Skenes (7-8) earned the win against Atlanta on Tuesday, allowing two runs on eight hits and one walk with four strikeouts over six innings.
Skenes was given a huge lead and ran with it, throwing 66 of 95 pitches for strikes with 12 whiffs while delivering his ninth quality start of the campaign. It was a much-needed outing for the 24-year-old after he surrendered 11 earned runs over his previous two contests. He owns a 3.58 ERA, 1.04 WHIP and 123:23 K:BB across 103 innings this season and lines up to make one final start before the All-Star break at home against the Brewers this weekend.
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Pirates' Paul Skenes: Rough night vs. Phillies
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Skenes (6-8) took the loss Wednesday against the Phillies, allowing eight runs (seven earned) on six hits and two walks over four innings. He struck out five.
Five of the runs charged to Skenes came in the second inning, which was capped by Trea Turner's three-run homer. The 24-year-old Skenes has now gone nine straight starts without a win, posting a 5.36 ERA across 47 frames in what's been the first extended rut of his MLB career. Overall, Skenes sports a 3.62 ERA with a 1.01 WHIP and 119:22 K:BB across 18 starts (97 innings) this season. His next start is tentatively scheduled to come against Atlanta at home.
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Pirates' Paul Skenes: Fans seven in Friday's no-decision
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Skenes came away with a no-decision Friday, giving up four runs on six hits and two walks over five innings as the Pirates fell 6-4 to the Reds. He struck out seven.
All four runs against the right-hander came in a rough second inning that saw the first five Cincinnati hitters reach base before Skenes finally recorded outs on back-to-back sacrifice flies. It's the first time since May 23 that Skenes has been tagged for more than two earned runs, and through five starts in June he's delivered a 3.58 ERA, 1.23 WHIP and 39:8 K:BB through 27.2 innings. He'll look for his first win since May 12 in his next outing, which lines up to come on the road next week in Philadelphia.
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Pirates' Paul Skenes: Another unfortunate loss
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Skenes (6-7) took the loss against Colorado on Saturday, allowing two runs on four hits and two walks while striking out eight batters over six innings.
Skenes had a frustrating beginning to his outing, as a Jake McCarthy liner to the outfield was poorly played by Pittsburgh's defense and ended up as an inside-the-park home run. Beyond that, Skenes gave up just one other run and racked up 19 whiffs along with eight punchouts, but he was saddled with the loss as a result of the Pirates' offense managing only one run in the Colorado altitude. Skenes is 0-5 over his past seven outings, but he has three quality starts and an impressive 51:11 K:BB across 38 innings during that span. The star hurler will look to get back into the win column the next time he takes the mound, which lines up to be a home matchup against Cincinnati.
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Pirates' Paul Skenes: Fans 10 in tough-luck loss
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Skenes (6-6) took the loss Sunday against the Marlins, allowing two runs on four hits and one walk in six innings. He struck out 10.
Skenes was mostly dominant Sunday, recording a staggering 23 whiffs, but Miami did manage to tag him for a pair of solo home runs. The All-Star right-hander fanned double-digit hitters for the third time this year, and it was the seventh time that he spun six innings while yielding two runs or fewer. Skenes has a superb 2.85 ERA, 0.93 WHIP and 99:16 K:BB across 82 innings, but he's set to face a tough test in Colorado his next time out.
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Pirates' Paul Skenes: Settles for quality start Tuesday
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Skenes didn't factor into the decision in Tuesday's 12-3 loss to the Dodgers, allowing two runs on six hits and two walks over six innings. He struck out seven.
The 24-year-old ace tossed 103 pitches (62 strikes) en route to his first quality start since May 12 and his sixth of the season, but Skenes left the mound with the score tied 2-2 before watching the Pirates' bullpen implode in a 10-run seventh inning for the Dodgers. Skenes will take a 2.84 ERA, 0.93 WHIP and 89:15 K:BB through 76 innings into his next outing, which is set to come at home this weekend against the Marlins.
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Pirates' Paul Skenes: Chased in fifth inning
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Skenes allowed three runs on seven hits and a walk while striking out seven over 4.2 innings in a no-decision versus the Astros on Wednesday.
