Mark Madden's Hot Take: Top-of-rotation talent Paul Skenes is best choice for Pirates

Mitch Keller deserves lots of credit for making the Pittsburgh Pirates’ season interesting.

The right-handed pitcher is 9-4 with a 3.52 ERA. Keller has made 11 quality starts out of 18. Keller is an All-Star and could contend for the National League Cy Young Award.

The Pirates aren’t yet very good.

But when Keller pitches, you feel like the Pirates should win.

The problem is, you can’t just have that feeling every five days. The clubhouse needs more. The fans need more.

That’s why the Pirates absolutely must draft LSU right-handed pitcher Paul Skenes with the first pick in Sunday’s MLB Draft.

Skenes provides a second day of that feeling almost immediately.

You can argue for LSU outfielder Dylan Crews or Florida outfielder Wyatt Langford. (You just can’t argue for some high school kid. That kicks the can too far down the road.)

The argument for Crews or Langford might even be logical. (But I thought Langford got killed in Season 4 of “Ozark.”)

But it doesn’t supersede what I’m talking about.

The Pirates need a 1-2 punch at the top of the rotation. Keller and Skenes can provide that next year, and for at least two years. It would enable the Pirates to realistically chase at least a wild card. Somebody else can play the outfield.

Sure, pitchers are a bigger risk. Skenes could develop arm trouble, even have Tommy John surgery, or want out as soon as possible.

But that’s talk for losers. It’s negative. It’s defeatist. It’s the Pirates, so I understand all that.

But perhaps Skenes could change all that for a little while. He’s got a devastating arsenal. He’s MLB ready.

The Pirates will never trade for a No. 1 starting pitcher, or sign one in free agency. Drafting one is their only chance.

The Pirates must draft Skenes.