Paul Skenes Struggles in Season Opener Against Mets

On Opening Day at Citi Field, Paul Skenes, the ace pitcher for the Pittsburgh Pirates, faced an unexpected challenge, marking a stark contrast to his previous two successful seasons. Skenes, who had a career ERA of 1.96, struggled significantly, failing to complete the first inning against the New York Mets. He allowed five runs on four hits, two walks, and hit a batter, leading to an 11-7 loss for the Pirates. This outing was the shortest of Skenes' career, as he recorded only two outs before being pulled from the game.

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Skenes' difficulties began with a seven-pitch walk to Mets' shortstop Francisco Lindor, followed by a bloop single from Juan Soto that advanced Lindor to third base. Bo Bichette then hit a sacrifice fly, scoring the first run for the Mets. The inning continued to unravel for Skenes as Jorge Polanco reached base with a swinging bunt, and Luis Robert Jr. drew a ten-pitch walk, loading the bases. The pivotal moment came when Brett Baty hit a line drive that should have been caught by Pirates' center fielder Oneil Cruz, resulting in a bases-clearing triple. A subsequent fly ball, which Cruz lost in the sun, allowed another run to score, compounding Skenes' struggles.

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After Skenes struck out Carson Benge but then hit Francisco Alvarez with a pitch, Pirates manager Don Kelly decided to remove Skenes from the game. Kelly explained that Skenes' health was a priority, noting that he had already thrown 37 pitches in the first inning. He emphasized the importance of managing a pitcher's workload, especially after such a taxing start.

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Despite the disappointing performance, Skenes maintained a positive outlook, stating, "I felt good... my stuff felt sharp." He acknowledged the need for better execution but expressed that "it was just a bad day." Manager Don Kelly recognized Skenes' competitive nature, stating, "He's a competitor... it's a really tough thing going to get him in the first inning."

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Critics of Skenes' performance pointed to the lack of defensive support from the Pirates, particularly highlighting Cruz's misplays that contributed to the inning's collapse. Skenes himself noted the disciplined approach of the Mets' lineup, indicating that they capitalized on his mistakes.

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• “It's nice to get it out of the way,” — Paul Skenes, Pitcher, Pittsburgh Pirates

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• “At the bottom of it is Paul's health.” — Don Kelly, Manager, Pittsburgh Pirates

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Following this challenging start, Skenes and the Pirates will look to regroup in their upcoming games, focusing on improving both pitching execution and defensive support as they aim to bounce back from this Opening Day setback.

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