Pirates’ Paul Skenes Named NL Pitcher of the Month for July
Pittsburgh Pirates starter Paul Skenes was named the National League Pitcher of the month for July, the first such honor of his career.
Skenes became the eighth Pirates starter to win Pitcher of the Month and the first since Gerrit Cole did so in April 2015.
The 23-year-old ended July at 2-1 with a 0.67 ERA (2er/27ip) while allowing 21 hits with three walks, 36 strikeouts and a 0.89 WHIP. Skenes allowed the fewest runs during the month and trailed only Nathan Eovaldi, who won the American League honor for the Texas Rangers, in ERA.
The big right-hander didn’t allow a run in four of his five starts during the month. Among Pirates’ pitchers, Skenes’ 0.67 ERA was fifth-lowest all-time, trailing only Bob Moose (0.34 in September 1975), Dock Ellis (0.63 in September 1972), Jim Nelson (0.64 in June 1970) and Zane Smith (0.66 in September 1990).
Skenes struck out a season-high 10 batters against the Seattle Mariners on July 6 and punched out nine against the Arizona Diamondbacks in his final start of the month on the 27th.
So far this season, Skenes is 6-8 with an MLB-best 2.02 ERA through 23 starts. In 138 innings, Skenes has held opponents to 93 hits with 34 walks and 154 strikeouts.
Skenes started for the National League in the All-Star game for the second-straight year, becoming the first pitcher ever to start the Midsummer Classic in each of his first two MLB seasons.
More about: Pirates