When you end up on a brief checklist with guys named “Ferdie” and “Rube,” you realize you might be doing one thing that has not been completed in an extended, very long time.
(For the file, Ferdie Schnupp and Rube Foster each compiled their numbers within the early 1910s, proper within the top of the deadball period.)
Again on April 8, in his third begin of the season, Skenes had the worst begin of his professional profession when he allowed 5 earned runs in six innings.
In his 11 begins since then, he has allowed simply 12 earned runs complete and has a 1.51 ERA over that stretch.
Extra not too long ago, in his previous six begins, he has allowed simply 4 earned runs (complete) and has not allowed multiple in any of these particular person begins. He has a 0.86 ERA in these begins. 5 of these begins have been in opposition to playoff groups from a yr in the past (Philadelphia twice, New York Mets, and Houston because the playoff groups, in addition to one begin in opposition to Arizona).
So it isn’t like he’s cruising in opposition to sub-par groups. He’s doing this in opposition to a few of the finest groups in baseball.
Maybe probably the most spectacular factor about Skenes up to now in 2025 is that he’s not solely dominating, however he’s additionally doing so effectively. If there was one knock on him throughout his rookie season, it was that he had a bent to rack up excessive pitch counts that prevented him from pitching deeper into some video games. He has not solely improved that up to now this season, after Sunday’s begin, he’s averaging 6.5 innings per begin, tying him for the Main League lead (with Houston’s Framber Valdez) and placing him on prime of the Nationwide League.
The one factor Skenes is lacking is extra wins.
Regardless of his dominance, he has simply 4 wins this season (he had a no-decision on Sunday), whereas the Pirates are solely 6-8 in his begins general. It’s a testomony to how unhealthy the Pirates offense has been in his begins, and the way unhealthy the offense has been general. It has not solely wasted what may very well be a Cy Younger-worthy season from Skenes but additionally a robust season from their beginning rotation as a complete. Between Skenes, Mitch Keller, Andrew Heaney and Bailey Falter, the Pirates had had one of many higher and best beginning rotations within the league. They’re nonetheless in solely 26-40 and have one of many worst information in baseball.
They’ve the pitching, together with probably the greatest pitchers in baseball. They simply want some offense to enrich it.
