Paul Skenes Finally Has a Lineup That Won't Drive Him Crazy

Remember when Paul Skenes was basically pitching in a vacuum? Last season, the Pirates' ace put up a 1.97 ERA and won the National League Cy Young Award while saddled with a 10-10 record because nobody could score runs behind him. Yeah, that was brutal.

Not anymore. On Monday night against Washington, Skenes got to experience what it actually feels like when your team shows up with bats. Pittsburgh pounded the Nationals 16-5, and during a 10-run sixth inning, Skenes found himself actually hoping the Pirates would stop hitting so he could get back out there. Fourteen batters came to the plate. The Nationals burned through two pitchers. By the time the dust settled, Skenes had thrown six innings of brilliance and couldn't have asked for a better situation.

The Pirates Finally Swung Back

Last year was a nightmare for Skenes and the Pirates lineup. In his 32 starts, the worst offense in the majors put up three runs or fewer 18 times. The 23-year-old ace basically called out the front office and told them to get serious about 2026, and management actually listened. They went aggressive in the offseason, making moves designed to surround one of baseball's best young pitching staffs with actual hitters.

The results are early but undeniable. Pittsburgh is now in the top 10 in runs, home runs, and RBIs after finishing dead last in all three categories a year ago. That's not incremental improvement. That's transformation.

The New Look Pirates Are Hitting

Brandon Lowe, acquired in a December trade with Tampa Bay, became the first player in franchise history to have back-to-back five-RBI games. On Monday, he went off with a two-run single in the second inning and a three-run homer that capped Pittsburgh's first 10-run inning at PNC Park in nearly 17 years. The two-time All-Star already has six home runs.

First baseman/outfielder Ryan O'Hearn, signed to a two-year free agent deal, has 13 RBIs. Outfielder Bryan Reynolds is thriving in the deepest lineup of his seven-year Pirates tenure. And Oneil Cruz, the talented but inconsistent 6-foot-7 center fielder, extended his hitting streak to 12 games with a 2-for-3 performance that included three RBIs, including a 114 mph rope off the fence in right field.

"It's pretty fun to hit after a guy hits," Skenes said after the game.

This is what winning feels like, Pittsburgh. Keep it rolling.

This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.