The Pittsburgh Pirates‘ 2025 season may be a lost cause, but the final games still hold weight. The team is buzzing after sweeping the defending World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers in a three-game series, capped by a 5-3 victory on Thursday. Despite a rough year, the Pirates are finishing strong, playing with grit and determination. With ace pitcher Paul Skenes leading the charge on Thursday, the team had every reason to feel confident, especially with the home crowd behind them.
“We’re playing solid baseball. Confidence? It’s hard to pin down where it comes from, whether it’s personal or team-wide. Success breeds it, though. We’ve proven we can hang with the best, and that fuels us. We’ve got nothing to lose, so we’re leaving it all out there. Just gotta keep pushing,” Skenes said after the win, per SportsNet Pittsburgh.
Since the All-Star break, the Pittsburgh Pirates have turned things around, posting a strong 25-19 record over 44 games. Their recent sweep of the Los Angeles Dodgers, punctuated by a 5-3 win on Thursday, showcases the elevated performance across the entire roster in recent weeks.
“Going for a sweep at home against one of the best teams in baseball—that’s the kind of moment you live for. You don’t get those chances every day, and we’re not taking them for granted,” Paul Skenes told reporters, via SportsNet Pittsburgh.
Paul Skenes, Pirates are on an upward trajectory
Despite criticism over the Pirates’ ownership for their frugal approach, the team’s 64-77 record after Thursday’s win over the Dodgers shows they’ve stayed competitive. Things could be far worse.
Paul Skenes, at just 23, is a cornerstone of hope for Pittsburgh’s future. Every fifth day, he gives the Pirates a fighting chance against any team. In his latest gem on Thursday, Skenes tossed 6.0 scoreless innings, striking out eight, and now boasts a stellar 1.98 ERA over 173.0 innings in his second season, with no signs of slowing down.
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