# Has Paul Skeens’ Struggle PUSHED the Pittsburgh Pirates Out of Contention for Good?

Page: https://stenobird.com/podcast/locked-on-pirates-daily-podcast-on-the-pittsburgh-pirates-63933/has-paul-skeens-struggle-pushed-the-pittsburgh-pirates-out-of-contention-for-good
Text version: https://stenobird.com/podcast/locked-on-pirates-daily-podcast-on-the-pittsburgh-pirates-63933/has-paul-skeens-struggle-pushed-the-pittsburgh-pirates-out-of-contention-for-good.md
Podcast: [Locked On Pirates - Daily Podcast On The Pittsburgh Pirates](https://stenobird.com/podcast/locked-on-pirates-daily-podcast-on-the-pittsburgh-pirates-63933)
Published: 2026-08-27T04:00:00+00:00
Episode link: https://lockedonpodcasts.com/podcasts/locked-on-pirates/
Audio file: https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/pdrl.fm/c332f6/lockedon.simplecastaudio.com/ca178804-c720-476f-9857-ad70690e8c6a/episodes/b2a4f68a-30ce-4a1c-84a6-25cf83c3c9ec/audio/128/default.mp3?aid=rss_feed&awCollectionId=ca178804-c720-476f-9857-ad70690e8c6a&awEpisodeId=b2a4f68a-30ce-4a1c-84a6-25cf83c3c9ec&feed=z3NI6hOx
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Duration seconds: 2137

## Resource

Pittsburgh Pirates fans get a glimmer of hope as Paul Skenes looks like an ace again against the San Diego Padres. Has Skenes finally turned the corner with his mechanics, and what does this mean for the Pirates’ future? Gary Morgan breaks down Skenes’ dominant outing, compares his journey to MLB standouts like Zack Wheeler, and questions whether the team relies too heavily on their pitching staff to stay competitive. The spotlight shifts to the Pirates’ ongoing struggles with runners in scoring position, despite offensive improvements from Nick Gonzalez, Brandon Lau, and Ryan O’Hearn. Critical moments, missed opportunities, and calls for a revamped situational hitting approach spark debate about the team’s mindset and playoff aspirations. Listener questions tackle O’Neil Cruz’s progress in center field, Bubba Chandler’s emergence, potential trade scenarios, and the latest on Endy Rodriguez’s injury woes. Can the Pirates fix these issues and build a contender for 2027?

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