After the Pittsburgh Pirates fired manager Derek Shelton on May 8, star pitcher Paul Skenes didn’t hold back when asked about it the next day.
“Honestly, I wasn’t surprised,” Skenes said. “Someone had to be held accountable, and unfortunately, that’s how it goes. But I’m not sure it addresses the real issue — we just need to play better.”
Skenes’ candid response was echoed again on Monday, after the Pirates lost 4-3 in a walk-off to the New York Mets. When asked if things felt different under new interim manager Don Kelly, he responded:
“Maybe a little. You kind of need time to see if anything really changes. He’s been great — he cares about us, makes smart decisions, and puts effort into game planning. But time will tell.”
Now four games into Kelly’s tenure, the Pirates had started on a somewhat positive note, winning their first series under him by taking two out of three against the Atlanta Braves — their first series win in nearly three weeks. But Monday’s loss dropped them to a 14-28 record overall.
Despite the loss, Kelly saw some positives.
“I’m proud of how the team fought,” he said after the game. “It was a tough battle, and although we came up short, it was an exciting game.”
So far, every game managed by Kelly has been decided by a single run, with both losses coming on walk-offs — including an 11-inning heartbreaker to Atlanta on Saturday. Kelly’s record now stands at 2-2.
Although it’s early, Skenes praised Kelly’s thoughtful decision-making style.
“He doesn’t act without considering all the data and details. So if something doesn’t work out, we still trust he made the best call,” Skenes said.
One recurring decision has been using Ji Hwan Bae as a pinch-runner. Bae entered Monday’s game in the ninth and scored the tying run — the third straight game he’s been used in that role. He stole bases in the two previous outings and was also part of a successful double steal on Sunday that led to a crucial run.
Kelly has also made other subtle but notable changes. On Monday, he placed Isiah Kiner-Falefa — recently back from injury — sixth in the batting order, a shift from Shelton’s usual placement of him in the ninth spot.
Another difference: Kelly started veteran Andrew McCutchen in left field — something Shelton had avoided. It marked McCutchen’s first time playing that position in a Pirates uniform. Previously a center fielder during his prime years with Pittsburgh and briefly a right fielder before his 2018 trade, McCutchen hadn’t played left since 2022 with Milwaukee. He handled the assignment well, even cutting off a liner in the second inning to prevent extra bases.
Ultimately, Kelly is working with the same struggling roster Shelton had, and no one is expecting miracles. Still, the Pirates have been competitive in each game under his leadership, and his early decisions have shown a steady hand.
For Skenes, though, success comes down to performance on the field.
“We just have to keep focusing, pitch by pitch, and execute better,” he said. “We had a seven-game losing streak and a rough start to the season because we weren’t executing. We’ve got to get back to that level.”
