Pirates Star Paul Skenes Deals in Final Start of 2026 Season

Pittsburgh Pirates star starting pitcher Paul Skenes ended the 2026 season on a high in his final start against the St. Louis Cardinals.

Skenes went 6.1 innings, allowing three hits, two walks, and an earned run while punching out eight. With his eight strikeouts, Skenes finished the season with 200 strikeouts. He was a no-decision because he left the game when it was tied 1-1, but the Pirates went on to win 2-1.

It was a down year for the 24-year-old overall, with a 10-11 record, a 3.82 ERA, 200 strikeouts, 47 walks, and a 1.12 WHIP. While these are still solid numbers and Skenes was named an All-Star, it wasn't the same caliber of season as in his first two years in the league.

In 2024, Skenes posted a 1.96 ERA with 170 strikeouts, 32 walks, and a 0.947 WHIP. He won the NL Rookie of the Year Award with his impressive season. Skenes pitched at an elite level again in 2025, posting a 1.97 ERA with 216 strikeouts, 42 walks, and a 0.948 WHIP. He was named the NL Cy Young Award winner and clearly established himself as one of the best pitchers in baseball.

His dip in the 2026 season may be partially attributed to his participation in the World Baseball Classic. Skenes will look to have a healthy offseason and return to the Pirates in 2027 as a contender to win the Cy Young Award for a second time.

Outside of Skenes, the Pirates have some work to do this offseason to improve the roster. They could use some upgrades to the lineup and must retain Brandon Lowe, who was by far their best hitter this season. 

Entering the final series of the season, Lowe is slashing .262/.332/.493 with 34 home runs, 29 doubles, 95 RBIs, 93 runs, and an .825 OPS.

If Pittsburgh is able to re-sign Lowe and add a few more talented bats to the lineup, it would help Skenes and the pitching staff have more run support.

The Pirates made progress in 2026, finishing with a .500 or better record, but they didn't do enough to make the postseason and end their long playoff drought.

If the front office is aggressive this offseason and Skenes returns to the level he pitched at in the 2024 and 2025 seasons, the Pirates will be a threat to make the playoffs and compete for the NL Central title.