Paul Skenes closed the season with a 1.97 ERA and 211 strikeouts, setting a Pirates right‑handed single‑season record while becoming the first pitcher with an ERA under 2.00 since 2022. At 23, he is the youngest with sub‑2.00 since Dwight Gooden in 1985, and his workload—187 2/3 innings—underscored durability as a fantasy anchor. The performance against Cincinnati highlighted a playoff‑level operatic pace that could shape 2026 draft boards.

Against the Reds, Skenes yielded a marquee matchup with Hunter Greene and lowered his lifetime ERA versus Cincinnati to 0.31 in five starts, including 28 consecutive scoreless innings. The numbers reinforce his NL Cy Young chatter and confirm his status as a cornerstone for both real and fantasy rotations, even as the team weighs how to optimize the workload for next year.

Week 26 of 2025 brings a deep pool of starting pitchers on the waiver wire as playoff pushes heat up. Top shalers include Emmet Sheehan and Ryne Nelson, each offering mixed strikeout upside and ratios that can anchor a fantasy staff in shallower leagues. Deeper-league options like Brandon Sproat and Trey Yesavage add upside with low ownership, while names such as Joey Cantillo and Ian Seymour offer late-season run-ins for contenders chasing streaming wins. Prepare for a mix of veteran floor and young upside as the rotation turns into playoff mode.

Expect pitchers who can deliver quality innings with favorable matchups and a path to wins. Sheehan’s multi-role usefulness, Nelson’s ratio control, and Warren’s steady output stand out for week-long streams. In deeper formats, Sproat and Yesavage carry upside with limited track records, while Cantillo and Tong could surprise in favorable late-season slots. Track bullpen usage, park factors, and opponent lineups to maximize weekly streaming value.

Stay proactive with these adds as the calendar closes. If your league uses platoon-heavy or bullpen-heavy scoring, verify the schedule density and the likelihood of spot starts. The right mix of proven innings and lottery-ticket arms can propel fantasy rosters into the postseason.

Pittsburgh built an early lead, but Oakland answered with a five-inning rally to steal the series opener 4-3 at PNC Park. Mitch Keller held the A’s in check through four, but a three-run homer by Lawrence Butler in the fifth flipped the game. The Pirates threatened in two later innings but couldn’t push another run across, extending their home skid to seven straight losses. A brutal stretch for Pittsburgh leaves them at 65-89, while Oakland sits 73-81 as the series continues.

Key moments included Jared Triolo starting the scoring with an RBI on an error, Bryan Reynolds driving in a run with a single, and Spencer Horwitz collecting a double to plate Triolo. Despite a 3-0 cushion after the second, the Pirates couldn’t sustain the lead as the A’s bullpen shut the door late and the offense went quiet after the fourth. Stay tuned for more updates as Pittsburgh looks to rebound in the next matchup.