UPDATE: Pittsburgh Pirates ace Paul Skenes has officially surpassed 200 strikeouts for the first time in his career, hitting 203 after a stellar performance against the Baltimore Orioles on July 12, 2023. Despite his impressive tally, the Pirates fell short, suffering a 2-1 loss in 10 innings.
Skenes struck out eight batters, showcasing his dominance on the mound, but was removed after just 64 pitches as part of a strategic decision by manager Don Kelly to manage the young pitcher’s workload. This careful approach is crucial as Skenes completes his first full season in the majors. “There are opportunities to give and take throughout the season, and tonight was kind of one of those. I probably needed it, to be honest,” Skenes stated.
With a remarkable 1.92 ERA over 178 innings, Skenes has emerged as a frontrunner for the NL Cy Young award. He has now completed five innings without allowing a run in 11 starts, with eight of those occurring since July. Notably, he is only the second Pirates starter in the modern era to achieve 200 strikeouts in fewer than 180 innings, following Oliver Perez in 2004.
The implications of this performance extend beyond this season. With the Pirates now facing their 82nd loss, marking a seventh consecutive season below .500, the focus shifts to Skenes’ future and development. Kelly confirmed that Skenes’ late-season workload will be evaluated closely, emphasizing the importance of keeping players healthy as they prepare for the next season.
“Just trying to make sure that we’re managing their workload, make sure that they’re going all the way through the end of the season healthy and ready to finish a full season and be ready for next year,” Kelly explained.
As the Pirates look to close out the season with a focus on player health and performance, Skenes’ ability to maintain his strikeout prowess while managing his innings will be critical. Fans are eager to see how many more turns he will take in the rotation before the season ends.
Stay tuned for further updates on Skenes’ journey as he navigates the challenges of a full major league season and aims to continue his impressive strikeout streak.