the Washington Nationals. The game turned into a showcase of the Pirates' revamped offense, which erupted for a 10-run sixth inning. The rally was so extensive that Skenes, who had been dealing on the mound, found himself cooling off in the dugout, a victim of his own team's success as the marathon inning ended his day after six stellar frames.
"It just took forever, which is what you want," Skenes said with a smile. "I feel like that inning everybody was just pulling the rope and passing it off to the next guy. It was cool to watch."
This offensive explosion is no accident. Heeding Skenes's own challenge to get serious about winning, the Pirates front office aggressively retooled a lineup that was statistically the worst in baseball last year. The moves are paying immediate dividends.
The new-look offense, now ranking in the top ten in runs, homers, and RBIs, is being led by key additions. Brandon Lowe, acquired from Tampa Bay, made franchise history with back-to-back five-RBI games, including a three-run homer in that fateful sixth inning. Alongside him, free-agent signee Ryan O'Hearn and cornerstone Bryan Reynolds are thriving, giving Pittsburgh a legitimate, multi-threat batting order.
For Skenes and the Pirates, the pressure has shifted. It's no longer about one man's perfection, but about a complete team playing winning baseball. The ace can now pitch with freedom, backed by an offense ready to turn his quality starts into decisive victories.