Skenes Terrifies MLB: “Still Room to Grow” Amid Struggles
Paul Skenes: From Superhero to Human — Why Even the Best Pitchers Have Bad Days
The Kid Who Made Pitching Look Easy
Imagine you’re playing a video game on the easiest setting. You’re hitting home runs every time, striking everyone out, and winning without breaking a sweat. That’s what watching Paul Skenes pitch felt like for the last two years.
- 2024: He won NL Rookie of the Year (best first-year player).
- 2025: He won the NL Cy Young Award (best pitcher in the league).
- He throws the ball really fast (upper 90s mph) and makes it move like magic.
- Batters barely touched him. He made history look simple.
Important Point:
Paul Skenes is only 24 years old. He’s already one of the faces of Major League Baseball. That’s a lot of pressure for someone who just graduated college a few years ago.
The Plot Twist: 2026 Has Been… Bumpy
This season, things look different. Skenes is still good — but he’s not untouchable anymore.
What’s Going Wrong?
| Stat | Career Start (2024–25) | 2026 Season (So Far) |
|---|---|---|
| ERA (Earned Run Average — lower is better) | 1.96 | 3.95 |
| Walks per game | Rare (only 5 times in 77 games) | 3 times in his last 4 starts |
| Strikes thrown | Usually most pitches | Only 46 of 81 pitches were strikes in his last game |
| Velocity | Consistently 98–100 mph | Dipped to 95 mph last week, back to upper 90s now |
In his last start (vs. Detroit Tigers):
- He pitched 4⅓ innings (short for him).
- Gave up 3 runs, 4 hits, 4 walks, 5 strikeouts.
- Threw 81 pitches — only 46 were strikes.
Important Point:
Even with these struggles, Skenes is still in the top 10 in the majors in strikeouts (171) and his ERA is top 40. He’s not “bad” — he’s just not superhuman right now.
Why Is This Happening? (The ELI5 Version)
Baseball is a game of adjustments. Think of it like rock-paper-scissors:
- Skenes dominated with power + precision → Batters couldn’t hit him.
- Batters studied him → They started laying off bad pitches, waiting for mistakes.
- Skenes’ command slipped a little → More walks, more hittable pitches.
- Now Skenes has to adjust back → He’s working on it.
As veteran teammate Brandon Lowe put it:
"There’s a reason why there’s not going to be a guy that pitches for 10 years and wins 10 Cy Youngs. People adapt, people adjust."
What Skenes Is Doing About It (Step by Step)
Paul Skenes isn’t panicking. He’s a creature of habit — same routine, same prep, same mindset. Here’s his plan:
- Stick to his routine — No major changes to how he prepares.
- Focus on “what’s real” — Watch video, check objective numbers, measure execution. Ignore outside noise.
- Trust his body — He says his body feels good for the final month + playoffs.
- Fix the walks — He knows it’s frustrating. He’s confident he’ll solve it.
- Keep learning — "I’ve been learning a lot and I’ll continue to learn a lot."
Important Point:
Skenes got extra rest when the Pirates adjusted the rotation. That helped his velocity jump back up. Rest matters!
The Outside Noise vs. The Locker Room
What the Internet Says:
- Criticism on social media.
- Even a beach photo with his girlfriend, Livvy Dunne, went viral — people commenting on his physique.
- Fans used to dominance are “freaking out a bit.”
What His Teammates Say:
"I think the world’s been spoiled on who Paul Skenes really is… He had probably the best starting stretch to a career ever. And now he’s not the greatest pitcher on the face of the planet for a few months, and people were worried."
— Brandon Lowe, Pirates 2B
The team has his back. They know slumps happen. They’ve seen him be historic. They trust he’ll figure it out.
What’s Next? A Big Road Trip
The Pirates are about to go on a 9-game road trip that could make or break their season. Skenes will pitch in it. He says:
"I think it’s good just having my body in a really good spot [for] the last month or so of the regular season. And hopefully a substantial number of innings after that."
Translation: He’s building for October.
Summary
- Paul Skenes had a historic first two years (Rookie of the Year → Cy Young).
- 2026 is harder — higher ERA, more walks, less command.
- But he’s still elite — top 10 in Ks, top 40 in ERA.
- Batters adjusted. Now he must adjust back.
- He’s calm, focused, and healthy. His teammates believe in him.
- Big games ahead. This slump might just be the making of his next level.
FAQ
Q: Is Paul Skenes “washed” or done being good?
A: Not at all. He’s 24, healthy, striking out batters at an elite rate, and his velocity is back up. All great pitchers go through slumps — this is his first real one.
Q: Why is his ERA so much higher this year?
A: A mix of worse command (more walks), batters adjusting to him, and a few rough innings. But his underlying stuff (velocity, strikeouts) is still there.
Q: What does “command” mean?
A: It’s the ability to throw the ball exactly where you want it. Good velocity + good command = unhittable. Right now, his command is off.
Q: Why do people care about a beach photo?
A: Because Skenes is famous (and dating gymnast/influencer Livvy Dunne), everything he does gets attention. Fair? No. Reality? Yes.
Q: Can he fix the walks?
A: He’s done it before. He’s meticulous, smart, and has great coaches. Most insiders bet yes — it’s just a matter of time.