Pirates' Paul Skenes Sends 'Scary' Warning After Shutting Down Padres

The young ace believes the Pirates can grow into so much more as a contending team.

Apr. 8, 2026 at 5:54am

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

An abstract, energetic painting in neon colors depicting the dynamic pitching motion of a baseball player, conveying the raw athleticism and intensity of the sport.Skenes' fiery pitching performance ignites the Pirates' early-season surge.San Diego Today

Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Paul Skenes delivered another dominant performance, throwing 6.1 innings of one-run ball in a 7-1 win over the San Diego Padres. Despite a rocky start to the season, Skenes is confident the Pirates have more room to grow as a contending team, saying 'I don't even think we're playing our best baseball yet, which is scary to think about.'

Why it matters

Skenes, a generational pitching talent, has been excellent through the first two seasons of his career. However, his win-loss record last season suggested the Pirates have lacked in roster-building around him. This promising start to the 2026 season shows there may be hope for Pittsburgh, even with their ownership's history of penny-pinching.

The details

On Tuesday, Skenes threw 6.1 innings of one-run ball, allowing just two hits and two walks while striking out six Padres batters. This was his best start of the new campaign so far, as he had been rocked for five earned runs in 0.2 innings in his opening start against the New York Mets, entering Tuesday's game with a 9.53 ERA.

  • Skenes recorded his second win of the 2026 MLB season on Tuesday, April 8.

The players

Paul Skenes

A young, dominant pitcher for the Pittsburgh Pirates who believes the team has more room to grow as a contender.

Pittsburgh Pirates

The MLB team that Skenes pitches for, off to a 7-4 start to the 2026 season.

San Diego Padres

The opposing team that the Pirates defeated 7-1 on Tuesday, with Skenes delivering a strong outing.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“'A long way to go. I'm excited to see what it turns into. I don't even think we're playing our best baseball yet, which is scary to think about. It's gonna be a lot of fun.'”

— Paul Skenes, Pitcher, Pittsburgh Pirates

The takeaway

Skenes' dominant performance and confidence in the Pirates' potential as a contending team suggests they could be a force to be reckoned with in the 2026 MLB season, even if they haven't yet reached their full potential.