Paul Skenes walks four, strikes out four in first Pirates spring training start

Pirates fans saw their first glimpse of the 2025 National League Cy Young winner on Wednesday afternoon. 

Paul Skenes took the mound for the first time in 2026 against the Atlanta Braves in North Port, Florida.

It’s the only game Skenes is scheduled to pitch for the Pirates before joining Team USA for the 2026 World Baseball Classic. 

Facing a Braves order with regulars like Ronald Acuña Jr., Matt Olson, Austin Riley, Michael Harris, and Ozzie Albies in the lineup, Skenes totaled 2.1 innings of work.

Skenes allowed four walks, including back-to-back free passes to Olson and Jurickson Profar in the first frame. He responded by striking out Riley to end the inning.

Skenes worked around two walks in the second inning and stranded a runner on third by inducing an Acuña pop-up to prevent any runs from crossing the plate.

Drake Baldwin led off the third with a triple in the books, but it was misplayed by Oneil Cruz in right-center field. Cruz overran the ball and didn’t track it well enough, but it wasn’t ruled an error. Skenes followed it up by striking out Olson in his final at-bat of the day.

Skenes was replaced by Jarod Bayless, who allowed a two-run homer to Riley to account for Skenes’ lone earned run. 

He threw 53 pitches, 27 for strikes, and faced 12 hitters in his first appearance since September 24. Atlanta received strong pitching throughout the game and claimed a 3-1 victory over the Buccos.

The Pirates provided early run support for Skenes. Oneil Cruz led off with an opposite-field base hit, stole second base, and scored on an RBI base hit by Ryan O’Hearn. 

While it was a tad concerning to see Skenes walk four hitters, he did work his way out of jams. Oh, and it’s (check notes) February 25. 

Skenes won his first Cy Young after leading baseball in ERA (1.97) and fourth in strikeouts (216) and WHIP (0.95) in 187.2 innings.

He is set to start two games for Team USA in the World Baseball Classic, according to Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic.

Team USA is looking to avenge its 3-2 championship loss to Japan and Shohei Ohtani in 2023. The Americans have only won the WBC one time (2017) in five total tournaments, beginning in 2006.

The WBC takes place from March 5 to March 17, leading into Opening Day between the Pirates and Mets in New York on March 26.