Pirates ace Paul Skenes removed early as velocity concerns persist
Despite a schedule adjustment intended to aid recovery, the reigning National League Cy Young winner struggled with control and diminished fastball velocity in a start against the Detroit Tigers.
Pittsburgh Pirates manager Don Kelly has confirmed that the decision to delay ace pitcher Paul Skenes' start from Sunday to Wednesday was a strategic move to facilitate recovery, rather than a response to an underlying injury. The 24-year-old, who won the National League Cy Young Award following a 1.97 ERA in the 2025 season, was granted additional rest after throwing 65 pitches in a start in Miami on Tuesday.
However, the extra recovery time did not yield the desired outcome. Skenes was removed after 81 pitches in Wednesday's contest against the Detroit Tigers, allowing three runs and walking four batters over 4 1/3 innings. This marks the first instance since his first two starts of the 2026 season that Skenes has failed to exceed 85 pitches in consecutive outings.
The performance continues a concerning trend for the Pirates' top starter, who has posted a 6.52 ERA over his previous four starts. While Skenes has maintained his strikeout ability, recording 28 strikeouts in 19 1/3 innings during that period, he has also allowed 14 earned runs. The most significant deviation from his career norm is his control; Skenes has now walked four or more batters in three of his last four starts, a stark contrast to his first 77 major league appearances where he recorded only five such outings.
Velocity data further underscores the team's concerns. After regularly touching 98 mph with his fastball in April, Skenes failed to reach that mark in an August 11 start against the Miami Marlins. Although the extra rest allowed him to hit 97 mph multiple times on Wednesday, he remained unable to regain his peak velocity.
The Pirates have maintained that Skenes is healthy and is simply dealing with the rigours of a full Major League Baseball season. However, the team's late-season decline has been exacerbated by these struggles. After a strong start to the 2026 campaign with a 32-28 record through May, the Pirates have slipped to 62-66, currently sitting 6.5 games out of the National League wild-card spot.
While the team's difficulties extend beyond Skenes' performance, his sudden loss of effectiveness represents the most pressing issue for a club seeking to stabilise its position in the postseason race.
