Paul Skenes closed his rookie season with six scoreless innings against Cincinnati, finishing 10-10 but posting a 1.97 ERA, 216 strikeouts and a 0.95 WHIP. He delivered a historically elite season even as Pittsburgh capped off a 20-games-under-.500 campaign, underscoring run support gaps and bullpen volatility. Starling Marte launched a late homer, Tyler Stephenson knotted the game in the ninth, and Pittsburgh walked it off in 11. Offense stalled with O'Neil Cruz at .201 and Bryan Reynolds with 16 homers, leaving questions about next year’s lineup around their ace.

In a season defined by Skenes’s ceiling versus team outcomes, the Pirates must decide how to pair him with a more reliable offense and a steadier bullpen. If Pittsburgh can bolster the lineup and stabilize late-game results, Skenes’s fantasy and real-world upside could be transformative in 2026, with the rest of the roster finally providing the support his dominance demands.

Stephenson capped a dramatic night at Great American Ball Park with a game-tying solo in the ninth, boosting his four-hit night into a standout performance. The Reds catcher added hits throughout, energizing Cincinnati’s lineup as he joined the club’s late-inning rally against the Pirates.

For fantasy managers, the display signals rising momentum and better run-probability as Cincinnati leans on his bat. If the trend sticks, Stephenson could become a steady source of runs, OBP, and occasional power in a favorable lineup spot.

Brad Keller and Andrew Kittredge form a Cubs late-inning committee after Palencia hits the IL, creating a two-headed path to saves with fireman duties sprinkled in. Dennis Santana remains the Pirates’ closer, and JoJo Romero with Riley O’Brien share Cardinals late-inning leverage, offering mixed saves and holds as playoff rosters tighten. Ranger arms Shawn Armstrong and Phil Maton are splitting saves, with Trevor Megill’s looming return for Milwaukee reshaping the back end. In deeper leagues, Arizona’s bullpen shows leverage ladder activity behind Woodford, Saalfrank, and Thompson.