Will Paul Skenes Bounce Back?: 3 Reasons for Optimism, 3 for Concern

Danny Demilio of Pittsburgh Baseball Now examines whether Pittsburgh Pirates ace Paul Skenes can rebound in 2027 following a disappointing 2026 campaign. After winning Rookie of the Year and Cy Young honors across his first two seasons with a 1.96 ERA, Skenes saw his ERA rise to 3.86 over 32 starts, though he still earned an All-Star selection and reached 200 strikeouts.

Demilio highlights past dominance, solid underlying strikeout metrics, and an uninterrupted offseason as primary reasons for optimism. Conversely, the writer notes that declining fastball velocity, regression on his signature hybrid splinker pitch, and a lack of clear answers regarding mechanical issues remain major concerns.