Pittsburgh Pirates ace Paul Skenes' 2026 season got off to a disastrous start as he was pulled after just two outs against the New York Mets on Opening Day.
Struggling to find rhythm and command, Skenes needed 47 pitches to get through 2/3 of an inning, surrendering five earned runs in the process.
The performance marked one of the shortest outings of his career and raised concerns about his form, putting early pressure on the Pirates' rotation moving forward.
Skenes, who was expected to set the tone on Opening Day, had entered the season as a favorite to win a second consecutive Cy Young award.
His numbers against the Mets were 0.2 IP, 5 ER, 1 K, 4 H, 2 BB, and 37 pitches.
Fans and experts took to social media to react to the Pirates star's poor show, with some expressing their enjoyment at the unexpected turn of events.
