Pittsburgh Pirates Already Off To a Rough Start Following 11-7 Loss To New York Mets

Yikes! The Pittsburgh Pirates are off to a terrible start this season. On Thursday, March 26, they had their 2026 season opener against the New York Mets in Queens, New York. As you probably know at this point, they had an embarrassing 11-7 loss.

How the Mighty Have Fallen

The first inning was not great for the Pirates. NY scored 5 runs in the frame. Cy Young winner Paul Skenes had a severe lack of control. He was unable to keep his lead, and out of every start of Skenes’ career, this was by far the shortest.

Skenes allowed 5 runs on 37 pitches, and for the first time, Skenes was unable to pitch out of the first inning. To add insult to injury, as Skenes was being pulled and he was walking off the field, the fans were actually sarcastically cheering and waving goodbye. Later, Skenes said that he wasn’t really bothered by it.

Some have called him one of the best players in the MLB. His 2025 performance was exceptional, setting a Pittsburgh Pirates franchise record for right-handed pitcher strikeouts after recording 216 strikeouts. He wrapped up his 2025 season with a 1.97 ERA, once again breaking a Pirates record. Even in Spring Training this year, he seemed to live up to the hype. All to just be humiliated by the New York Mets.

Oneil Cruz’s Misplay and Brandon Lowe’s Silver Lining

Then there’s Oneil Cruz, who also did terribly. He started well with a single in the 1st inning. That made it appear as though the Pirates had everything under control. But then later, he totally misplayed a ball somehow, contributing to the mess and making things harder for Skenes.

However, Second Baseman Brandon Lowe had a pretty solid debut. His two home runs. Since Lowe was acquired by the Pirates in Dec. 2025, he has been pulling his weight on the team. He had a great Spring Training, and overall, he’s been really good for the Pirates. But ultimately, even Lowe could not save them from that dreadful loss against the Mets.

The Pirates and Mets Reunion

The game against the Mets on Thursday was hard to watch, and the loss will probably plague their minds for quite a while. What will this loss mean for the Pirates? The Pirates will play the Mets on Saturday and Sunday. Two opportunities for sweet revenge.

Can they make a comeback and beat them? Well, despite Paul Skenes’ utter failure and humiliation, he does have a history of being a legendary player, and there’s no reason he can’t be one again. Maybe Thursday could just be chalked up to Skenes having a bad day.