Paul Skenes, the Pittsburgh Pirates' ace, dazzled last season with a jaw-dropping 1.96 ERA, earning him the prestigious NL Cy Young Award. As the 2026 season kicked off, fans were buzzing with excitement, anticipating another stellar performance from Skenes. However, Opening Day threw a curveball as Skenes struggled against the New York Mets, allowing five earned runs in just two-thirds of an inning.
Despite this rocky start, ESPN's Kiley McDaniel reassures us that there's no need to hit the panic button. Skenes remains one of the elite pitchers in Major League Baseball.
While his debut outing was far from ideal, McDaniel points out that the fundamentals are still there. His velocity held steady, and the slight variations in pitch shapes are nothing to lose sleep over.
Skenes' rough day resulted in an eye-popping 67.50 ERA for the opener, but let's keep things in perspective. One bad day at the office doesn't erase his status as a top-tier pitcher. McDaniel still ranks him alongside Tarik Skubal, last year's AL Cy Young winner, as the cream of the crop in MLB.
The Mets managed to capitalize on a few missteps, but it's worth noting that if not for two unfortunate errors by Oneil Cruz in center field, the narrative might have been entirely different. Skenes' pitches had the usual bite; it was just a day when the baseball gods weren't in his corner.
In the grand scheme, Skenes and Skubal remain the dynamic duo of MLB pitching, each vying for the top spot depending on their latest performances. While the season's start wasn't what Skenes or Pirates fans hoped for, his track record suggests he'll bounce back with the kind of dominance we've come to expect. Keep your eyes peeled-this is just the beginning.