Pirates Facing Paul Skenes Decision After All-Star Break

Pirates Facing Paul Skenes Decision After All-Star Break originally appeared on Athlon Sports.

Right-handed starting pitcher Paul Skenes is currently in his second season in MLB with the Pittsburgh Pirates. The 23-year-old superstar was selected first overall in the 2023 MLB Draft and made his big-league debut in 2024.

Skenes continued to perform at an elite level after being elevated to the major-league roster and won National League Rookie of the Year along with a third-place finish in Cy Young Award Voting last year.

Skenes has been incredible once again in 2025 and started the All-Star Game for the second consecutive season on Tuesday at Truist Park. He became the first pitcher in MLB history to start the event in each of his first two seasons, a testament to his early-career excellence.

As Skenes continues to dominate opposing hitters in 2025, the Pirates have been faced with a decision on his workload in the second half of the season.

“I don’t think they will skip any of his starts, but I anticipate a few more low-volume outings and a few start days being pushed back later in the week,” wrote Pittsburgh Post-Gazette’s Noah Hiles.

With Pittsburgh once again in the midst of a disappointing season at 39–58 and in last place in the NL Central, a playoff run seems highly unlikely.

The front office has made it clear they do not intend to trade Skenes, so limiting his innings and giving him extra rest may be the wisest course to protect his long-term health and effectiveness.

In 20 starts this season, Skenes leads MLB with a 2.01 ERA—but his 4–8 record reflects the Pirates’ ongoing struggle to provide adequate run support.

This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 17, 2025, where it first appeared.