The Pittsburgh Pirates’ season continued its downward trajectory on Tuesday, losing to the Miami Marlins 2-0 at loanDepot Park. The defeat marked the Pirates’ sixth loss in their last seven games and their 14th loss in 19 contests, dropping their record to 58-63. Pittsburgh now sits last in the NL Central division and trails the third wild-card spot by six games, with FanGraphs calculating their postseason probability at a season-low 4.6%.
Manager Don Kelly made a notable decision in the game, removing starting pitcher Paul Skenes after just five innings and 65 pitches despite no reported injury. Skenes, the reigning NL Cy Young Award winner, allowed two runs (one earned) while striking out four batters. Both Kelly and Skenes attributed the early removal to strategic considerations rather than health concerns. Kelly noted that the move was intended to give the team the best chance to win, while Skenes acknowledged that the decision made sense upon discussion with his manager.
Skenes’ performance and workload raise concerns about the Pirates’ pitching depth. His velocity has been declining for several weeks, with his fastball averaging a career-low 95.9 mph on Tuesday and topping out at 96.6 mph. In his previous 79 career starts, Skenes had thrown at least four pitches at 97.0 mph or higher. Over his last 16 starts, the Pirates have compiled a 3-13 record while Skenes posted a 5.00 ERA and averaged 5.3 innings per outing. While advanced metrics suggest better underlying performance, his overall effectiveness has deteriorated significantly from prior seasons.
The Pirates’ struggles extend beyond Skenes. Since July 1, the team’s starting pitchers have produced a 5.40 ERA and averaged just 4.7 innings per start. Pitchers including Bubba Chandler, Jared Jones, and Mitch Keller have underperformed expectations. Combined with defensive shortcomings and offensive inconsistency, these factors have contributed to Pittsburgh’s recent collapse. With 42 games remaining in the season and a substantial wild-card deficit, the Pirates face an uphill battle to reach postseason play, making strong performances from Skenes and the rotation essential for any playoff hopes.
Skenes acknowledged that multiple areas require improvement, noting that individual players could pitch, hit, and play defense better. He emphasized the importance of finding enjoyment in the game and returning to the team’s previous standard of play during the challenging month of August.
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