Skenes Blames World Baseball Classic for Disrupting Velocity Ramp-Up in Down 2026 Season
Reigning Cy Young winner Paul Skenes attributes his 2026 velocity decline and sub-2.00 ERA drop to the World Baseball Classic disrupting his spring training ramp-up. His fastball average fell to 96.8 mph, down from 98.1 mph in 2025, contributing to a 3.91 ERA and the Pirates' postseason elimination.