Pittsburgh Pirates Pitcher Paul Skenes Shines in Final Game of the Season

Paul Skenes proved to be a standout for the struggling Pittsburgh Pirates, wrapping up the 2025 season on a high note. He set a franchise record for strikeouts against right-handed pitchers, finishing the season impressively.

In his last game against the Cincinnati Reds, Skenes struck out seven batters and didn’t allow any runs, giving up just four hits. The Pirates managed to win that nail-biter in extra innings, with a final score of 4-3. Skenes shared the moment with his girlfriend, Olivia Dunn, at the Great American Ballpark.

Ending the year with a 1.97 ERA and a total of 216 strikeouts, he broke the record for the most strikeouts in a single season for the franchise. Notably, he eclipsed the achievements of former players Bob Vale and Oliver Perez, each having more strikeouts in their respective careers.

Moreover, Skenes became the first pitcher since Justin Verlander in 2022 to finish a season with an ERA below 2.00. He is also the youngest to do so since Dwight Gooden, who posted a 1.53 ERA at just 20 years old back in 1985.

Reflecting on his performance, Skenes remarked, “I actually did worse than last year; it was 1.96 then, and now it’s 1.97. So, it’s, uh, slightly better. But honestly, we haven’t achieved all our numerical goals.”

His accomplishment is significant, marking the second-best ERA for a qualified Pirates pitcher since Wilber Cooper’s 1.87 in 1916. Additionally, his career start of 55 games at a 1.96 ERA is the lowest for a pitcher since 1913.

Pirates manager Don Kelly expressed hope that Skenes will continue to break records throughout his career, highlighting the potential Skenes has as he prepares for future seasons.