Pittsburgh Pirates ace Paul Skenes is trying to block out all the chatter right now, focusing purely on “what’s real and what’s not” as he tries to snap out of a rough patch. After Wednesday’s 4-3 win against the Detroit Tigers, Skenes told reporters his focus is squarely on “objective numbers, watching the game, execution, all that stuff.” He was emphatic, adding that he’s ignoring “not anything from the outside.” That’s his take, but the numbers, and the noise around them, are getting harder to ignore.
The “Funk” That Has Everyone Talking
Skenes’ latest start against Detroit definitely fueled the fire for anyone worried about the right-hander. He only lasted 4.1 innings, getting charged with three earned runs. He was responsible for two of those, then watched as McGonigle immediately put the Tigers up 3-1 right after Skenes exited the mound. It was a forgettable outing for the ace, even if Pittsburgh managed to pull out a 4-3 win thanks to clutch solo homers from Rafael Flores Jr. and Brandon Lowe in the bottom of the ninth. This short outing is just going to embolden all the folks who think something’s fundamentally off. Is it his mechanics? Is he dealing with some kind of injury that’s not being talked about? The fact is, even giving the three-time All-Star some extra rest didn’t seem to help him regain his early-career form.
“Spoiled” by Greatness and the Frightening Shift in Stats
Pirates’ own Brandon Lowe really nailed what’s likely happening with Skenes and the fan reaction. He cut right to it, saying, “I think the world’s been spoiled on who Paul Skenes really is.” Lowe elaborated, pointing out that Skenes “had probably the best starting stretch to a career ever. And now he’s not the greatest pitcher on the face of the planet for a few months, and people were worried and freaking out a bit.” That sentiment hits hard because it’s true. The underlying stats also show a concerning shift. While his FIP (Fielding Independent Pitching) still looks decent at 2.99, it’s nearly a full run lower than his 3.88 ERA. Plus, his batting average on balls in play, which was a solid .284 and .273 in his first two years, has jumped significantly to .306 this season. It’s also worth remembering that many folks flagged the Pirates’ defense as a potential problem even before Opening Day. This poor defense could certainly be contributing to Skenes’ struggles, turning well-pitched balls into hits.
The Pirates are currently sitting at 63-66, 5.5 games back from that final wild-card spot, so they desperately need their ace to find his footing fast. For Skenes, with the season winding down, it might just be a case of keeping his head down and grinding through to the offseason. That’s when he’ll finally have time to mentally decompress, hit the reset button, and hopefully come back ready to absolutely dominate again next year. Until then, the noise isn’t going anywhere.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Bleacher Report.
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