Skenes emptied the tank with 109 pitches (68 strikes), but he wasn't able to escape the fifth inning. After giving up one run or fewer in seven of his first nine games, he's been on the hook for three or more runs in each of his last four starts. In that span, he's given up 15 runs (13 earned) across 20 innings for a rare rough patch in his young career. Skenes has a 3.09 ERA, 0.91 WHIP and 82:13 K:BB through 70 innings over 13 starts this year. The Pirates' ace is projected to make his next start at home in a tough matchup versus the Dodgers.
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Pirates' Paul Skenes: Fans 10 but takes loss
Rotowire
Skenes (6-5) was charged with the loss Thursday against the Cubs after allowing three runs (one earned) on four hits and three walks across 5.1 innings. He struck out 10.
Skenes tossed 62 of his 103 pitches for strikes and struck out double-digit batters for the second time in his last four starts, but he was the victim of subpar defense once again. The star hurler has been struggling of late, as Skenes has taken the loss his last three starts -- a stretch in which he's posted a 5.87 ERA and 1.57 WHIP across 15.1 innings, albeit with an elite 19:5 K:BB. Skenes will aim to bounce back in his next start, scheduled for next week on the road against the Astros.
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Pirates' Paul Skenes: Rare dud in third loss
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Skenes (6-3) took the loss Sunday against the Phillies, allowing five runs on six hits and one walk in five innings. He struck out seven.
After twirling eight innings of scoreless ball in back-to-back starts, Skenes stumbled in a tough spot against the red-hot Phillies on Sunday. Three of his hits allowed went for extra bases, and the All-Star right-hander gave up more than three runs for the first time since his disastrous Opening Day start against the Mets. Despite Sunday's hiccup, Skenes still holds a stellar 2.62 ERA, 0.94 WHIP and 63:8 K:BB over 55 innings ahead of his next scheduled outing in Toronto.
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Pirates' Paul Skenes: In peak form for win
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Skenes (5-2) allowed two hits and struck out seven without walking a batter over eight shutout innings to earn the win Wednesday against the Diamondbacks.
Skenes got all the run support he needed with Brandon Lowe's solo shot in the first inning. From there, it was all Skenes as he delivered his longest outing of the season. This was the sixth time in eight starts he's allowed one or zero runs, and it's the third instance he's limited an opponent to two or fewer baserunners. The 23-year-old has an excellent 2.36 ERA, 0.71 WHIP and 46:7 K:BB across 42 innings this season. Skenes' next start is projected to be at home versus the Rockies, which could be the first outing of a two-start week.
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Pirates' Paul Skenes: Ambushed in second loss
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Skenes (4-2) took the loss Thursday against the Cardinals, allowing five runs (four earned) on eight hits and no walks in five innings. He struck out nine.
The Cardinals jumped all over the All-Star right-hander right away, bringing three runs across in the opening frame. One run against Skenes on Thursday went unearned due to a Pittsburgh throwing error, and the hurler was at least able to pitch deep enough into the outing to fan a season-high nine and reach the 100-pitch plateau for the first time this year. Skenes will carry a strong 3.18 ERA, 0.85 WHIP and 39:7 K:BB over 34 innings into his next start, which is projected to come in Arizona.
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Pirates' Paul Skenes: Flirts with perfect game
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Skenes (4-1) earned the win Friday against the Brewers, striking out seven and allowing one hit and no walks over seven scoreless innings.
Skenes carried a perfect game into the seventh inning, but Jake Bauers' two-out single ended that bid and prompted manager Don Kelly to go to the bullpen after the completion of the frame. Despite completely shutting down Milwaukee's offense, it still wasn't the right-hander's most dominant performance, as he generated just 10 whiffs on 93 total pitches. After surrendering five runs over two-thirds of an inning Opening Day, Skenes has responded with a 0.95 ERA, 0.53 WHIP and 29:5 K:BB across 28.1 frames in his past five starts.
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Pirates' Paul Skenes: Start shortened by rain Saturday
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Skenes didn't factor into the decision Saturday against the Rays, allowing three hits and no walks with five strikeouts across four shutout innings.
Skenes had a 4-0 lead through four innings and threw just 64 pitches before rain delayed the game two hours and 27 minutes, and Pittsburgh's ace obviously didn't come back out to pitch following the lengthy delay. Skenes has yet to throw 90 pitches in any of his five starts to open the 2026 season but owns a 3-1 record with a 3.27 ERA and 23:7 K:BB across 22 innings. Skenes should be well rested ahead of his next start against the Brewers in Milwaukee.
