Pittsburgh Pirates Struggle as Paul Skenes Exits Early in Loss

The Pittsburgh Pirates continued to struggle, losing to the Miami Marlins 2-0 at loanDepot Park, marking their sixth loss in seven games. With a record of 58-63, the Pirates sit at the bottom of the NL Central, trailing six games behind the third wild-card spot.

Paul Skenes, the reigning NL Cy Young winner, pitched five innings, allowing two runs (one earned) and striking out four. He was removed after just 65 pitches, a decision both he and manager Don Kelly attributed to strategy rather than health concerns. Skenes' velocity has been declining, averaging a career-low of 95.9 mph during the game.

Despite Skenes' previous success, he has struggled recently, posting a 5.00 ERA over his last 16 starts. The entire Pirates rotation has been underperforming, contributing to the team's recent losses. With only 42 games left in the season, the Pirates face a challenging path to the postseason.