Pittsburgh Pirates

Paul Skenes

The generational ace anchoring a resurgent Pittsburgh

Paul Skenes remains the crown jewel of the Pirates — and in 2026, the franchise around him finally started to catch up, carrying a winning record into the break. The 24-year-old is the competitive anchor of a team that suddenly has October in its sights.

Through 18 first-half starts, Skenes posted a 3.62 ERA, a 1.01 WHIP, and 119 strikeouts, routinely pitching deep into games behind a triple-digit fastball and his signature 'splinker.' Every fifth day, he gives Pittsburgh a genuine chance to beat anyone — the backbone of the rotation and the reason a short playoff series would be dangerous.

His first half earned a third straight All-Star selection, making him just the third pitcher in Pirates history with three consecutive nods — joining Rip Sewell and Elroy Face. A scheduled start two days earlier kept him from pitching in the game itself, but his presence in Philadelphia confirmed what Pittsburgh already knows: they have one of the faces of the sport, and a real reason to believe in the second half.