Paul Skenes got extra time off, a move Pirates manager Don Kelly said was about recovery and not injury, but that tactic went nowhere. The 24-year-old gave up three runs and walked four batters in just 4 1/3 innings against the Detroit Tigers on Wednesday, getting pulled after only 81 pitches. This isn’t just one rough outing; it’s the first time since his initial two starts of 2026 that Skenes has failed to exceed 85 pitches in consecutive starts.
Extra Rest, Same Ugly Result
You’d think a little extra rest would reset a guy, right? Nope. Despite those three additional days off, Skenes couldn’t pull out of this tough stretch. Over his previous four starts, he’s sporting a concerning 6.52 ERA, allowing a staggering 14 earned runs across just 19 1/3 innings. Yeah, he’s still punching guys out, notching 28 strikeouts in that same period, but what’s the point of missing bats when you’re also serving up runs and free passes like they’re going out of style?
Where Did the Heat and Command Go?
Perhaps the most worrying trend is what’s happening with Skenes’ fastball velocity. Remember when he was regularly sitting at 98 mph back in April? Lately, that heat has just disappeared. He failed to even touch 97 mph during an August 11 start against the Miami Marlins. While the extra rest seemed to help him hit 97 mph multiple times on Wednesday, he still couldn’t reach back for that 98 mph power. On top of that, his control has vanished. Following Wednesday’s game, Skenes has now walked four batters in three of his past four starts. That’s absolutely wild for a pitcher who only had five such starts in his first 77 major league appearances. The Pirates are trying to play it cool, insisting he’s healthy and just dealing with the “rigors of an entire MLB season.” But let’s be real, Skenes more or less pitched a full MLB season in 2025, throwing 187 2/3 innings with a stellar 1.97 ERA, and didn’t seem to wear down. He’s only at 134 2/3 innings this season; this explanation just doesn’t fly.
This whole situation is coming at the worst possible time for Pittsburgh. After a hot 32-28 start through May, the Pirates have completely fallen apart, now sitting at a dismal 62-66 and 6.5 games out of the National League wild-card spot. Skenes’ sudden loss of ability, especially when extra rest did nothing, is a massive red flag. Pittsburgh needs answers, and they need them yesterday, because right now, this team is fading fast.
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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