Paul Skenes, man, what is going on with the Pirates’ ace? His 2026 season has been one of the biggest storylines for them, but for all the wrong reasons. He shot out of the gate looking like a legit Cy Young candidate, and now? Now fans are legitimately sweating. We’re talking major concerns about his production on the mound and a fastball that just ain’t hitting like it used to. It’s a total gut punch to see that kind of talent struggling.
What The Heck Is Going Wrong?
So, what’s the deal? Dan Plesac, that absolute legend and three-time All-Star pitcher on MLB Network, didn’t hold back. He broke down Skenes’ motion and pinpointed the exact mechanics gone sideways. Plesac called out Skenes for getting “oftly quick” at times, becoming “more rotational” to his left instead of just staying compact and going “up and down.” This isn’t just some subtle change. When that rotation kicks in early, his hip and shoulder start to fly open. And what happens? His arm starts to drag way behind his body. Seriously, he’s “throwing away from where he’s going.” Imagine trying to generate normal, explosive velocity when your body is fighting itself. No wonder his fastball has lost its zip and his control is all over the place. That kind of fundamental breakdown makes his struggles painfully obvious.
The Shockingly Simple Solution That Could Turn It All Around
Here’s where it gets wild, though. As frustrating as Skenes’ struggles have been, Plesac dropped a bombshell: the fix for this mechanical mess is *easy*. Like, ridiculously minor. We’re not talking a complete overhaul. Plesac says Skenes just needs to “stay a touch longer closed instead of flying open early.” That’s it! A small adjustment to keep everything in line. If he can manage that, it’ll make it so much easier to keep the ball on target, getting those pitches in to right-handers and away from left-handers. This isn’t some deep, philosophical issue. This is a technical glitch that’s caused a decrease in velocity and a frustrating bit of wildness. Plesac’s critique isn’t just noise; it’s exactly what Skenes needs to hear, learn from, and get sorted out.
Look, the dream of a Cy Young award or fixing this in time for a deep postseason run might be out of reach for this year. That ship may have sailed. But don’t count Skenes out yet. If he can take Plesac’s advice, make this minor adjustment, and stop opening up so much, he absolutely has the potential to close out the year strong. His production lately just hasn’t been good enough, plain and simple. But knowing it’s down to a “so minor” mechanical issue means there’s genuine hope. This kid’s good, man. He just needs to get back to what works, and if he does, that fastball could light up the radar gun again. We’re all waiting to see him make that fix ASAP.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by The Sporting News.
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