One of the most anticipated games before the start of the season was the duel between the Mets and the Pirates. The time to clear up doubts arrived and at Citi Field, the New York team made Pittsburgh see their luck, especially their pitcher, Paul Skenes, the Cy Young winner.
After giving Skenes a two-run lead going into the bottom of the first inning, the Pirates looked to have a quiet afternoon in their quest for their first win of 2026.
However, the hosts took advantage of multiple errors by the visiting team, to the point that they forced the departure of Pittsburgh’s star pitcher before the end of the first inning.
That scene was unthinkable, unprecedented. The fans expected to see the pitcher in all his splendor, especially after having gained experience in the World Baseball Classic. However, and against all odds, he had to leave the diamond too early in the game. Even so, he did so with the crowd applauding him. They recognized his effort.
Pittsburgh promises a lot, but…
The Pirates made several additions during the offseason in an attempt to improve their offense. The trade for Lowe was the first piece. They then added veteran hitters Ryan O’Hearn and Marcell Ozuna.
General manager Ben Cherington also completed a trade for promising outfield prospect Jhostynxon Garcia.
Despite all these moves, Skenes was pulled from the game much earlier than expected. If Pittsburgh wants to get into the playoff race, it will need Paul to recover from a nightmare afternoon in Queens. The sooner the better.
The Mets have hopes for Bo Bichette
He posted an offensive line of .333/.413/.513 with nine RBIs in 16 games during the spring, which showed the offensive profile that made the Mets feel comfortable offering him a nine-figure contract in the first place. If he has to move to shortstop in an emergency, his ability to hit will make the defensive sacrifice a little more tolerable.
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