Paul Skenes ERA Climbs to 3.95 as Pirates Edge Tigers 4-3 in Pittsburgh

Paul Skenes issued four walks and allowed three runs over 4 1/3 innings on Wednesday, causing his season ERA to jump to 3.95.

PITTSBURGH -- Paul Skenes saw his season ERA climb to 3.95 following a 4 1/3-inning start in the Pittsburgh Pirates' 4-3 victory over the Detroit Tigers on Wednesday. The 24-year-old right-hander surrendered three runs on four hits while recording five strikeouts and matching a season-high with four walks. Skenes threw 81 pitches, with only 46 landing for strikes, before manager Don Kelly removed him in the fifth inning following an RBI single by Gleyber Torres that gave Detroit the lead. The Pirates eventually secured the win in the ninth inning behind home runs from Rafael Flores Jr. and Brandon Lowe, marking only their second victory of the season when trailing after eight innings.

Statistical Decline and Velocity Shifts

The current 3.95 Paul Skenes ERA represents a significant increase from the 1.96 mark he held at the start of the 2026 season. Since May 17, the pitcher has struggled through a stretch where he has posted a 5.05 ERA and lost 10 of 13 decisions. Despite these recent difficulties, Skenes remains among the MLB leaders with 171 strikeouts, placing him in the top 10 league-wide. His velocity showed signs of recovery during Wednesday's outing, with his fastball reaching the upper 90s after it had averaged 95 mph during a previous loss to the Miami Marlins.

Control issues have become a recurring theme for the 2025 NL Cy Young winner. Skenes has now issued four or more walks in three of his last four starts, a sharp contrast to his early career production where he reached that walk total only five times in his first 77 appearances. During the first inning against Detroit, he required 24 pitches to record three outs after issuing free passes to both Colt Keith and Gleyber Torres. Skenes noted that while the results were off, he credited a recent rotation adjustment for his improved physical condition and arm speed.

Adjusting to League Transitions

Teammate Brandon Lowe addressed the scrutiny surrounding the pitcher, noting that Skenes began his career with arguably the best starting stretch in baseball history. Lowe pointed out that while the pitcher is no longer performing as the top player on the planet, his current ERA still ranks within the top 40 in the major leagues. The veteran second baseman attributed the slump to the natural cycle of professional baseball, stating that opponents have adapted to the power and precision that defined Skenes’ 2024 NL Rookie of the Year campaign.

Skenes acknowledged the external pressure, including viral social media commentary regarding his physique following a trip to Miami with girlfriend Livvy Dunne. The pitcher stated he is focusing on objective numbers and execution rather than outside noise. He emphasized that he is grinding through a period where the ball is not bending to his will, despite maintaining his meticulous preparation habits.

Look Ahead to Late Summer

With a nine-game road trip approaching, the Pirates are relying on Skenes to stabilize his performance. The pitcher expressed confidence that his body is in a good spot for the final month of the regular season and potential postseason innings. He remains intent on shouldering the expectations that come with being one of the faces of the game, even as his precision has dipped. Skenes concluded that he has been learning through this rough patch and must continue to move forward to lower his ERA back toward his career standards.