Paul Skenes remains one of the biggest names in Major League Baseball, but the Pittsburgh Pirates ace is having a very different 2026 season from the one many fans expected.
The young right-hander entered the season as one of baseball's most closely watched pitchers after winning the 2025 National League Cy Young Award. His first two MLB seasons had established an unusually high standard, with Skenes posting an ERA below 2.00 in both seasons.
In 2026, however, the numbers have moved in the opposite direction. Skenes has experienced stretches of command problems and inconsistency, leading to a much higher ERA than the one fans became accustomed to.
His latest start against the Kansas City Royals on September 18 added another chapter to the story. Skenes allowed five runs over six innings, although the Pirates eventually rallied to beat Kansas City 8-5.
So, what is happening with Paul Skenes, how are his 2026 numbers looking, and why has his season become such a major talking point?
Why is Paul Skenes trending?
Paul Skenes is attracting renewed attention because of the contrast between his dominant first two MLB seasons and his performance in 2026.
Before this season, Skenes had established himself as one of the most difficult pitchers in baseball to hit. MLB noted in August that he had posted a sub-2.00 ERA in each of his first two seasons, something no qualified pitcher age 23 or younger had done since Dwight Gooden in 1984-85.
His 2026 season has been more complicated.
Entering his September 18 start against Kansas City, Skenes was listed at 10-11 with a 3.78 ERA and 185 strikeouts.
That ERA is still respectable by ordinary MLB standards, but it is a significant change from the level Skenes established during his first two seasons.
ESPN's September awards discussion described 2026 as a down season for Skenes after he entered the year as a preseason Cy Young favorite.
How did Paul Skenes perform against the Royals?
Skenes started for Pittsburgh on September 18, 2026, against the Kansas City Royals at PNC Park.
The outing was a mixed one.
He pitched six innings and struck out seven batters while allowing five runs on six hits and walking one. He did not receive a decision because Pittsburgh's offense later rallied to win the game 8-5.
The Royals got to him early.
Vinnie Pasquantino opened the scoring with a solo home run in the first inning. Kansas City then added more runs in the third inning, including an RBI single from Pasquantino and a two-run double from Maikel Garcia. Michael Massey later hit another solo home run in the fourth inning.
Despite giving up five runs, Skenes continued to miss bats. He recorded seven strikeouts and completed six innings before leaving the game.
Paul Skenes 2026 stats
Through 30 starts in the 2026 regular season, Skenes has recorded:
- 30 starts
- 162 innings
- 10 wins
- 11 losses
- 3.78 ERA
- 185 strikeouts
- 1.130 WHIP
Those numbers come from Baseball-Reference's current 2026 season statistics.
The strikeout total is particularly notable. Even during a season in which his overall performance has dipped from his previous level, Skenes remains among the league's leading strikeout pitchers.
Why has Paul Skenes struggled in 2026?
There is no single officially established explanation for Skenes' statistical decline.
MLB examined his underlying numbers during an August analysis and highlighted several changes in his performance. The most obvious issue has been walks and command, which became more problematic during his difficult stretch.
That matters because Skenes' success has always been built around overpowering stuff combined with the ability to attack hitters in the strike zone.
When a pitcher with elite velocity begins putting more runners on base through walks and allowing more hard contact, even a high strikeout rate cannot completely erase those mistakes.
At the same time, it would be misleading to describe Skenes' entire season as a collapse. His 3.78 ERA and 185 strikeouts show that he remains a highly productive major-league pitcher. The unusual part is simply how far those numbers are from the standard he established so quickly.
Paul Skenes had a strong bounce-back start earlier in September
Before the Royals game, Skenes had already shown signs that he could regain his best form.
On September 6 against the Los Angeles Angels, he pitched 5â…“ scoreless innings and helped Pittsburgh win 1-0. It was his first victory since July 19 and ended a seven-start winless stretch.
He followed that with another strong outing against the Chicago Cubs on September 12, throwing seven innings and allowing two runs. Pittsburgh ultimately lost that game 3-4, but MLB described the performance as a return to his ace form.
That makes the September 18 start against Kansas City particularly interesting. Skenes has shown that he can still produce dominant outings, but he has struggled to maintain that level consistently throughout the season.
Paul Skenes and the Pittsburgh Pirates
Skenes is not simply another starting pitcher for Pittsburgh. He is one of the central pieces of the franchise's young core.
MLB recently described Paul Skenes, Konnor Griffin and Oneil Cruz as three of the pillars of the Pirates' organization.
The trio played together in only their 12th game of the season during Pittsburgh's September 18 win over Kansas City, highlighting how rarely the Pirates have had all three young stars on the field together.
The Pirates entered the final portion of the regular season around the .500 mark and were trying to keep their postseason hopes alive.
After beating Kansas City 8-5 on September 18, Pittsburgh improved to 77-77.
The club's late-season focus has increasingly shifted toward developing its young core and building for the future.
Paul Skenes was a Cy Young favorite entering 2026
Expectations surrounding Skenes were extremely high entering the 2026 season.
After winning the 2025 National League Cy Young Award, he entered 2026 with many analysts expecting him to remain among the leading candidates for the award.
