Pittsburgh Pirates 2026 Positional Season Recap: Rotation

Anthony Murphy reviews the 2026 Pittsburgh Pirates starting rotation, which was anticipated to be the primary strength of the team. The rotation featured reigning Cy Young winner Paul Skenes, Mitch Keller, and a returning Jared Jones following elbow surgery. Five different starters managed at least 20 starts during the season, with Skenes leading the group with 32 starts and 174.1 innings pitched.

The Pirates' rotation finished 16th overall in ERA, though Murphy notes predictive underlying metrics showed stronger performance. The team placed in the top 10 in xFIP, xERA, K-BB%, and SIERA across the 2026 campaign.