The season hasn’t been kind to the Pittsburgh Steelers so far, but then they are still capable of showing signs of life at this point even at the bottom of the National League. Paul Skenes rallies this gritty team as they pulled off a stunning 10-1 smash on the Arizona Diamondbacks to get into 21 wins.

Now headed to San Diego for the next three games, Skenes and the Pirates are carrying a promising pace after that offensive burst as the team looks to keep on winning once more. It seems that this season will be something to look forward to as they seek to salvage it as well.

Skenes was on the fiery side – and yet he hasn’t been able to come up with impressive scoring bursts, but has found his groove when it mattered most. Dominating at Chase Field has been his strong suit, and he made sure that he would be able to keep his pace going as they now hope to keep on winning in the next set of games.

A Massive Win for the Pirates

Pittsburgh stands with a 21-36 record as of the time of writing and is dead second to the last in the National League. It has been a tough season with the team having a lot of injuries, but then they are trying to find ways to win. One of those ways is to have Skenes ride on a winning groove. This May hasn’t been quite his big game though, as he entered this final stretch at 0-3, only to claim his spot on the win column late.

Skenes took out seven batters in over six and ⅔ innings, which marked the fifth time in a row that he has at least struck out half dozen players on the batting side. On top of that, he was pitching at a 2.32 ERA during that stretch, and yet was still able to close out the month of May with a promising finish, thanks to a flurry of runs.

Majority of the damage came from the sixth inning, which saw them generate a total of five runs. The Pirates chased Diamondbacks starter Zac Gallen and kept their foot on the gas as they rallied all the way to the finish and kept the D-backs from scoring once more.

A Chance at a Climb with Skenes?

Paul Skenes has emerged as the cornerstone of the Pittsburgh Pirates' pitching staff, and his continued excellence is pivotal for the team's resurgence in the 2025 season. Following a stellar rookie year where he posted a 1.96 ERA and set a franchise record with 170 strikeouts, Skenes has maintained his dominance into the new season.

This performance marked his 10th quality start in 12 appearances, underscoring his consistency and reliability on the mound. Beyond his on-field achievements, Skenes has taken on a leadership role within the Pirates' clubhouse. Drawing from his experiences and insights gained from veterans, he has been instrumental in fostering a culture of accountability and collaboration among his teammates.

His calm demeanor and work ethic serve as a model for others, and his influence is evident in the team's improved performance and morale. As the Pirates aim to end a decade-long playoff drought, Skenes' ability to lead both on and off the field will be crucial in guiding the team back to contention.