His performance in the 2026 season has made that conversation much more complicated.
ESPN's September awards coverage noted that Skenes had experienced a down year compared with expectations, particularly in a National League that has featured several outstanding pitching performances.
That does not erase what Skenes accomplished previously. Instead, it illustrates how dramatically expectations changed after his remarkable start to his MLB career.
Paul Skenes' first two MLB seasons set an unusual standard
Skenes entered the majors with enormous expectations after being selected first overall by the Pirates in the 2023 MLB Draft.
His transition to the major leagues was remarkably quick.
He became an All-Star as a rookie and quickly established himself as one of the hardest throwers in baseball. His combination of velocity, breaking pitches and strikeout ability made him one of the most exciting young players in the sport.
MLB's August analysis pointed out just how unusual his first two seasons were: he entered 2026 having recorded a sub-2.00 ERA in each of his first two seasons, a feat not achieved by a qualified pitcher age 23 or younger since Dwight Gooden's 1984 and 1985 seasons.
That history explains why a 3.78 ERA in 2026 feels so different for Skenes even though it remains a competitive number by normal MLB standards.
Is Paul Skenes injured?
There is no indication from the latest reports that Skenes is currently dealing with a major injury that has removed him from Pittsburgh's rotation.
He has continued to make regular starts, including his September 18 appearance against Kansas City.
His 2026 issues have primarily been discussed in terms of performance, command and consistency rather than a confirmed major injury.
As always with an active MLB player, his status can change quickly, so official Pirates announcements remain the best source for any future injury update.
What makes Paul Skenes such a dangerous pitcher?
Skenes' biggest weapon is his fastball.
He can generate elite velocity while combining it with a mix of secondary pitches designed to keep hitters from simply sitting on the fastball.
His ability to generate strikeouts is reflected in his 185 strikeouts through 162 innings in 2026.
That strikeout ability gives him a very high ceiling even when other parts of his game are not working perfectly.
The challenge in 2026 has been maintaining the command and efficiency that allowed him to dominate hitters so consistently during his first two seasons.
Paul Skenes and the Pirates' young core
The future of the Pittsburgh Pirates is increasingly connected to a group of young players led by Skenes, Oneil Cruz and Konnor Griffin.
Skenes provides the pitching foundation, while Cruz and Griffin represent major pieces of the team's position-player core.
MLB's recent coverage of the Pirates highlighted the importance of getting these players on the field together more often. The September 18 victory over Kansas City was another example of what the organization hopes its young core can eventually become.
The Pirates still have work to do, but the presence of Skenes gives the franchise a high-profile young arm around which it can build.
Paul Skenes latest news: Key facts
Category Latest information Player Paul Skenes Team Pittsburgh Pirates Position Right-handed starting pitcher 2026 starts 30 2026 innings 162.0 2026 record 10-11 2026 ERA 3.78 2026 strikeouts 185 2026 WHIP 1.130 Most recent start 6 innings, 5 runs, 6 hits, 7 strikeouts vs. Royals Latest team result Pirates beat Royals 8-5 2025 achievement National League Cy Young AwardFrequently Asked Questions
Who is Paul Skenes?
Paul Skenes is a right-handed starting pitcher for the Pittsburgh Pirates and one of the most prominent young pitchers in Major League Baseball.
How old is Paul Skenes?
Paul Skenes was born on May 29, 2002, making him 24 years old in September 2026.
What is Paul Skenes' 2026 ERA?
Through 30 starts, Skenes has a 3.78 ERA in the 2026 season. He has also recorded 185 strikeouts over 162 innings.
What happened in Paul Skenes' latest start?
Against the Kansas City Royals on September 18, Skenes pitched six innings, allowed five runs on six hits and struck out seven. The Pirates eventually won 8-5, so Skenes did not receive a decision.
Did Paul Skenes win the 2025 Cy Young Award?
Yes. Skenes won the 2025 National League Cy Young Award, becoming one of the youngest pitchers to reach that level of recognition so early in his MLB career.
Why has Paul Skenes struggled in 2026?
His 2026 season has included more command issues and walks than his previous seasons, along with more inconsistent results. MLB's analysis has highlighted those changes while noting that he remains a high-level strikeout pitcher.
Is Paul Skenes still with the Pittsburgh Pirates?
Yes. Skenes remains a key member of the Pittsburgh Pirates' starting rotation and is one of the central pieces of the team's young core.
Bottom Line
Paul Skenes is still one of baseball's most closely watched young pitchers, but his 2026 season has not matched the extraordinary standard he established during his first two MLB seasons.
His current numbers—10-11 with a 3.78 ERA, 185 strikeouts and a 1.130 WHIP through 30 starts—show both sides of the story. The ERA is considerably higher than his previous level, but the strikeout numbers demonstrate that his elite pitching ability remains intact.
His latest start against Kansas City was another example of that inconsistency: Skenes allowed five runs over six innings, yet Pittsburgh's offense rallied to win 8-5.
With the Pirates building around Skenes, Oneil Cruz and Konnor Griffin, the final weeks of the 2026 season will be watched closely—not only for the team's results, but also for signs of whether Skenes can rediscover the dominant form that made him one of baseball's biggest young stars.
