Skenes (2-0) picked up the win in the second game of Wednesday's doubleheader split with the Tigers, allowing two runs on three hits and a walk over six innings. He struck out nine.
After the Pirates got blanked 8-0 by Tarik Skubal and the Tigers in the opener, Skenes made sure his squad wouldn't get swept as he generated 19 swinging strikes among his 96 pitches in a dominant performance. The rookie right-hander has reeled off three straight quality starts after lasting just four innings in his big-league debut May 11, and Skenes will carry a 2.45 ERA, 0.91 WHIP and 30:5 K:BB through 22 innings into his next outing, which is scheduled to come at home next week against the Dodgers.
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Pirates' Paul Skenes: Another strong outing
Rotowire
Skenes didn't factor into the decision Thursday against the Giants, allowing one run on six hits and a walk over six innings. He struck out three.
While Thursday's outing wasn't as dominant as Skenes' 11-strikeout performance in his previous start, the rookie right-hander was still effective, coaxing a pair of key double-play balls to limit the Giants to just one run and post his second straight quality start. However, the Pirates bullpen would implode late, leaving Skenes with a no-decision in an eventual 7-6 loss. Skenes now sports a 2.25 ERA with a 1.00 WHIP and an impressive 21:4 K:BB through his first three starts (16 innings). He's currently in line for a road matchup with the Tigers in his next outing.
Skenes (1-0) earned the win over the Cubs on Friday, issuing just one walk while striking out 11 over six hitless, scoreless innings.
Skenes was lights out in his second big-league start -- he struck out the first seven batters he faced while holding the Cubs without a baserunner until Michael Busch's one-out walk in the fifth inning. Skenes has been as advertised to start his career, averaging 99.3 MPH with his fastball Friday and generating a 44 percent whiff rate with the pitch. The 21-year-old right-hander has allowed three runs through his first 10 innings while striking out 18. Skenes will look to keep rolling in his next outing, which tentatively lines up as a home matchup with the Giants.
