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Paul Skenes news
Archived — this story has rotated out of today’s deck. It is kept here in full.
The gist
Pirates pushed Paul Skenes' start back three days to Wednesday vs Tigers. His fastball velocity dropped from 98.2 mph to 96.8 mph this season.
Background
Paul Skenes, the reigning NL Cy Young winner, has struggled in 2026 with a 3.88 ERA, far above his career sub-2.00 ERA. His fastball velocity has dipped, and his last start lasted only five innings and 65 pitches, prompting the Pirates to give him extra rest.
How it unfolded
- Aug 11, 2026Skenes pitched only five innings and 65 pitches against the Marlins in Miami, allowing one earned run.
- Aug 15, 2026After a 4-0 loss to the Red Sox, manager Don Kelly announced Skenes' next start would be pushed back from Sunday to Wednesday.
- Aug 16, 2026The decision was reported, with Kelly saying it was to give Skenes more rest and not injury-related.
- Aug 19, 2026Skenes is scheduled to start against the Tigers on seven days' rest.
Who’s saying what
- Official
- Manager Don Kelly said the move is to give Skenes extra rest and not related to injury.
- Analysts
- CBS Sports notes Skenes has a 2.99 FIP and fifth-best K/BB ratio, but his velocity drop is concerning.
- Public
- Skenes said he is OK with the decision and understands the logic after his short last start.
Still unverified
Some speculation that rain in the forecast on Sunday may have influenced the decision, but this is not confirmed.