Paul Skenes has become everything the Pittsburgh Pirates hoped for and more. The young right-hander has emerged as one of the most dominant arms in the National League, consistently keeping his team in ballgames with elite-level pitching. But as he carves through opposing lineups with precision and power, one frustrating pattern continues to emerge: his teammates can’t seem to score when he’s on the mound.
Baseball is a Team Effort, Not Solo
In a league where wins are often the result of a team effort, Skenes has been doing his job at a high level. He’s regularly pitching deep into games, minimizing damage, and giving Pittsburgh a real shot to win. But for unclear reasons, the offense tends to go ice-cold on his days.
The most recent example was his start on Tuesday night. Skenes displayed the control and strength that have made him a rising star as he pitched eight strong innings while giving up only one run. His team had yet to score when he left the game, though. The Pirates would ultimately lose because they could not capitalize at the plate once more, not because of anything Skenes did incorrectly.
Paul Skenes has allowed only 19 earned runs in 13 starts this year but the Pirates have lost 8 of those games. pic.twitter.com/8hNaFWsiBJ
— Codify (@CodifyBaseball) June 4, 2025
It’s a trend that’s hard to ignore. Skenes has only received solid offensive support twice in over a dozen starts this season. Too often, he leaves the field after six or seven strong innings with little or nothing to show for it. And while pitchers aren’t judged solely by wins anymore, it’s tough not to feel for someone doing everything right and still ending up with an “L” on the scoreboard.
Skenes remains professional about the situation. When asked about the Pirates’ lack of wins in his starts, he kept it simple.
“I’m not sure. That’s a good question. I wish I had the answer for it. We’ve just got to score one more run than them. I don’t really know.”
Pirates’ Offense Needs to Step Up
The Pirates have shown flashes of offensive potential in other games, but consistency has been the issue. Key hitters haven’t delivered with runners in scoring position, and long stretches of scoreless innings have made life difficult for even their best pitchers.
Skenes is pitching like a seasoned ace, picking up where he left off after winning the NL Rookie of the Year in 2024. But unless the Pirates’ offense finds a way to provide steady support, his efforts may continue to be overshadowed by a lack of run production. Finding a solution soon is critical for a team trying to climb in the standings because arms like Skenes don’t come around often.