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Paul Skenes

All articles tagged with #paul skenes

sports5 days ago•2 min saved

Pirates Urged to Rest Paul Skenes as Playoff Hopes Fade

Paul Skenes has struggled in 2026 after a strong previous season, with a noticeable drop in velocity, off mechanics, and apparent exhaustion. His ERA has surged to 3.95, and he has delivered a limited number of dominant starts while posting poor results lately, contributing to Pittsburgh’s slump and a 4.8% playoff probability. With the Pirates falling 5½ games out of the final NL wild card and his form waning for weeks, experts suggest a more aggressive rest strategy to protect his long-term value and the team’s postseason chances, potentially sidelining him for the remainder of the season to preserve their ace for the future.

via Sports Illustrated|

#mlb-pitching #paul-skenes #pittsburgh-pirates

sports9 days ago•18 min saved

Cherington: Skenes had an excellent year despite late-season slump

Pirates GM Ben Cherington defended Paul Skenes on his Sunday radio show, saying the ace has had an excellent year despite a rough stretch and that his start was pushed back to Wednesday for extra rest; he stressed there’s no injury, noting Skenes remains among NL leaders in strikeouts and on a 4-5 win pace, while updating on Oneil Cruz’s healed hand fractures and other injuries (Konnor Griffin nearing a return and Endy Rodriguez’s hip inflammation).

via Pittsburgh Post-Gazette|

#ben-cherington #injuries #mlb

sports10 days ago•16 min saved

Pirates give Skenes extra rest, shifting Sunday start to midweek vs. Tigers

After Saturday’s loss, the Pirates moved Paul Skenes’ start from Sunday to Wednesday to give him extra rest, with Don Kelly saying it’s about recovery and not an injury; the forecast rain on Sunday likely influenced the decision. Skenes will now face the Detroit Tigers at 12:35 p.m. Wednesday, as he tries to reset during August, having posted a 3.88 ERA in 25 starts this season.

via post-gazette.com|

#baseball #mlb #paul-skenes

sports10 days ago•4 min saved

Pirates Give Paul Skenes Extra Rest, Push Back Next Start

The Pirates will push back Paul Skenes’ next start to Wednesday against the Tigers to give him extra rest; manager Don Kelly stressed it’s not injury-related. The move follows a non-dominant outing versus the Marlins, with a dip in fastball velocity and Skenes being pulled after 65 pitches, as he navigates a season that’s been trending away from his Cy Young-winning form.

via MLB Trade Rumors|

#mlb #paul-skenes #pitching

baseball14 days ago•21 min saved

Skenes' Velocity Dips in Five-Inning Loss to Marlins

Paul Skenes labored through five innings against the Marlins, yielding two runs (one earned) on eight hard-hit balls. His fastball averaged 95.7 mph (hardest 96.5), down from his season mark of 96.9, and he departed after 65 pitches as the Pirates lost. Yohan Ramírez tossed three perfect innings in relief, and Skenes struck out four to go with a 9-11 record and a 3.88 ERA. He is due to face the Red Sox next.

via nbcsports.com|

#baseball #marlins #mlb

sports14 days ago•3 min saved

Velocity dips as Skenes exits after 65 pitches in Pirates’ Marlins setback

Pirates ace Paul Skenes exited after five innings and 65 pitches in a 2-0 loss to the Marlins, failing to reach his prior velocity (max around 96.5 mph) and yielding a solo homer and an RBI single. Pittsburgh said the decision wasn’t injury-related, and Skenes’ August starts have continued to be five innings or fewer.

via New York Post|

#miami-marlins #mlb #paul-skenes

sports14 days ago•19 min saved

Skenes 2027: Pirates foresee changes to his arsenal, not a velocity comeback

In the Pirates mailbag, Colin Beazley says Paul Skenes is unlikely to regain his 2025‑level velocity in 2027; the drop is tied to offspeed pitches and command, not fastball speed, and participation in the World Baseball Classic didn’t cause the down year due to a pitch count. He expects a different, better Skenes in 2027 with tweaks to his repertoire and mechanics, while also weighing offseason roster questions, Henry Davis’ role, and the Pirates’ slim playoff odds (about 7.8%).

via Pittsburgh Post-Gazette|

#offspeed-pitches #paul-skenes #pirates

sports14 days ago•2 min saved

Skenes’s Slump Traced to a More Direct Windup

A Verducci breakdown ties Paul Skenes’s slump to a June 9 stride change that makes his delivery more direct, cutting 8–9 inches of offset and narrowing his horizontal attack, which coincides with a 3–5 record and 5.28 ERA in 11 starts since June 9 (Pirates 3–8 in those outings); the piece includes a video breakdown of the mechanics.

