Patrick Corbin has best performance of season vs. Pirates

Toronto Blue Jays starting pitcher Patrick Corbin. Brad Penner-Imagn Images

Blue Jays' Patrick Corbin has best performance of season vs. Pirates

By Vanessa Serrao | Last updated May 23, 2026 6:04 PM ET

Who would have thought that the low-risk, high-reward signing of Patrick Corbin for $1 million would put up the best performance as a Blue Jay against the reigning NL Cy Young winner, Paul Skenes?

Corbin outdueled Skenes, who improved his ERA to 3.86 on the season with a solid performance, going six innings, giving up five hits, one run, no walks and seven strikeouts.

He also generated 13 whiffs on 69 pitches. It is the most strikeouts he's recorded since Aug. 26, 2025.

Skenes, on the other hand, went five innings, gave up four earned runs and had two strikeouts with one walk. Corbin has been the unsung hero of the Blue Jays' pitching staff, putting up a strong performance against one of the best pitchers in MLB.

Patrick Corbin with his best start as a Blue Jay yet!

6.0 IP
5 H
1 R
0 BB
7 K’s

Season ERA: 3.86 pic.twitter.com/WRVTfJ9dBU
— Just Baseball (@JustBB_Media) May 23, 2026

Patrick Corbin's solid performance helps bring the Blue Jays closer to .500 record

Corbin was throwing 78 mph sliders for strikeouts, which generated significant swing and miss dominance. He has been a huge stabilizer in the rotation for the Toronto Blue Jays amid a taxed rotation.

The Blue Jays are looking to get to .500, and the 5-2 victory on Saturday afternoon got them that much closer as they are two games within .500. (25-27).

The Blue Jays offense collected nine hits against Skenes, the most any team has had against him this year. It was a much-needed momentum for a team that has won four games in a row.

Corbin notched a season-high seven strikeouts against the Pittsburgh Pirates. Facing lefties has been an issue for them this season, and lefty Corbin continued to give them a hard time.

The veteran has helped to continue to stabilize things at a time that is most needed for the Blue Jays. Corbin is pitching like it’s 2018 again (11-7 record with a 3.15 ERA).

Vanessa Serrao

Serrao is a freelance baseball writer who has covered all MLB teams, with particular expertise on the Toronto Blue Jays. She is a member of the Internet Baseball Writers Association of America.

More must-reads: