Pirates' Paul Skenes is still a top-tier ace per ESPN even after Opening Day disaster

Sep 16, 2025; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher Paul Skenes (30) delivers a pitch against the Chicago Cubs during the first inning at PNC Park. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images

The Pittsburgh Pirates had one of the best pitchers in Major League Baseball last year in Paul Skenes, as he won the NL Cy Young with a ridiculous 1.96 ERA season.

Coming into 2026, there was plenty of optimism that Skenes could be on track for a second-straight Cy Young Award, but his Opening Day disaster, allowing five earned runs to the New York Mets in just 0.2 innings of work, gave some fans pause.

But, ESPN's Kiley McDaniel noted that Skenes is still a top-tier pitcher in the Major Leagues even after his Opening Day disaster. Fans worried about Skenes shouldn't be, as he's still one of the best pitchers in baseball.

Paul Skenes still a top-tier ace in MLB

"Skenes was shelled in his first start, and there were some slight differences in his pitch shapes, but his velo was basically the same," McDaniel writes. "So he still seems like the same pitcher, who just had a bad command day at a time when everyone was paying a little more attention than usual."

This commentary from McDaniel makes it clear that Skenes' blowup outing against the Mets isn't something to be overly worried about.

It was a bad start that resulted in a 67.50 ERA for Skenes after his 2026 season debut. But, it's not a start that should make fans wonder if Skenes isn't an elite pitcher.

More: Three ways Pirates' Paul Skenes could lose NL Cy Young Award

McDaniel still places him inside his top-tier of MLB aces alongside fellow 2025 Cy Young Award winner Tarik Skubal of the Detroit Tigers.

While it wasn't a good way to begin the season for Skenes, it's not so much to the point that fans should be concerned about him going forward.

His pitches were still in decent shape, the Mets just got the better of him, and if it weren't for two brutal mistakes by Oneil Cruz in center field, the discussions about Skenes might be a lot different.

It's still Skubal and Skenes 1A and 1B, with one being ahead of the other depending on their latest outing. The rest of the pitchers in baseball are still a tier below Skenes, even after that brutal way to begin the season.

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