Paul Skenes, the Pittsburgh Pirates’ promising right-handed pitcher, has faced a challenging 2025 season, marked by his strong pitching but few wins. Throughout the season, Skenes has delivered outstanding performances from the mound, though his efforts have often been overshadowed by insufficient run support from the Pirates’ offense. His girlfriend, Olivia Dunne, remains a steadfast supporter, attending almost all of his home games at PNC Park during his rookie campaign last year, when he earned the NL Rookie of the Year award and made the NL All-Star team.
Although Skenes holds a losing record this year, his pitching statistics reflect dominance. Many of his defeats are linked to the Pirates’ lineup struggling to score or to situational decisions where relief pitchers earn wins in games Skenes starts strong. Despite these setbacks, his consistent control and strikeout abilities keep the Pirates competitive in each outing.
Olivia Dunne’s Lighthearted Moment at PNC Park During Key Home Game
On a notable Tuesday night game at PNC Park, Skenes took the mound against the St. Louis Cardinals for his 18th start of the season. After suffering two losses against these divisional rivals earlier this year, Skenes was determined to secure a victory while backed by his loyal fanbase, including Dunne and several friends. Among them was a companion with a pet dog, which caught Dunne’s attention during the contest.
She shared a cheerful photo on her Instagram story, featuring the dog named Roux, accompanied by a playful four-word message to the pup: Shh, don’t tell @thatgirlroux.
Skenes responded with an efficient five-inning outing, allowing five hits but no earned runs, while striking out five and walking just one. His performance laid the groundwork for a narrow shutout win, as the Pirates edged out the Cardinals 1-0 in the second game of the three-game series.
Paul Skenes tonight:
5.0 IP, 5 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 5 SO
88 pitches, 59 strikes, 8 whiffs
He has a 2.03 ERA this season. NL Cy Young. Now. pic.twitter.com/uwtAkXGtNz
— Platinum Ke’Bryan (@PlatinumKey13) July 2, 2025
Although Skenes did not receive the win officially—relief pitcher Issac Mattson earned it after a scoreless eighth inning—his dominant pitching was crucial to the Pirates’ slim victory. The shutout highlighted Skenes’ ability to control games even when the offense provides limited run support.
Looking Ahead: Skenes Targets Win in Upcoming Start at Kauffman Stadium
Paul Skenes enters his next start with the Pirates seeking to overcome a recent winless streak. Currently 4-7 on the season, he has not recorded a win in his last six outings and holds an 0-2 record during that span. With his upcoming appearance scheduled against the Kansas City Royals at Kauffman Stadium on July 7, Skenes aims to break this pattern and show why he remains one of the most talented pitchers in the league.
The 23-year-old’s determination is clear as he hopes to join the All-Star ranks once again this year and contend firmly for the Cy Young Award in only his second full major league campaign. The Pirates and their fans are eager to see Skenes continue to grow as a leader on the mound and help drive the team’s competitiveness in the NL Central.