Paul Skenes, our reigning National League Cy Young winner, isn’t on the mound this Sunday as scheduled. The Pittsburgh Pirates are hitting the pause button, pushing back his next start to Wednesday for three extra days of rest. Honestly, this just screams that something is seriously wrong with their ace.
The “Rest” Spin Is Getting Old
Manager Don Kelly is spinning it as “rest,” flat out refusing to call it an injury. Skenes himself, the 24-year-old phenom, even told reporters he didn’t disagree with the decision, claiming he’d make the exact same call. But come on, an ace like Skenes doesn’t get three “extra days of rest” in August if everything is perfectly fine. The official line isn’t quite cutting it.
The Velocity Is Gone, And So Are the Swings-and-Misses
That last outing Tuesday in Miami? Skenes tossed just 65 pitches over five innings, letting up two runs, one earned, on five hits, with a walk and only four strikeouts. That’s not the dominant Skenes we know. The biggest red flag? His four-seam fastball averaged a dismal 95.7 miles per hour that night, his lowest single-game mark ever. Hitters put eight balls in play at 95 mph or harder, and Skenes got a pathetic four swings-and-misses. It’s not just one night, either. His season average is a concerning 96.8 mph on the four-seamer, a noticeable dip from 98.2 last year and 98.8 as a rookie. He’s tried to brush off velocity questions all summer, but they’re screaming loud and clear now. Kelly even admitted command is the bigger issue, saying the league’s adjusting and Skenes has to adjust with them.
The Season Is Sinking With Skenes
Remember how Skenes started the season? Untouchable! A sparkling 1.98 ERA in early May after *back-to-back* eight-inning shutout starts. But since May 17, over 16 starts, his ERA has absolutely exploded to a painful 5.00. He’s given up 10 home runs in just 84⅔ innings in that stretch, compared to just 11 homers in a whopping 187⅔ innings *all last year*. His walk rate has shot way up to 6.8%. And it’s no coincidence the Pirates have gone 3-13 in his starts since May 17. The team is sitting at a disappointing 60-65, last in the NL Central, and a whole 6.5 games out of that final wild card spot. Just a month ago, they were tied for a playoff spot! They don’t get there without Skenes.
So, all eyes on Wednesday. Can Skenes finally turn the tide? This isn’t just about an ace needing a little rest; it’s about whether the Pirates’ entire season is about to slip away completely. The stakes are huge, and the clock is ticking.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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