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Pirates' Paul Skenes: Dominates against Washington
Rotowire
Skenes (3-1) earned the win Monday against the Nationals, allowing one run on one hit and one walk while striking out six over six innings.
After beginning the outing with back-to-back punchouts, the 23-year-old surrendered a solo homer to CJ Abrams in the first inning, but was nearly untouchable from that point forward. Skenes retired 16 of the next 17 batters and leaned heavily on his changeup, throwing a career-high 32 of them among his 88 pitches Monday. After a disastrous Opening Day outing in which he failed to escape the first, Skenes has responded emphatically, stringing together three consecutive starts with just one run allowed in each while winning all three. The right-hander looks to have rebounded back to the Cy Young-caliber form fantasy managers have come to expect, lowering his ERA to 4.00 while posting a 0.94 WHIP and 18:7 K:BB across 18 innings.
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Pirates' Paul Skenes: Fans six to earn second win
Rotowire
Skenes (2-1) picked up the win Tuesday against the Padres, allowing one run on two hits and two walks with six strikeouts across 6.1 innings.
After his nightmare start on Opening Day, Skenes has picked up the win in back-to-back starts against the Reds and Padres, lowering his ERA to 5.25 to go with a 12:6 K:BB across 12 total innings. Skenes' only blemish Tuesday was a solo home run allowed to Xander Bogaerts with one out in the seventh inning. That marked the end of the night for Skenes, who is lined up for Monday at home against the Nationals.
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Pirates' Paul Skenes: Bounces back with first win
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Skenes (1-1) picked up the win in Wednesday's 8-3 victory over the Reds, allowing one run on three hits and two walks over five innings. He struck out five.
After a stunningly short Opening Day start, Skenes rebounded nicely Wednesday, tossing 51 of 77 pitches for strikes and only allowing a runner to get past first base in the fourth inning. It was an early hook for the right-hander despite the efficient performance, but the Pirates are likely just being cautious with his early season workload. The 23-year-old still has a 9.53 ERA and 6:4 K:BB through 5.2 innings, but those numbers should continue to improve quickly. Skenes is set to take the mound next at home early next week against the Padres.
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Pirates' Paul Skenes: Tapped for Opening Day
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Skenes will start Opening Day against the Mets on March 26.
It wasn't hard to see this decision coming, as Skenes took home the National League Cy Young Award last season after posting a 1.97 ERA and 0.95 WHIP alongside a 216:42 K:BB over 187.2 innings. The 23-year-old ace struggled to collect wins last season -- a problem that could continue into 2026 -- but he should still be viewed as one of the top fantasy pitchers in virtually all formats.
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Pirates' Paul Skenes: Unanimously wins NL Cy Young Award
Rotowire
Skenes won the 2025 National League Cy Young Award on Wednesday, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports.
Skenes received all 30 first-place votes after finishing the year with a 1.97 ERA and a 0.95 WHIP alongside a 216:42 K:BB across 187.2 innings. He joins Vern Law and Doug Drabek on the list of Pirates to take home the award after the latter two did so in 1960 and 1990, respectively.
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Pirates' Paul Skenes: Blanks Cincy to end year
Rotowire
Skenes came away with a no-decision in Wednesday's 4-3 extra-innings win over the Reds, allowing four hits over six scoreless innings. He struck out seven without walking a batter.
The young ace made his closing statement on a strong NL Cy Young Award case, racking up 18 swinging strikes among his 85 pitches (57 total strikes), and Skenes left the mound in line for his 11th win of the season before Dennis Santana blew the save in the ninth. Skenes leads the Senior Circuit in ERA (1.97) and WHIP (0.95) and is tied for the lead with Logan Webb and Jesus Luzardo in strikeouts at 216, although Webb lines up for one more outing this weekend.
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Pirates' Paul Skenes: Stumbles against Cubbies
Rotowire
Skenes (10-10) took the loss Tuesday, giving up three runs on seven hits and three walks over 3.2 innings as the Pirates were downed 4-1 by the Cubs. He struck out six.
The young right-hander hurt his Cy Young case with his shortest outing of the season, one that got off to an ominous start when Michael Busch led off the game with a solo homer. Despite the stumble, Skenes still leads the NL in strikeouts (209) and ERA (2.03) and sits third in innings with 181.2, and his 0.96 WHIP is second only to the Padres' Nick Pivetta (0.95). Skenes lines up to make one more start before the end of the season, on the road in Cincinnati next week.
