Pittsburgh Pirates Insider Delivers Concern About Paul Skenes

Pittsburgh Pirates ace Paul Skenes has added “noticeable weight” between seasons, a development that could be affecting his mechanics and overall sharpness on the mound, according to reporting from longtime baseball writer John Perrotto.

The observation, which circulated widely Monday on social media, offers one possible explanation for the right-hander’s uneven performance in 2026 after back-to-back standout seasons that established him as one of baseball’s premier pitchers.

Skenes, the unanimous National League Cy Young Award winner in 2025, entered this year as the clear ace of a Pirates rotation expected to contend more seriously in the NL Central. Instead, the 24-year-old has posted a 9-10 record with a 3.96 ERA through 24 starts and 129 2/3 innings.

That mark represents a significant rise from the 1.97 ERA he recorded last season over 187 2/3 innings while striking out 216 batters. His strikeout rate remains strong this year at 11.2 per nine innings, but command issues and shorter outings have become more frequent.

In his most recent start Aug. 5 at Milwaukee, Skenes lasted just five innings, allowing three runs on two hits and four walks while striking out six. It continued a stretch in which the Pirates have struggled to win games when their top starter takes the ball.

Skenes’ listed weight of 260 pounds has been consistent in official team and league materials this season. Earlier in his professional career, including during his dominant 2024 rookie campaign, he was often listed closer to 235 pounds after packing on muscle following his transfer to Louisiana State University.

The added mass, described as noticeable by those familiar with the situation, may have altered the 6-foot-6 pitcher’s delivery or reduced the explosive athleticism that defined his first two major league seasons. Velocity on his four-seam fastball has also trended downward, averaging roughly 97 mph after sitting closer to 98-99 mph in prior years.

Pirates officials have publicly downplayed concerns about Skenes’ health or effectiveness at various points this season, pointing instead to defensive miscues behind him and ordinary variance in results. Opposing hitters and some analysts, however, have noted a lack of the same sharp late movement and consistent command that once made him nearly unhittable.

Skenes was selected first overall by Pittsburgh in the 2023 draft out of LSU after starring for the Tigers and helping them win a College World Series title. He made his major league debut in May 2024 and quickly became a sensation, earning National League Rookie of the Year honors with a 1.96 ERA in 133 innings.

Last season he elevated that performance further, leading the league in ERA while carrying a Pirates team that still finished well out of playoff contention. The organization responded by adding offensive pieces in the offseason in an effort to better support its young star.

Yet the early returns in 2026 have been mixed for both Skenes and the club. The Pirates sat at 58-62 entering Monday’s action, hovering near .500 but needing consistent excellence from their rotation to climb the standings in a competitive division.

Weight fluctuations are not uncommon among pitchers seeking greater strength or durability. Many power arms intentionally add bulk in the offseason to handle heavier workloads, only to fine-tune their frames as the season progresses. Whether Skenes’ changes fall into that category or represent something more disruptive remains a topic of discussion among baseball observers.

The right-hander has maintained a high strikeout rate and continues to miss bats at an elite level even during his recent stretch of shorter outings. His FIP, a metric that isolates pitcher performance from defense and luck, has stayed closer to his career norms than his actual ERA, suggesting some positive regression could still arrive.

Skenes is scheduled to start Tuesday night in Miami against the Marlins. How he looks in that outing and subsequent starts will determine whether the weight-related theory gains further traction or fades as simply one of many explanations offered during a challenging stretch for one of the game’s brightest young talents.

For a pitcher who has rewritten the early chapters of his career with dominance rarely seen, the current questions mark an unfamiliar chapter.

The Pirates and their ace will be watching closely to see if adjustments in preparation or mechanics can restore the sharpness that once made every Skenes start appointment viewing.