Paul Skenes struggles, Pirates' freefall continues with loss to Cubs

Colin Beazley, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette on Sep 16, 2025

Published in Baseball

By clicking submit, I authorize Arcamax and its affiliates to: (1) use, sell, and share my information for marketing purposes, including cross-context behavioral advertising, as described in our Privacy Policy , (2) add to information that I provide with other information like interests inferred from web page views, or data lawfully obtained from data brokers, such as past purchase or location data, or publicly available data, (3) contact me or enable others to contact me by email or other means with offers for different types of goods and services, and (4) retain my information while I am engaging with marketing messages that I receive and for a reasonable amount of time thereafter. I understand I can opt out at any time through an email that I receive, or by clicking here

PITTSBURGH — Prior to Tuesday’s game, Pirates manager Don Kelly said Tuesday would be Paul Skenes’ final PNC Park start of the season. Skenes didn’t have the home finale he’d hoped for.

Skenes pitched just 3 2/3 innings on Tuesday night at PNC Park, taking the loss as the Cubs beat the Pirates 4-1. Skenes allowed three runs on seven hits and three walks, yet struck out six. With the exception of his final start in 2024, when he threw 23 pitches in two innings, it was the shortest start of his major league career.

The Pirates have now lost 10 of their last 11 games.

While the 2024 Rookie of the Year was hit hard, Cubs starter Cade Horton strengthened his candidacy for the 2025 award. Horton allowed a run on three hits and a walk in five innings, striking out six. He retired the final eight batters he faced.

Skenes’ un-Skenes-like struggles started early. He allowed a no-doubt leadoff homer to Cubs first baseman Michael Busch on the fourth pitch he threw, then allowed another run in the first on two walks and two singles. He needed 33 pitches to complete the inning, throwing just 17 strikes.

His struggles continued throughout the rest of his outing, though he responded well enough to limit it to three runs. The Cubs simply hit him hard, hitting seven balls at 100 mph or harder. He got a double play to end the third inning and struck out the first two batters of the fourth, but after he walked Busch and allowed an infield single to second baseman Nico Hoerner, Kelly came out to pull him. He’d thrown 92 pitches, 58 for strikes.

Skenes is now two strikeouts shy of setting Pittsburgh’s single-season strikeout record, currently held by Mitch Keller’s 210 strikeouts in 2023.

It was over when …

Center fielder Pete Crow-Armstrong drove in the second run off Skenes in the first inning.

On the mound

While Skenes wasn’t at his best, it’s unlikely to affect him in the Cy Young race. His ERA increased, yet his 2.03 mark is still the best in the National League. His 209 strikeouts still lead the National League. He’s thrown 181 2/3 innings, a top-three mark in the majors.

Skenes may be 10-10, but all 10 losses came in games where his team gave him three runs of support or fewer.

At the plate

While Horton flummoxed the Pirates, they didn’t improve when he left the ballgame. The Cubs bullpen is seen as their weakness, yet four relievers combined to allow just one baserunner in the final four innings. Brad Keller pitched a 1-2-3 ninth for his third save of the season.

The Pirates’ lone baserunner against the Cubs’ bullpen came on Alexander Canario’s bloop single in the eighth. Their lone run came in the first inning, when Spencer Horwitz singled and Oneil Cruz tripled off the top of the Clemente Wall, bringing Horwitz home. Cruz finished the game 1 for 4 with three strikeouts, all looking.

The Cubs retired 20 of the final 21 batters they faced.

Most valuable player

Busch was dominant, finishing the game 3 for 4 with a solo homer, two doubles, a walk and two runs scored.

Up next

The Pirates conclude their series with the Cubs on Wednesday at 12:35 p.m. ET Left-hander Matthew Boyd (13-8, 3.05 ERA) will pitch for Chicago against Pirates right-hander Johan Oviedo (2-0, 2.81).

____