Pirates news: Paul Skenes gets 100% real about 'root' of concerning velo drop

Pittsburgh Pirates' starting pitcher Paul Skenes has struggled mightily in 2026, to the dismay of fans and analysts alike. The team currently holds a winning record, putting themselves in a good position to contend for a postseason berth. Skenes' season has been marred by a significant decline in his fastball velocity, falling to 96.8 mph in 2026 from an impressive 98.9 and 98.2 mph in his earlier seasons.

His career-high ERA is 3.91, a career-low which has contributed to his disappointing performance. Despite his strikeout rate remaining elite at 10.29 batters per nine innings, his walk rate, home runs allowed, and ground-ball rate have all seen a decline.

In a candid interview with Colin Beazley of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Skenes admitted that playing in the World Baseball Classic (WBC) this offseason was the "root" of his struggles. He felt that the sudden transition from spring training to competitive action in the WBC caused mechanical changes that he couldn't recover from.

Skenes acknowledged that his season has been a letdown, and he believes that an offseason of rest and returning to his pre-WBC form should help him regain his best form. While Skenes still retains a 4.3 fWAR, indicating his value as a pitcher, the Pirates will be counting on him to perform at his best in 2027 to give them a strong chance at making the postseason.