May 11, 2025; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Paul Skenes (30) looks on before the game against the Atlanta Braves at PNC Park. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images

Paul Skenes sends blunt message about Mets offense

Originally posted on New York Mets on SI | By Grant Young | Last updated May 13, 2025 6:00 PM ET

Ever since he was called up to MLB in 2024, former No. 1 overall draft pick Paul Skenes has been an absolute force on the mound for the Pittsburgh Pirates.

Skenes won the 2024 NL Rookie of the Year Award after producing an 11-3 record and a 1.96 ERA in 23 starts (233 innings pitched) for the Pirates last year. And this year, he has amassed a 2.63 ERA and 53 strikeouts in nine starts.

The 22-year-old superstar faced off against the New York Mets at Citi Field on May 12. He ended up going 5.1 innings, giving up 2 earned runs on 3 hits and 2 walks while also recording 7 strikeouts. While he exited the game in the 6th inning in line to get a win, the Mets put two runs on the board one inning later to ultimately give them a lead.

Paul Skenes (6IP 6H 1ER 3BB 6K) was effective across six innings in the @Pirates loss to the Mets. His sweeper was our SP Pitch of the Day pic.twitter.com/WjUPUOdffo
— Baseball Prospectus (@baseballpro) May 13, 2025

On May 13, SNY posted a video of Skenes speaking about the Mets' offense postgame, specifically their superstar trio of Francisco Lindor, Juan Soto, and Pete Alonso.

"They're hitters that, for lack of a better term, when they're bad, they're still good," Skenes said. "All three of those guys are those guys. They're not bad right now, I'm just saying. Over the course of a season, guys are going to slump a little bit. But their slumps aren't slumps.

"That's the thing for me. So Lindor... got two singles. They kind of take what they can get, and don't try to do too much. And when it goes over the fence, it goes over the fence. That's kind of how I see it with those guys."

"When they're bad, they're still good. All three of those guys are those guys. Over the course of a season, guys are going to slump a little bit. Their slumps aren't slumps."

Paul Skenes credits the Mets' top three batters in Francisco Lindor, Juan Soto, and Pete Alonso: pic.twitter.com/lyHOqDzhYH
— SNY Mets (@SNY_Mets) May 13, 2025