Mark DeRosa isn’t sounding the alarm on Paul Skenes.
The MLB Network analyst and Skenes’ Team USA World Baseball Classic manager said he’s not overly worried about the Pirates ace, even with the noticeable dip in velocity that has defined part of Skenes’ 2026 season. DeRosa pointed to the work ethic first, then suggested the issue may be tied more to mechanics than anything more serious.
“I'm going to give him massive love, I've never seen a pitcher work harder than him,” DeRosa said on The Pat McAfee Show. “He touches the mound everyday, I've never seen that before… I know he's prepared. I would say maybe, what I was noticing, maybe a little mechanical (concern).”
That’s the key distinction here. During his first two big league seasons in 2024 and 2025, Skenes was regularly pumping fastballs in the 98-99 MPH range.
This year, that number has settled into the 96-97 MPH band, and that drop has naturally raised questions. DeRosa was asked about the possibility of an injury, but he didn’t lean that way.
For Pirates fans, that matters. A mechanical issue is one thing; an injury is another entirely.
Even with the velocity drop and a season that’s been below his own standard, Skenes still earned a spot on the National League All-Star team. He won’t pitch in the game, though, because he started Sunday’s contest.
The numbers still show a frontline arm. Skenes owns a 3.57 ERA in a league-leading 20 starts and has piled up 130 strikeouts. The fastball isn’t quite where it was, but he remains a dependable starter.
In Other News...
Brewers Crossed A Line After Pirates Left Milwaukee Rattled
Ryan OHearns rough week at the plate carried into the Pirates 14-5 win over the Brewers, when he was hit by a pitch for the third straight game. The moment added another layer to a series that had already been tense, with Pittsburgh finishing off a sweep of the first-place club and leaving Milwaukee searching for answers after a lopsided loss.
OHearn handled the hit-by-pitch without escalating things on the field, but the post-play reaction clearly stuck with him. He said he still had respect for Pat Murphy and was surprised by the Brewers managers behavior, a notable wrinkle in a series that had already turned chippy and only deepened the frustration around Milwaukees weekend. [Read more 🡒]
Pirates Linked To Bullpen Fix That Could Cost Young Arms
The Pirates have already made one bullpen-minded move by adding left-hander Brandon Eisert, but the bigger question is whether they are willing to keep shopping for help as the 2026 All-Star Game approaches. Pittsburgh has been linked to San Diego closer Mason Miller, a name that immediately fits the kind of late-inning upgrade this roster could use if it wants to stay in the mix for a playoff push.
San Diegos rough season has put the Padres in position to consider moving veterans, and Pittsburgh is evaluating what it would take to land a proven arm. The appeal is obvious, but so is the cost, since the Pirates would likely have to part with young pitching to get a deal done. Gregory Soto has helped, yet the front office still appears to be weighing whether one more shutdown reliever is worth the kind of prospect package that could shape the bullpen for years. [Read more 🡒]
Pirates Could Make One Deadline Move Fans Never Saw Coming
The Pirates enter the All-Star break at 50-47, close enough to the National League Wild Card race that the next few weeks could shape the rest of their season. Ben Cherington has already shown a willingness to work both sides of the roster-building equation, leaning on internal growth while also making an external move with the recent trade for shortstop Jacob Gonzalez. With the club still in the hunt and the front office keeping its options open, Pittsburghs deadline posture feels more flexible than it has in past summers.
The biggest pressure points are easy to spot: the bullpen has struggled, and the defense has not been sharp enough to make life easier on a staff that needs cleaner innings. Help may also be coming from within, with Oneil Cruz expected back after the break and other reinforcements nearing a return, which could change how aggressive the Pirates need to be. If those pieces come together quickly, the front office may have a more interesting decision to make than simply adding around the edges. [Read more 🡒]