Paul Skenes is a numbers nerd who treats data as the map to his best performances. He reads velocity, drop and movement off the ribbon boards after every pitch to learn what’s working and what isn’t, yet he publicly shrugs at his win-loss tally. The Pirates’ ace streams six innings of solid work against Toronto, punching out eight while yielding five hits, leaving with a no-decision as Pittsburgh finally grabs the lead late. The night shines a light on the enduring debate: is pitcher wins a meaningful stat at all?

While Skenes dominates (2.16 ERA, elite innings and strikeouts), Pittsburgh’s offense struggles, ranking near the bottom in most major categories. That gap between talent and results fuels the fantasy story: imagine a pitcher who can produce quality starts and strikeouts but can’t always snag wins in a win-starved lineup. The piece also celebrates bullpen milestones—Evan Sisk earns his first big-league win after seven years in the minors, backed by Kyle Nicolas and Dennis Santana as the final outs. Off the field, Skenes stays the consummate professional—sleep routines, diet on the road and a relentless focus on routine—because that discipline could sustain him for years.

Seiya Suzuki delivered the go-ahead RBI single in the eighth, lifting the Chicago Cubs to a 3-1 win over the Pittsburgh Pirates. Kyle Tucker kicked off the scoring sequence by singling and swiping second base before Suzuki’s grounder to center plated him. Nico Hoerner added a two-out RBI double after an intentional pass to Ian Happ. Shota Imanaga spun seven strong innings for the Cubs, and Brad Keller closed it out to seal the win.

The Cubs finally snapped a skid, getting three runs from a lineup that has often been held in check this month. Pittsburgh’s offense was limited to a Tommy Pham homer and a handful of opportunities, with rookie Mike Burrows going five innings and Evan Sisk exiting after one, leaving the Pirates to rue missed chances in a tight ballgame. The series concludes with Cubs ace-in-waiting Javier Assad taking the ball for Chicago and Carmen Mlodzinski opening for Pittsburgh, signaling more bullpen depth will be tested in game three.

Fantasy angles center on Suzuki’s late-game power and Tucker’s baserunning pace in a run-heavy back-end of the lineup, while Imanaga’s seven-inning gem underscores Chicago’s ongoing confidence in the lefty. For Pittsburgh, Pham’s homer provides a spark, but the offense will need more sustained production from the top of the order as the Pirates lean on Burrows’ five innings and a deeper bullpen to cover the rest of the series.

Pirates reshuffle their bullpen ahead of a Cubs series in Chicago, calling up Evan Sisk and Colin Holderman from Triple-A Indianapolis and designating Ryan Borucki while Cam Sanders heads back to Indy. Sisk, 28, arrived from Kansas City at the trade deadline in the Bailey Falter swap and flashed a 1.69 ERA across 5 1/3 innings in five Royals appearances. Holderman, 29, hasn’t pitched since May 19 but owns an 8-10 record with a 4.12 ERA in four MLB seasons with the Mets and Pirates. Borucki, 15-12 with a 4.36 ERA over eight seasons, went 1-3 with a 5.28 mark in 35 Pirates games this year, including a rough outing vs Milwaukee in a 14-0 loss.

The moves inject fresh bullpen depth as Pittsburgh targets stability with two right-handers and a lefty in Sisk back in action. The Cubs series could reveal how the new mix handles late innings, especially with Borucki out of the relief picture and Sanders optioned. For fantasy players, the key is watching the deployment of Sisk and Holderman and whether either seizes a high-leverage role in pinch scenarios or holds situations.

In short, Pittsburgh bet on Sisk’s and Holderman’s recent track records to bolster a bullpen that’s been a concern, while Borucki’s departure clears room for a fresh look. The outcome could guide quick speculative adds in holds or even saves for a Pirates relief corps that needs dependable arms down the stretch.