Skenes Gets Rest to Reset | MLB News

The Pittsburgh Pirates are giving ace Paul Skenes a well-timed breather, pushing his next start to August 19th after a troubling slump—just three wins in his last 16 outings and a rising ERA nearing 4.00. His fastball’s velocity has dipped below 97 mph, down from nearly 99, with a concerning drop of over a mile per hour in his last outing. He’s also struggling to finish batters with two strikes, leading to more extra-base hits. Despite the stats, GM Ben Cherington remains bullish, calling it a normal phase for elite pitchers and noting Skenes still boasts strong strikeout and walk rates. While advanced metrics hint at potential, the numbers don’t lie—he’s been through a lot lately. This extra week of rest could be the reset he needs to reclaim his former dominance, and the Pirates are betting big on his bounce-back. Listen in comfort:Get a discount on a Soli Pillow: http://solipillow.com/discount/dnn. Advertise on DNN:[email protected] This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting.Report issues to [email protected]. View sources & latest updates:https://sources.thednn.ai/e436dc211b55d791