Paul Skenes is one of the key pieces for the Pittsburgh Pirates if they hope to make a deep run in 2026, and based on his most recent comments, the ace appears more than ready for the challenge. The right-hander made it clear he’s preparing for a full workload this season.
“I’m planning to throw seven months of baseball starting March 26. I don’t know how many innings you play in the postseason, but the plan is to be built up, ramped up for that,” Skenes recently told multiple reporters.
His remarks caught the attention of several analysts, including those on MLB Tonight, who reacted to the Pirates’ ace’s bold mindset: “This guy is a throwback to the days of Nolan Ryan, Roger Clemens… power pitchers that aren’t afraid to go out there.”
Skenes says Pirates have what it takes
Skenes, who posted a 1.97 ERA across 32 games last season, his highest total in a single year so far, said the Pirates currently have a solid roster, and the only thing that could stop them from going far is themselves.
“There’s nothing stopping us from being — call it whatever you want — the best group we can be, the best group in baseball, whatever,” Skenes said Wednesday. “The only thing that’s going to get in our way is ourselves.”
“That’s always good to see,” Skenes added, also noting he feels great to be back with his teammates, a sign of strong chemistry heading into the 2026 season. “We had a good group this weekend, but first day is always fun. So it’s nice to be back.”