Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Paul Skenes says his club will have "wasted" the 2025 season if it doesn't learn from what went wrong during a second straight campaign spent at the bottom of the NL Central. Skenes meanwhile followed up his 2024 NL Rookie of the Year campaign by building a convincing case for the Cy Young in 2025. That hasn't been enough to make up for an offense that has recorded the fewest runs in MLB this season. The Pirates have often been unable to capitalize on Skenes' dominant performances due a lack of run support, going just 16-15 in his 31 starts. If the Pirates are unable to take a step forward in 2026, the club risks wasting not just the 2025 season but the prime years of an elite pitcher.