Skenes Struggles Put Pirates' Playoff Push Under Pressure

Despite aggressive deadline moves and a bolstered bullpen, the Pirates’ playoff hopes hinge on Paul Skenes, who hasn’t matched his rookie-dominant form this season. His velocity has dipped, walks and homers have risen, and he’s logged several inefficient starts, including a tough outing against Milwaukee that contributed to his 10th loss in 24 starts. Pittsburgh remains in a crowded NL wild-card race behind Milwaukee and Chicago, so Skenes’ rebound—bolstered by improved run support and a stronger lineup behind him—is critical to capitalizing on the team’s midseason improvements.