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Skenes (10-11) earned the win Sunday over the Angels, allowing four hits and a walk over 5.1 scoreless innings. He struck out two.
While Skenes wasn't exactly dominant Sunday, he managed to hold the Angels scoreless in a strong bounce-back performance after he gave up five runs in 4.2 innings against the Giants his last time out. It's Skenes' first win since July 19 -- he'd gone 0-3 with a 5.77 ERA across 34.1 innings in his previous seven outings. Overall, the 24-year-old Skenes sports a 3.83 ERA with a 1.15 WHIP and 181:45 K:BB across 29 starts (155 innings) this season. He's currently in line for a road matchup with the Cubs his next time out.
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Pirates' Paul Skenes: Stumbles against Giants
Rotowire
Skenes didn't factor into the decision in Tuesday's wild 13-12 win over the Giants, coughing up five runs on eight hits and three walks over 4.2 innings. He struck out four.
An anticipated pitchers' duel between Skenes and Logan Webb never materialized, as the San Francisco ace got chased from the game in the third inning, while his Pittsburgh counterpart couldn't escape the fifth. Skenes has been able to complete six frames just once in his last seven starts, limping to a 5.77 ERA, 1.54 WHIP and 41:18 K:BB through 34.1 innings over that stretch with an 0-3 record. He'll try to get back in the win column in his next outing, which is scheduled to come at home this weekend against the Angels.
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Pirates' Paul Skenes: Rebounds with six shutout frames
Rotowire
Skenes allowed three hits and struck out four without walking a batter over six shutout innings in a no-decision versus the Padres on Tuesday.
Skenes had gone five starts without reaching the six-inning mark, and he allowed a total of 18 runs (17 earned) over 23.2 innings in that span. This outing was a return to the form that's expected of the Pirates' ace, though he was again lacking in strikeouts, and he didn't get enough run support to pick up a win. Skenes is now at a 3.79 ERA, 1.12 WHIP and 175:41 K:BB through 145 innings over 27 starts this year. He's projected to make his next start at home versus the Giants.
Pirates' Paul Skenes: Another early exit Wednesday
Rotowire
Skenes didn't factor into the decision in Wednesday's 4-3 win over the Tigers, giving up three runs on four hits and four walks over 4.1 innings. He struck out five.
The 24-year-old right-hander was on the hook for his 12th loss of the season until the Pirates rallied to walk it off in the ninth. Skenes has failed to last longer than five frames in four straight starts, and he's failed to complete six frames in six of his last seven trips to the mound, a stretch in which he's stumbled to a 5.00 ERA and 1.44 WHIP despite a 48:18 K:BB over 36 innings. Skenes will try to turn things around in his next outing, which is set to come on the road early next week in San Diego.
Manager Don Kelly said that Skenes won't start Sunday's game against the Red Sox as planned and will instead make his next start Wednesday versus the Tigers at PNC Park, Colin Beazley of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.
Kelly indicated that no injury was behind the decision to push Skenes off Sunday's start, as the Pirates simply wanted to build in more rest for their ace in advance of his next appearance. The Pirates will turn to reliever Lake Bachar to make a spot start Sunday in place of Skenes, who will get some extra time off after submitting a 6.52 ERA and 1.60 WHIP over his last four outings. Skenes threw just 65 pitches over five innings in his most recent start Tuesday in Miami and averaged 95.7 mph with his fastball, which was down a tick from his season-long average.
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Pirates' Paul Skenes: Outdueled on Tuesday
Rotowire
Skenes (9-11) took the loss Tuesday, allowing two runs (one earned) on five hits and one walk over five innings as the Pirates fell 2-0 to the Marlins. He struck out four.
Pittsburgh's hitters couldn't solve Eury Perez and the Miami bullpen, giving Skenes no margin for error in a solid outing. While Skenes made an early exit after 65 pitches (45 strikes), manager Don Kelly told Jason Mackey of MLB.com after the game that there was no injury concern with the right-hander. Instead, the game situation presented Kelly with an opportunity to give the 24-year-old right-hander a bit of extra rest. Skenes has struggled of late, giving up 13 runs in 14.1 innings over his prior three starts, and his fastball velocity was down over one tick Tuesday, averaging 95.7 mph. Skenes will look to rally in his next trip to the mound, which is scheduled to come at home this weekend against the Red Sox.
Skenes (9-10) allowed three runs on two hits and four walks while striking out six over five innings to take the loss versus the Brewers on Wednesday.
Skenes has walked a season-high four batters in each of his last two starts. He's also allowed 13 runs over his last 14.1 innings, marking another rough patch in a season that has seen the right-hander struggle much more than his first two seasons. He threw just 53 of 93 pitches for strikes in Wednesday's outing. For the season, Skenes has a 3.96 ERA, 1.12 WHIP and 162:36 K:BB through 129.2 innings. He's projected to make his next start at Miami.
Skenes didn't factor into the decision in Friday's 8-7 loss to the Reds, coughing up five runs on seven hits and four walks over four innings. He struck out seven.
The star right-hander managed only one clean inning before getting the hook after 100 pitches (65 strikes), and Skenes served up homers to JJ Bleday in the third inning and Sal Stewart in the fourth while issuing a season high in free passes. It's the first time since July 1 that he's been taken deep at all, but Skenes would just as soon put the month behind him -- over six outings and 31.2 innings, he stumbled to a 6.25 ERA, 1.55 WHIP and 42:12 K:BB. He'll look to bounce back in his next start, which lines up to come on the road next week in Milwaukee.
