Paul

Skenes

Skenes struck out nine and walked none, needing 102 pitches to get 15 outs. He gave up three runs in the top of the first, as both JJ Wetherholt and Jordan Walker took him deep. The reigning Cy Young winner had allowed one run or fewer in five straight entering Thursday. He’ll look to get back on track next time out in Arizona.

It felt like something special could’ve been brewing for Skenes here who held the Brewers hit-less through six innings and didn’t break a sweat doing it. Jake Bauers wound up lacing a single with two outs in the seventh and a collective exhale came from the home crowd. Still, Skenes was dominant. He alternated between high four-seamers and beautifully dotted sprinklers low all night and the left-handed heavy Milwaukee lineup had no answers. He now sports a 2.48 ERA, even after his blow-up on Opening Day where he failed to get out of the first inning. If Oneil Cruz had caught those fly balls, Skenes’ ERA would be under one right now as he’s absolutely on his way to another Cy Young caliber campaign. He’s scheduled to face the Cardinals next time out.

Skenes stranded a runner in the first inning, then escaped a bases-loaded jam with no outs in the second. He struck out two in the third inning for his first clean frame, then tossed a perfect fourth, collecting five strikeouts before an extended rain delay cut his outing short. Still, the 23-year-old right-hander has given up one or fewer runs in each of his last four starts since his five-run Opening Day start. He’ll take a 3.27 ERA, 0.91 WHIP, and a 23/7 K/BB ratio across 22 innings into a start against the Brewers in Milwaukee on Friday.

Finally, some run support. Skenes received a whopping 16 runs from Pittsburgh’s offense after serving up a solo homer to CJ Abrams in the opening frame and was able to cruise to his third win of the season. He appears to have made an adjustment to generate significantly more horizontal break on his sweeper than in previous outings this season and he also leaned more heavily on his changeup than before. He generated 15 swinging strikes and needed just 88 pitches (60 strikes) to complete six frames, lowering his full-season ERA from 5.25 to 4.00 in the process. He’ll close out a two-start week with a favorable home outing against the Rays on Saturday afternoon.

Skenes took a no-hitter into the sixth, when Fernando Tatis Jr. singled with one out. Jake Cronenworth had already walked to lead off the inning, so the Padres had a threat going in a 2-0 game. Jackson Merrill, though, grounded into a double play to end it. Skenes lost the shutout when Xander Bogaerts homered with one out in the seventh and was removed immediately afterwards. Skenes has allowed precisely one run in both of his starts since his Oneil Cruz-fueled Opening Day disaster against the Mets. He’ll likely make his next start Monday versus the Nationals.

Skenes struck out five and walked two on the day; however, he threw just 66 percent of his pitches for strikes, which continues his Opening Day trend of just not being as sharp as we’re used to seeing him. He had 11 whiffs, including six on his four-seamer and three on his changeup, and a 26.2 percent whiff rate is nothing to turn your nose up at. Hopefully, his command can be more pristine next week against the Padres.

If this game had taken place two days ago, Skenes would have been lifted after 30 pitches and brought back out for the second inning. Alas, that couldn’t happen in the regular season. Skenes made his own trouble by walking Francisco Lindor and Luis Robert Jr. in the first, but the first two hits he allowed were soft singles and the third was a bases-loaded triple that Oneil Cruz misplayed in center. The fourth was a double that Cruz lost in the sun. There was nothing wrong with Skenes’ stuff today, but the Pirates simply couldn’t risk continuing on with him at 37 pitches in the first in the first game of the season. Most likely, Skenes will make his next start Wednesday against the Reds. The Pirates, though, would have the option of bringing him back early if they’d like.

Skenes scattered one hit and three walks, requiring 65 pitches (36 strikes) to navigate four shutout frames in his final spring tune-up. The 23-year-old reigning NL Cy Young Award winner kicks off the season on Thursday with a challenging road tilt against the Mets at Citi Field. He’s one of the top three pitchers off the board in the first or second round of every fantasy draft this spring.

Stunner. He’ll oppose Freddy Peralta in the opener. Skenes’ 2026 fantasy forecast could take a major step forward if the Pirates are able to generate more offense behind him this year. He’s become a routine first-round pick even without generating much in the way of wins, but if the runs lead to wins, his ceiling could be higher in 2026.

Skenes surrendered six hits, but only Junior Caminero’s homer in the second did any damage. He struck out two and walked none in the 71-pitch outing.