Pirates Delay Paul Skenes Start After Velocity Drops to 95.7 MPH

Paul Skenes will skip his Sunday start against the Red Sox to receive three days of extra rest following a career-low velocity performance.

Pittsburgh Pirates manager Don Kelly announced Saturday that Paul Skenes will not make his scheduled start on Sunday against the Boston Red Sox. The 24-year-old right-hander is being pushed back three days to start Wednesday's game against the Detroit Tigers at PNC Park. This decision follows a Saturday afternoon 4-0 loss to the Red Sox, a result that dropped the Pirates to a 60-65 record. The club currently sits in last place in the NL Central, trailing the final wild-card spot by 6.5 games after losing 16 of their last 23 contests.

Skenes, the reigning National League Cy Young Award winner, is navigating the most difficult stretch of his major league career. During his last outing against the Miami Marlins on Tuesday, the three-time All-Star threw only 65 pitches across five innings. His four-seam fastball averaged 95.7 mph in that appearance, marking a career low for the starter. This figure represents a significant decline from his 98.8 mph average in 2024 and his 98.1 mph mark last season. His season average for the current campaign now sits at 96.8 mph.

Pitching Staff Adjustments and Stats

With Skenes moved to Wednesday, the Pirates have named right-hander Lake Bachar as the starter for Sunday’s series finale against Boston. The team expects to utilize a bullpen game to cover the innings against the Red Sox. Skenes enters this period of rest with a 9-11 record and a 3.88 ERA through 134 2/3 innings of work. Despite recent struggles, he has recorded 166 strikeouts this season, which ranks as the fourth-highest total in the National League. However, his performance over the last nine starts shows a 5.79 ERA, a sharp increase from his earlier season form.

Kelly clarified to reporters that the scheduling change is not related to a specific injury. Skenes completed his regularly scheduled bullpen session on Friday and arrived at the ballpark on Saturday expecting to pitch Sunday before the final decision was communicated. The pitcher noted that while he prides himself on maintaining his rotation spot, he acknowledged that the extra recovery time would be beneficial in the long run.

Skenes Addresses Fatigue and Recovery

"It certainly can't hurt in terms of recovery," Skenes told reporters following the 4-0 shutout loss to Boston. He admitted that fatigue could be a contributing factor to his recent dip in performance, stating that every player in the major leagues is grinding through the physical demands of a full season. The right-hander expressed support for Kelly’s choice, noting that while it was the manager's ultimate decision, the two had discussed the possibility following his abbreviated start in Miami.

Skenes emphasized that he does not disagree with the move to prioritize rest. He mentioned that he will have the manager's back regarding the rotation shift. The Pirates are looking for this break to help the ace regain the velocity that has steadily declined over the past three seasons. The team will monitor his progress leading into the Wednesday matchup against Detroit as they attempt to climb out of the bottom of the division standings.