Paul Skenes is Exposing Pirates Biggest Flaw
Paul Skenes is Exposing Pirates Biggest Flaw
As frustrating as this might be to hear, there is something wrong with Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Paul Skenes. It's just not the team's biggest problem.Jacob Punturi|
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Pittsburgh PiratesPITTSBURGH -- The Pittsburgh Pirates have a huge issue plaguing their team, and that problem revolves around franchise superstar and anchor, Paul Skenes.
Over Skenes' last seven starts, the Pirates have a ghastly record of 0-7 and are 6-10 in all 16 of his starts so far. It's raising a question that is splitting the fanbase, the organization and the rest of the MLB.
What the hell is going on with Paul Skenes? Is something wrong with the Pirates' ace, or is there something else going on? As frustrating as this might be to hear, there is something wrong with Skenes. It's not as big a problem, however, as the team's inability to provide run support to its best player.
The Skenes Issue
There are two problems with Skenes, as best as I can tell. The first is a drop in velocity. According to data compiled from Baseball Savant, Skenes is averaging 97.0 miles per hour on his fastball. That represents another drop in his velocity, continuing a trend that began when he entered the MLB. As a rookie, his fastball regularly hit 98.8 MPH, and that number dropped to 98.2 MPH in 2025.
So, it's fair to say that his fastball has lost just a bit of zip.
The question becomes: is that affecting his ability to get runners out? Well, aside from a few uncharacteristic outings, the answer is no.
Let's look at his last seven starts. Two of those starts were not good, as Skenes allowed five runs against the Philadelphia Phillies and surrendered four runs to the Toronto Blue Jays. The other five starts were routine work for the reigning Cy Young winner, allowing two runs or fewer in those other appearances while pitching at least 4.2 innings per start.
The numbers are just as impressive when you expand the statistics you consider. He's still just as difficult to hit as he has been the past two seasons, evidenced by opponents barreling up just 6% of the pitches Skenes has thrown. He's also struck out 30.1% of the batters he's faced in 2026, which is a bit more than the 29.5% he posted during his Cy Young campaign last season.
The Pirates' Offense is the Problem
The Pirates have had one of the best offenses in the MLB in 2026, leading the league in team hits and ranking in the top five in both team batting average and runs batted in.
Yet, when Skenes is on the bump, the Pirates return to their putrid offensive form that is reminiscent of their last few seasons. In 2025, Skenes received the third-lowest run support among starting pitchers with at least 150 innings pitched.
According to data compiled by Screwball, Skenes is on track to be near the top of that leaderboard again in 2026, despite the team getting off to such a hot start offensively. Skenes currently ranks 42nd in the MLB, with the Pirates averaging 4.74 runs per game when he starts.
That doesn't sound bad, right? The problem is that the trajectory has drastically changed over Skenes's last seven starts. Over his first nine starts of the season, the Pirates registered an impressive 60 runs. Even in the losses, the Buccos were batting.
The last seven starts have been the complete opposite for the Pittsburgh bats. They've been held to two runs or fewer in five of Skenes's last seven starts, and they've posted a total of 19 runs to support Skenes.
That paints a clear picture. Sure, Skenes hasn't been his best. But the bigger issue is the offense supporting him. More accurately, it's the offense's lack of support for him. The Buccos are trying to contend, and they've left their best player out to dry once again. It has to change soon, or this small issue plaguing Skenes will become a much larger one in a hurry.
Published Jun 22, 2026
JACOB PUNTURIJacob is a featured writer covering the Pittsburgh Steelers for Steelers On SI and the NHL for Breakaway On SI. He also co-hosts the All Steelers Talk podcast. Previous work covering the NHL for Inside the Penguins and The Hockey News.
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Badenoch blasts 'moaning' female Labour MPs over Burnham jobs 'quota'
Kemi Badenoch has told Labour women to earn a job in Andy Burnham's Cabinet instead of demanding they are handed jobs because of their gender.
The Tory leader lashed out today amid reports that female MPs are demanding the de-facto new prime minister introduce a 50:50 gender split 'quota' in his government.
Amid reports that former foreign secretary David Miliband is being lined up to return to the role, possibly with his brother Ed as Chancellor, one female minister also complained that Burnham could not have 'more Milibands than women' in the top posts.
But in a scathing article in the Times today Mrs Badenoch told them to 'stop moaning' and get chosen on merit instead of retreating into 'more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country'.
'There are many, many reasons why you shouldn't have any Milibands in the cabinet,' she said.
'But complaining that the boys haven't given them the right jobs or that the boys are taking all the jobs, just shows that Labour's women still don't get it.'
The idea of quotas was also attacked by Baroness Jacqui Smith, Labour's Skills Minister.
Asked by Times Radio if Mr Burnham should reserve jobs for women, she said: 'No, I think what Andy Burnham should be doing is building the very best team around him to change this country.'
A letter written by the Women's Parliamentary Labour Party has called on Mr Burnham to ensure a 50:50 split between men and women in government jobs
Amid reports that former foreign secretary David Miliband (above, right, in 2010) is being lined up to return to the role, possibly with his brother Ed as Chancellor, one female minister complained that Burnham could not have 'more Milibands than women' in the top posts
But Mrs Badenoch told them to pipe down and get chosen on merit instead of retreating into 'more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country'
A letter written by the Women's Parliamentary Labour Party and seen by the BBC has called on Mr Burnham to ensure a 50:50 split between men and women in government jobs after he succeeds Sir Keir Starmer.
