Bold opening: The Pirates’ ace Paul Skenes is publicly mapping a monster workload for 2026—and he wants it all on the table.
If everything goes according to plan, Paul Skenes aims to pile up more innings this season, expanding his already impressive workload. The 23-year-old, the reigning National League Cy Young Award winner, will kick off the year by wearing the U.S. jersey in the World Baseball Classic. After that, he hopes to keep pitching for the Pirates into autumn, a goal he discussed with reporters via Jason Mackey of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
I’ll paraphrase his ambitious stance: Skenes intends to throw for seven straight months starting March 26, with the explicit aim of building up and increasing his workload as the postseason approaches. In his 2025–2026 stretch, he logged 187 2/3 innings across 32 starts, showing little sign of fatigue. He posted a stellar 1.97 ERA, a 0.95 WHIP, and struck out 216 batters. Yet the Pirates exercised caution, generally limiting him to under 100 pitches in most starts, with only eight appearances allowed to go beyond 100 and the occasional cap around 108 pitches. It’s reasonable to think they might loosen the reins if the Pirates are in the playoff race this year.
The Pirates, meanwhile, are rallying around a roster with upside. They’ve added Brandon Lowe, Ryan O’Hearn, and Marcell Ozuna to address their earlier weakness in scoring. Bubba Chandler is another young arm the organization hopes can emerge as a new ace. While Pittsburgh hasn’t reached the postseason since 2015, Skenes provides a compelling focal point for a team with real aspirations to end that drought.
Fans might be wondering how much Skenes will pitch for Team USA next month. The expectation remains that he will return to the Pirates in time to start Opening Day against the New York Mets on March 26.
About the author: Andrew Gould is an editorial writer and longtime sports journalist who brings a practical, fantasy-savvy perspective. He hails from the New York/New Jersey area and keeps his updates fresh and approachable for fans.
Controversy note: Is it wise for a young pitcher to chase a seven-month workload at the risk of arm health, or does the potential postseason payoff justify pushing the envelope? What’s your take on teams balancing early-season WBC duties with MLB responsibilities? Share your thoughts in the comments.
