“Shouldn’t Be the Root Cause”: Paul Skenes Gets Blunt Reality Check After Statements Made on His ‘Down Year’

Paul Skenes reveals reason for his struggles, drop in velocity this season

Pittsburgh Pirates star pitcher revealed the reason behind his struggles this season.

“Shouldn’t Be the Root Cause”: Paul Skenes Gets Blunt Reality Check After Statements Made on His ‘Down Year’

Paul Skenes didn’t expect the 2026 season to turn out the way it has. Since the start of this season, his drop in velocity has been a major talking point in Pittsburgh, and, per the reigning Cy Young Award winner, the blame partially goes to his WBC pitching in early 2026. Reportedly, Skenes averaged 98.8 […]

MLB Star Blames World Tournament Play For Regular Season Struggles

Pirates ace Paul Skenes says the World Baseball Classic disrupted his spring ramp-up and was the root of the velocity drop that defined his year.

Skenes cites WBC for velocity dip: 'It definitely affected the year'

Pirates ace Paul Skenes, whose season has been marked by an uncharacteristic dip in velocity, cited the World Baseball Classic as a source of his struggles this year.