'We are asking you to demonstrate this change from day one and address the toxicity and misogyny within our own party and government,' it said.
Labour has never had a female leader, while the Conservatives have had three, and Mrs Badenoch urged the government to follow its meritocratic example.
'If you run a meritocracy, then you do not have to worry about jobs for the boys,' she wrote.
'Every woman who is a Conservative MP, every woman who has ever won the leadership, has had to fight to get where she is.
'By contrast, Labour women are demanding guarantees from Burnham. But the truth is he doesn't have to give any guarantees.
'If none of Labour's women are prepared to get their hands dirty and challenge him for the leadership, their demands are toothless.'
'In fact, it's quite revealing that the women's parliamentary Labour Party has written to Burnham asking him to commit himself to at least 50 per cent female ministers.
'This has nothing to do with meritocracy. It is yet more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country.'
Venezuela Fury and Noah Price subsidising their life by livestreaming
Venezuela Fury and her husband Noah Price look to be making their own way in the world by raking it in from their lucrative social media accounts.
The influencer daughter of Tyson and Paris Fury, 16, has become an internet sensation after tying the knot with her husband Noah, 19, earlier this year.
Since getting married and moving in together the couple have been earning thousands of pounds a month, livestreaming their life as newlyweds in their static caravan in the East Riding of Yorkshire.
And fans can't get enough of their regular life updates on TikTok and Kick, which have proved to be very profitable for the pair.
They look to be supporting themselves after Noah denied that he was given £5million by Venezuela's family as a wedding gift.
Despite his wife's huge family wealth, an estimated combined £160 million, Noah recently told his Kick followers that he 'pays for everything' for the couple.
Making light of the claims about Venezuela's millionaire financial status, Noah said: 'I actually pay for everything unfortunately. You'd expect the millionaire to pay for it wouldn't you.'
Venezuela Fury and Noah Price are earning thousands livestreaming their caravan life - after her new groom insisted he pays all the bills and denied he had £5m handout from her dad
The influencer daughter of Tyson and Paris Fury , 16, has become an internet sensation after tying the knot with her husband Noah, 19, earlier this year
Venezuela then asked their fans: 'Do you think I am a millionaire?'
Noah joked: 'She isn't a secret millionaire guys', before she broke into song and sang: 'But I live like a millionaire!'
But it seems according to estimated calculations from their social media work, Noah and Venezuela can more than afford to support themselves.
Noah has been livestreaming on platforms such as Kick and TikTok, where viewers can send paid gifts or donations.
He was previously encouraging viewers to send gifts on his honeymoon during livestreams, suggesting this is one revenue stream.
Both Noah and Venezuela have built substantial followings on Instagram and TikTok. They can potentially earn money through sponsored posts, brand collaborations, affiliate links and creator payouts.
Kick allows its creators to take home 95 per cent of the £4.99 subscription cost that fans pay.
Streamers keep 100 per cent of direct tips and donations, minus minor standard payment processing fees.
It is unclear how many subscribers Noah currently has because this information is hidden, but he does have 7,200 followers which is publicly viewable.
An industry insider has suggested Noah is making around £400 per video on TikTok, while Venezuela is likely to make £2,000 due to her following count of 1.3 million.
An industry insider has suggested Noah is making around £400 per video on TikTok, while Venezuela is likely to make £2,000 due to her following count of 1.3 million
In one video on their honeymoon, Noah asked his followers if they'd give them some more gifts now that they were married.
In a TikTok live viewed by 20,000 he said: 'Keep liking our videos people, keep sending gifts.'
After saying thank you to several of his followers he joked they should stick around on the livestream and 'watch Venezuela punch me in the mouth'.
The other half of the honeymooning couple said: 'I am, honestly!'
Noah previously confirmed that the pair don't share their finances after they were asked whether they have a shared bank account.
'She earns her money, I earn mine,' said Noah, as Venezuela joked: 'Yeah, what you gonna do about it.'
Noah went on to debunk the rumour that Tyson gave him £5million when he tied the knot with his daughter as he insisted: 'No Tyson did not give me £5million'.
Meanwhile Venezuela is being eyed up by executives for a fly on the wall TV series.
Noah went on to debunk the rumour that Tyson gave him £5million when he tied the knot with his daughter as he insisted: 'No Tyson did not give me £5million'
Boasting 1.3 million TikTok followers, Venezuela is already entertaining fans with her honest musings and candid moments, from cooking to kitting out her and Noah's static caravan home.
And following the success of the Netflix series At Home With The Furys, it is no wonder bosses are wanting to draw on the Fury popularity.
A TV insider said: 'The couple are not A-list celebrities but everyone has become obsessed with their love story.
'People are genuinely intrigued by them. Whether it’s the fact they have married so young, Venezuela’s famous family or their gypsy lifestyle, they have the ‘X factor'.
'Several TV executives think a proper fly-on-the-wall series following their lives as newlyweds in the gypsy community would be fascinating,' they told The Sun.
It is thought Netflix would be likely to produce the series due to their already established relationship with the Furys.
Venezuela's representatives told The Daily Mail: 'We have many offers on the table regarding Venezuela which we are discussing.'
