Pirates’ Paul Skenes Sends Message After Disappointing News

The victory served as another reminder of why Pittsburgh has remained in the postseason conversation despite hovering around .500. Powered by a surging offense, Pirates entered the weekend with the third-most runs scored in Major League Baseball.

After the win, Paul Skenes was asked about being the Pirates’ lone representative at the 2026 MLB All-Star Game, and the ace admitted he was surprised by the outcome.

“I was shocked that I was the only [Pirate]… we have the 3rd most runs in baseball. Our offense is just a buzzsaw…”

Skenes’ comments come amid an improved year for Pittsburgh. Before landing on the injured list with a fractured left hand, Oneil Cruz was enjoying another outstanding season, batting .264 with 14 home runs, 44 RBIs, 21 stolen bases and a .350 on-base percentage.

Meanwhile, Bryan Reynolds has continued to anchor the lineup, slashing .284/.395/.470 with 12 home runs and 55 RBIs, while Ryan O’Hearn has provided another major boost, batting .283 with 13 home runs, 51 RBIs and a .799 OPS. Rookie Esmerlyn Valdez has also become the club’s breakout star, hitting .333 with six home runs, 17 RBIs and a 1.096 OPS through his first 21 major league games.  

On the mound, Ashcraft has emerged as one of the biggest surprises in the National League, holding a 3.24 ERA with 122 strikeouts after Saturday’s win.

Skenes has still been one of the National League’s premier pitchers in 2026, posting a 6-8 record and 3.62 ERA with 119 strikeouts across 18 starts. While those are outstanding numbers by most standards, they are a step back from his spectacular 2025 campaign, when he captured the National League Cy Young Award after leading the majors with a 1.97 ERA. Even so, the 24-year-old earned his third consecutive All-Star selection.

Pittsburgh will now look to secure the series victory on Sunday before returning home for a matchup with the Atlanta Braves. Sunday’s finale at Nationals Park is scheduled for 1 p.m. ET.