Pirates latest rotation decision adds another twist to Paul Skenes Yankees saga

The Pittsburgh Pirates’ decision to reshuffle their starting rotation coming out of the All-Star break makes plenty of sense from a baseball standpoint. It also creates a perfectly timed new chapter in the increasingly tiresome Paul Skenes-to-the-Yankees saga.

Pittsburgh will open the second half of the 2026 season with Jared Jones, Braxton Ashcraft and Skenes starting against the Cleveland Guardians at Progressive Field from Friday through Sunday. Mitch Keller, who was originally expected to pitch between Jones and Ashcraft, has been pushed back and will likely start the Pirates’ series opener against the New York Yankees on Monday.

Keller’s recent performance offers the most convincing explanation for why Pittsburgh altered its plans. The veteran right-hander has gone 2-6 with a 7.03 ERA and a 5.59 FIP over his past 11 starts, allowing 44 earned runs and 11 home runs in 56.1 innings. His struggles culminated in a disastrous final outing before the break, when he lasted only three innings and allowed three runs in a 10-5 loss to the Atlanta Braves.

Moving Keller back would give him approximately 11 days between starts, providing an extended opportunity to reset before the Pirates begin an important series in New York.

The new order also allows to better manage its bullpen coming out of the break. Jones is still working under workload restrictions less than two months after returning from internal brace surgery on his right elbow. He was pulled after six perfect innings and 77 pitches against the Braves in his most recent start, even with a chance to pursue history.

Following Jones with Ashcraft should help protect the bullpen. Ashcraft has already thrown 113.1 innings this season, fourth most in the National League, and has established himself as Pittsburgh’s most reliable starter.

The first-time All-Star is 9-3 with a 3.49 ERA, 128 strikeouts, 27 walks and a 1.11 WHIP in 19 starts. If Jones’ restrictions force the Pirates to cover additional innings in the opener, Ashcraft is their best candidate to provide length the following day.

Skenes will then close out the Cleveland series while attempting to continue the progress he showed before the break. After a prolonged stretch in which the Pirates lost nine consecutive games he started, Skenes earned victories in his final two first-half outings while allowing four earned runs across 11.1 innings.

Getting Skenes back to his dominant form could be one of the biggest factors in Pittsburgh’s pursuit of its first postseason appearance since 2015. The Pirates enter the second half at 50-47, only two games out of a National League Wild Card spot.

All of that explains why the rotation change was made. The timing, though, is impossible to ignore.

Paul Skenes-Yankees drama adds an amusing subplot to Pirates' post-All Star rotation shuffle

Throughout All-Star week, Skenes was once again forced to deal with the assumption that his time in Pittsburgh is merely a temporary stop before he inevitably lands in New York.

When a reporter loudly referred to him as a “future Yankee” during All-Star media availability, Skenes responded with a confused, “Who was that?”

Then, on the All-Star red carpet, he complimented the young Yankees-supporting Twinstripe Reporters on their outfits before adding one exception: “Except for the pinstripes.”

Skenes has never indicated that he is interested in becoming a Yankee and has, in fact, denied it on numerous occasions. That hasn't stopped New York fans, reporters and national media personalities from treating his eventual arrival in the Bronx as if it has already been scheduled.

Now, immediately after Skenes spent several days refusing to participate in that narrative, the Pirates have arranged their rotation so he will miss Yankee Stadium entirely.

To be clear, there's no reason to believe Pittsburgh changed its pitching plans just to keep Skenes away from the Bronx. Resting Keller, managing Jones’ workload and placing Ashcraft behind him are all legitimate competitive considerations. Still, the result is undeniably funny.

Yankees fans who hoped to see their imagined future ace take the mound in pinstripes — or at least against them — will instead get Keller, followed most likely by Bubba Chandler and Jones. Skenes will already have done his work in Cleveland.

The Pirates’ rotation shuffle was almost certainly made to strengthen their chances of winning games. But after the week Skenes just had, keeping him out of Yankee Stadium adds one more entertaining twist to a Yankees saga he clearly has no interest in encouraging.

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