The Pittsburgh Pirates must increase Paul Skenes' innings to maximize their pitching talent. Currently averaging less than five innings per start, Skenes' limited usage could hinder the team's playoff chances.
Key points
Pirates have a strong pitching rotation but limit Skenes' innings
Skenes has a 4-2 record and 3.18 ERA in 2026
He averages less than five innings per start
Skenes' high pitch count raises concerns about his workload
Trade rumors surround Skenes due to his potential salary demands
Pittsburgh PiratesPaul SkenesSt. Louis CardinalsNew York Mets
Apr 28, 2026; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Paul Skenes (30) watches game action from the dugout against the St. Louis Cardinals during the ninth inning at PNC Park. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images | Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images
Apr 28, 2026; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Paul Skenes (30) watches game action from the dugout against the St. Louis Cardinals during the ninth inning at PNC Park. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images | Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images
The Pittsburgh Pirates have on paper one of the best rotations in baseball, but they cannot expect to maximize that talent if they continue to limit their ace, Paul Skenes.
In 2026, Skenes has seven starts under his belt with a 4-2 record and a 3.18 ERA. When heās on the mound, heās mostly been very effective, with his starts against the New York Mets and St. Louis Cardinals being outliers. Outside of those two ugly starts though ,Skenes has only allowed one earned run or less in his other appearances. The problem now though is when Skenes, pitches heās averaging less than five innings pitched, 4.76 innings on average to be exact.
If this is the plan the Pirates have to keep Skenes fresh for the postseason, they will fail. The game plan of playing not to lose instead of playing to win has a weak foundation, and the Pirates wonāt even sniff the playoffs if they continue to utilize Skenes this way. The middle innings have been rough for Pittsburghās bullpen, and the longer those arms are out there the more likely it is that opposing teams are going to win.
Perhaps the biggest flaw in Skenesā game is why the Pirates have been cautious with his starts; his biggest flaw being that he throws a lot of pitches. Skenes relies a lot on swing and miss pitches, and balls that just barely miss the strike zone. Because of his approach, he racks up pitches, sometimes quickly. In his most recent start against the Cardinals, the 23-year-old righty threw 102 pitches in just five innings. His start before that against Milwaukee, he threw 93 pitches, and twice this season topped 85 pitches thrown as well. If itās a matter of workload ,the Pirates are still letting him throw a high number of pitches in a smaller amount of innings, as heās currently averaging roughly 78.3 pitches thrown per contest.
Perhaps the reason that the Pirates have limited the action that Skenes sees is the dark underlying one that all Buccos fans fear. Itās possible that the Pirates donāt see Skenes as a long term option for the club, but instead as a massive trade package for future assets. Letās not sugarcoat it, Skenes is the best pitcher in baseball. The best pitcher in baseball figures to fetch quite the contract extension when his time comes. However, the 19-year-old unproven prospect who hadnāt yet played an inning of Major League ball got the largest contract extension in franchise history. Meanwhile Skenes is already a two-time All-Star and Cy Young Award winner, and is still playing on the deal he signed when he was drafted.
Ever since he was drafted but especially last season, there have been numerous rumors about the Pirates receiving trade offers for Skenes. Now even if the Pirates have no intention of trading the superstar pitcher now, they might not have him in the budget long term. Skenes could easily garner a $5o million yearly salary, which would break the bank for the thrifty Pirates. Zach Wheeler and Jacob DeGrom are currently averaging about $40 million a year, and Skenes could easily get that or more. Perhaps the Pirates are just trying to keep Skenes as healthy as possible to keep the trade market as bountiful as possible, or itās entirely possible that Skenes doesnāt want to be a Pirate long term, although nothing to this point has indicated that.
Regardless of what the Pirates or Skenesā plans are longterm, both parties need to be focused on the task at hand. Pittsburgh is at the bottom of the NL Central, and itās not going to get any easier down the stretch. The goal should be to win, and Skenes is the guy that can help bring this team out of the basement and into the limelight.
Q&A
Why are the Pirates limiting Paul Skenes' innings in 2026?
The Pirates are limiting Skenes' innings to manage his workload, but this strategy may backfire as it could weaken their chances of making the playoffs.
What is Paul Skenes' current performance record in 2026?
In 2026, Paul Skenes has a record of 4-2 with a 3.18 ERA over seven starts.
How many pitches is Paul Skenes averaging per game?
Paul Skenes is averaging approximately 78.3 pitches thrown per game despite averaging less than five innings pitched.
What are the implications of Skenes' potential trade value for the Pirates?
Skenes' impressive performance and potential salary demands could make him a valuable trade asset, raising concerns about his long-term future with the Pirates.
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