via Sports Illustrated|

#mlb #paul-skenes #pitching-mechanics

mlb20 days ago•8 min saved

Skenes Struggles Put Pirates' Playoff Push Under Pressure

Despite aggressive deadline moves and a bolstered bullpen, the Pirates’ playoff hopes hinge on Paul Skenes, who hasn’t matched his rookie-dominant form this season. His velocity has dipped, walks and homers have risen, and he’s logged several inefficient starts, including a tough outing against Milwaukee that contributed to his 10th loss in 24 starts. Pittsburgh remains in a crowded NL wild-card race behind Milwaukee and Chicago, so Skenes’ rebound—bolstered by improved run support and a stronger lineup behind him—is critical to capitalizing on the team’s midseason improvements.

via Defector|

#baseball #mlb #paul-skenes

fantasy-baseball25 days ago•33 min saved

Skenes’ Velocity Dilemma Sparks Debate in Friday SP Roundup

Pitcher List’s SP Roundup for 7/31 centers on Paul Skenes, whose latest outing continued his trend of struggle even as his velocity dips into the mid-90s; the analysis argues the fastball still plays, but his secondaries and location have deteriorated, leading to louder contact and more homers, though his high strikeout rate keeps him startable. Managers face a tough choice between benching him or riding out the slump, especially with luck factors like BABIP and HR/FB skewing results. The piece also recaps Friday’s other starters, highlighting Will Warren’s adjusted approach, Dylan Cease’s continued effectiveness despite lower velo, Shota Imanaga’s strong splitter-driven outing, Painter’s encouraging return, and several other notes on pitcher usage and matchups.

via Pitcher List|

#fantasy-baseball #paul-skenes #pitch-movement

sports1 month ago•26 min saved

Skenes’ Slump: Is the Pirates’ downturn on defense, coaching, or the pitcher himself?

Noah Hiles analyzes why Pirates ace Paul Skenes has cooled after a brilliant start to 2026, exploring whether the team’s poor defensive support, recent coaching changes (Marin out, Murphy in), or Skenes’ own adjustments to velocity and pitches (splinker, curve, sinker) explain the slide. With the defense posting the worst fielding value in the NL and clutch metrics slipping, the Pirates need Skenes to rebound, while improvements from defense and coaching could help—yet the ball is ultimately in Skenes’ court to regain his elite form.

via Pittsburgh Post-Gazette|

#baseball #defense #note-extra-tag-would-be-redundant

sports2 months ago•11 min saved

Harper’s cycle and Schwarber’s three homers fuel Phillies; Skenes stumbles; Rogers shines

Bryce Harper hit for the cycle and Kyle Schwarber collected four hits, including three home runs, as the Phillies routed the Mets 15-3. Paul Skenes extended his seven-start winless streak in a 2-1 Pirates loss to Colorado, despite six innings of two-run ball. Trevor Rogers pitched seven shutout innings to lead the Orioles past the Dodgers 3-2, continuing a strong June stretch.

via MLB Trade Rumors|

#bryce-harper #kyle-schwarber #mlb

sports2 months ago•16 min saved

Inside-the-park spark lifts Rockies to 2-1 win over Pirates in bizarre finish

Jake McCarthy’s inside-the-park leadoff homer off Paul Skenes and Tomoyuki Sugano’s six innings of one-run ball led the Colorado Rockies to a 2-1 win over the Pittsburgh Pirates at Coors Field, clinching the series; the night also featured a bizarre ending as a grounder led to an interference call that ended the game with Kyle Karros unable to throw, despite Skenes’ eight strikeouts.

via The Denver Post|

#colorado-rockies #jake-mccarthy #mlb

sports2 months ago•21 min saved

Skenes can't snap winless streak as Pirates fall 2-1 in controversial finish at Coors Field

Paul Skenes pitched six innings of two-run ball but took the loss as the Pirates dropped a 2-1 decision to the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field, their seventh straight defeat in Skenes’ starts. The Pirates loaded the bases with none out in the ninth but failed to score. A controversial call—Billy Cook, running for Reynolds, was ruled to have interfered with the third baseman—ruled out the potential tying run, drawing anger from Pirates manager Don Kelly. Pittsburgh remains under .500 and will try to avoid a sweep in the series finale.

via Pittsburgh Post-Gazette|

#colorado-rockies #controversy #ninth-inning

sports2 months ago•3 min saved

Paul Skenes Brightens a Little League Night by Stopping to Play Catch

Pirates pitcher Paul Skenes pulled over near Ingomar Franklin Park Little League in Wexford, PA, spending more than two hours signing autographs, posing for photos, and playing catch with local players; his visit sparked social-media buzz from girlfriend Olivia Dunne as he readies to pitch against the Dodgers.

via New York Post|

#human-interest #little-league #mlb