Just How Good is Paul Skenes? Second Best All-Time After Benchmark Start
PITTSBURGH – Sunday’s start at PNC Park was the 50th made by Pittsburgh Pirates ace Paul Skenes. As has been the case for much of his young career, it was another dominant outing.
Skenes threw seven-shutout innings against the Colorado Rockies in the Pirates’ 4-0 win. The big right-hander scattered three hits, didn’t walk a batter and struck out seven, all while not having his best feel.
“I was throwing strikes. That helped. I had control, didn’t have command,” Skenes explained. “Found it in about the fifth or sixth inning, I think. It was grindy the first few innings, for sure. Quick contact, early contact. That was nice.”
Skenes improved his record to 8-9 on the season, though he’s pitched much better than that. 27 starts into the season, Skenes leads baseball with a 2.07 ERA and his 161 innings ranked third-most at the conclusion of play.
“It’s amazing what he’s able to do,” manager Don Kelly said following the win. “You see the fastball. The velo, the command was there today, being able to mix it up in and out, up and down. Go to the changeup, the sweeper. He’s always in control which is really impressive.”
Now halfway to the century mark in starts through his first two seasons in the big leagues, Skenes has been among the best ever in ERA. Only one other pitcher has a lower ERA than Skenes’ 2.02 through 50 starts in the Live Ball Era. That would be, the Oakland A’s Vida Blue (2.01), who won the American League MVP the same season he notched his 50th-career start.
“It’s his first full Major League season, 50 starts,” said Kelly. “He continues to go out and do what he does.”
Since he made his MLB debut on May 11 against the Chicago Cubs at PNC Park last season, nobody in baseball has a lower ERA than Skenes, and it’s not particularly close. He’s one of just eight qualified starting pitchers during that time to have a sub-3.00 ERA, and the only one who is flirting with a sub-2.00 ERA.
The LSU-product dominated out of the gate after cruising through the minor leagues, making his first start less than a year after he was drafted with the top pick in the 2023 draft.
He was charged with three runs in four innings in his debut but threw six no-hit innings with 11 strikeouts against the Cubs at Wrigley Field.
He was named the National League Rookie of the Year after finishing his first season at 11-3 with a 1.96 ERA and setting the franchise rookie record with 170 strikeouts in 133 innings.
He became the fifth rookie pitcher to start the All-Star game on the mound and the first since Hideo Nomo in 1995. He became the first player ever to be the starting pitcher in the All-Star Game in each of his first two seasons when he was given the honor again this season.
It’s been a historic start for the 23-year-old Skenes, and he’s just getting started.
“Just gotta do it in the next 50, and the 50 after that,” he said. “Consistency is the biggest thing, I feel. Being on the field, doing the same thing every day. That’s all you can ask for from players. Been pretty consistent to this point. Just got to keep going.”
More about: Pirates