On a night when the Pittsburgh Pirates needed a spark, Paul Skenes delivered exactly that—and more. The highly touted rookie right-hander showed flashes of dominance that made him the No. 1 overall pick in the 2023 MLB Draft, shutting down a potent Philadelphia Phillies lineup and leading the Pirates to a statement win. After a couple of uneven starts that raised some early questions about consistency, Skenes looked every bit like the pitcher who dominated at LSU and tore through the minors—commanding, poised, and overpowering.
Skenes went six strong innings, allowing just one run on three hits while striking out nine Phillies batters. His fastball, which has consistently touched triple digits since his debut, was as electric as ever. But what stood out even more was his command of secondary pitches. His slider induced plenty of swing-and-miss, and he mixed in a developing changeup that kept left-handed hitters off balance. It was the kind of complete performance Pirates fans had been waiting for—a glimpse at what the future might hold if Skenes continues to grow into his potential.
Against a Phillies team that entered the game leading the National League in runs, Skenes’ dominance was no small feat. Philadelphia’s lineup, led by stars like Bryce Harper, Kyle Schwarber, and Trea Turner, has steamrolled opposing pitchers all season. But Skenes looked unbothered. He attacked hitters early, got ahead in counts, and didn’t shy away from throwing his best stuff in key moments. His poise on the mound was remarkable for a pitcher with fewer than ten big league starts under his belt.
There were moments of adversity—runners in scoring position, a tough fourth inning where the Phillies threatened—but Skenes pitched through them with a veteran’s calm. Perhaps most impressively, he showed a new level of efficiency. Earlier outings had seen him run up pitch counts and exit after four or five innings, but on this night, he was in control. It wasn’t just his stuff that impressed; it was the way he pitched.
“He looked like himself again,” Pirates manager Derek Shelton said postgame. “We’ve seen flashes, but tonight he put it all together. That’s the guy we know he can be.”
The buzz around Skenes since his days at LSU has been immense. Touted as a generational talent with a rare blend of velocity and polish, expectations were sky-high the moment he stepped onto a big-league mound. But baseball is unforgiving, and even the best prospects face growing pains. Skenes’ first few starts included flashes of brilliance but also showed some of the challenges that come with transitioning to the majors—mistimed pitches, fatigue, and command issues.
That’s what made this outing against the Phillies so significant. It wasn’t just a good game—it felt like a turning point. Skenes looked comfortable, confident, and in full control of his arsenal. It was the kind of start that not only silences critics but reaffirms the Pirates’ belief that they have a legitimate ace in the making.
For a franchise that has long struggled to develop and retain elite pitching, Skenes represents hope. The Pirates haven’t had a true frontline starter since the heyday of Gerrit Cole, and fans have been starved for an arm that can anchor a rotation. With Skenes, the pieces are falling into place. Pair him with emerging arms like Jared Jones and Mitch Keller, and Pittsburgh’s future begins to look brighter.
Of course, one start doesn’t define a season, and development is rarely linear. But in a league where results often overshadow process, it was hard not to be excited by what Skenes showed. More than just a box score, it was the eye test—watching hitters flail at a rising fastball, seeing the confidence with which he attacked the zone, and noticing the dugout’s energy every time he walked off the mound.
The Pirates went on to win the game 4–2, powered by a couple of timely hits and a shutdown performance from the bullpen. But the story of the night was unmistakable. Paul Skenes looked like Paul Skenes again—the elite prospect, the future ace, the pitcher fans had dreamed of since draft night.
Baseball careers are built one start at a time, and while it’s far too early to write the final chapter, this was a critical step forward. If Skenes continues to build on this outing, the Pirates may have something special brewing—and not just for 2025, b
ut for years to come.
