Baseball is a team game, and individual brilliance cannot guarantee a postseason berth. Well, the Pirates seem to be depending on individual brilliance this year or are they? They got their face, Paul Skenes, but is the lineup enough to support him? The million-dollar question from the fans. Are the Pirates overdoing it with Skenes, considering he is still a rookie? Nevertheless, the insiders are still projecting a good season for the Pirates, despite calling out the ownership for running dry. So, what does Paul Skenes bring to the table?
Paul Skenes won the NL Rookie of the Year award for the Pirates last year. He was also selected for the All-Star game after going 11-3 in his 2024 rookie season with a 1.96 ERA and 170 strikeouts over 133 innings. His 22 career appearances have an ERA below 2.00, making him the first MLB pitcher to do so since 1913. This made the MLB insider Ben Verlander say, “Paul Skenes feels like a once-in-a-generation type pitcher.” However, Shohei Ohtani cannot make the Dodgers shine without having a strong lineup, and the same goes for Skenes. So, how are the Pirates as a team?
“The offense just continued to not add around them. You’re certainly not doing everything you can do to help a winning team,” MLB insider Ben Verlander said in his podcast Flippin’ Bats with Ben Verlander. Yes, the Pirates do have a few talents, but are they enough to support Skenes? It’s a direct take to the Pirates owner Bob Nutting for not spending enough this offseason. It is also to be noted that fans come out to watch the games when their team offers a contending performance. A lone Paul Skenes might not be enough to pull crowds for the Pirates.
Skenes’ backed Pirates can be a dark horse in 2025
What did the Pirates get other than Paul Skenes? “Skenes, Keller, Jones, love that,” added Verlander. Jared Jones and Mitch Keller are in the starting rotation with Skenes, and as per Verlander, it would be a treat to watch this trio. But the concern for the Pirates will be their offense. Why? The team got Oneil Cruz, Nick Yorke, and Jared Triolo. Cruz is coming up with 21 homers and 76 RBIs, while Triolo is coming up with 9 homers and Yorke with 2. So, both being rookies, how can they support the jacked-up pitching squad? A missed chance this off-season!
This offseason, the Pirates went all dry with no big signings on the team, and that’s evident in their lineup. So, how are they projected to do this year? Well, Verlander still thinks they can beat any team on any given day. How? Cruz can emerge as 2025’s breakout power-speed sensation if he can have a healthy season and hit his peak. If the players like Cruz can shoulder the majority of the offensive burden, the Pirates should be able to end their postseason wait. They just need to score runs consistently, and the bullpen also needs to find its rhythm. A lot of “IFs,” but it is still achievable!
Even with Paul Skenes as the center of attraction for the Pirates, their lineup can pull off a few miracles this year.
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