Paul Skenes Dominates as Pirates' Ace, Cy Young Front-Runner Despite Team's Offensive Woes

Paul Skenes emerged as the undeniable highlight of the Pittsburgh Pirates' 2025 season, establishing himself as a top pitcher in baseball. The sophomore ace is on track to conclude his first two big-league seasons with an ERA under 2.00, showcasing dominance with high strikeout rates and minimal walks or home runs. Skenes is the front-runner for the NL Cy Young Award and is already considered on a Hall of Fame trajectory. However, his individual brilliance was overshadowed by the Pirates' anemic offense, which struggled to score runs and led to the team's early elimination from postseason contention. For 2026, Skenes is expected to anchor a strong Pirates rotation. In fantasy baseball, he is projected as a top-three pitcher in 2026 drafts, potentially a first-round pick, despite concerns over his team's run support.