The Pittsburgh Pirates kicked off their season facing the New York Mets, a challenging opponent by any measure. With Paul Skenes taking the mound, the Pirates had high hopes, as Skenes is typically a reliable force. But baseball, as we know, can be unpredictable.
Skenes' Opening Day performance was one for the history books, and not in a way the Pirates would have liked. In a rare and rough outing, he gave up five earned runs and couldn’t make it out of the first inning. This tied for the most earned runs he’s ever allowed in his career, marking a historically tough start.
Digging into the Pirates' archives, this was the first time since at least 1900 that a starting pitcher on Opening Day didn't complete a full inning. Skenes managed just two outs before being pulled from the game, a moment that will be remembered for its rarity in the franchise’s long history, dating back to 1882.
While it's hard to definitively say this was the worst Opening Day start in Pirates history, the stats paint a stark picture. Skenes faced just 0.2 innings, allowing four hits, two walks, and hitting a batter, all while giving up five earned runs. He did strike out one batter, but it wasn’t enough to salvage the inning, as he was pulled after 37 pitches.
Following this outing, Skenes’ ERA skyrocketed to 67.50. While that number is likely to drop as the season progresses, it underscores just how challenging this start was against a revamped Mets lineup.
For Skenes and the Pirates, the focus will now be on bouncing back and turning the page on what was a tough start to the season.