
Paul Skenes' stats with Pirates are mind-blowing — especially the non-wins
I've always enjoyed visiting Pittsburgh in the summer. Then again, I'm not Paul Skenes.
Maybe you've noticed this, but when the Greatest Pirates Pitching Phenom Ever takes the mound, amazing things happen. It would be cool if winning was one of those things. But hey, don't get greedy!
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Here at Weird and Wild World HQ, we've spent some time looking at this. And maybe it's just us, but we're starting to notice a common theme running through these starts by Skenes, a once-in-a-generation talent, pitching for a team that mostly forces that generation to cover its eyes a lot.
It doesn't matter how well Skenes pitches.
It doesn't matter how long Skenes pitches.
It doesn't matter if he's facing the Mets or the Marlins.
It always ends the same. By which I mean you won't be reading many box scores that say:
WP — Skenes
That's just a fact. But now here come more facts:
Over Skenes' past seven starts, he has a 1.77 ERA, he's averaging over six innings a start … and the Pirates are 2-5. Is that even possible?
But there's more. Of course there's more.
Over Skenes' 13 starts this season, he's leading the National League in bWAR, WHIP, innings pitched, quality starts, opponent average and even (cough, cough) a new-age stat known as Win Probability Added … and the Pirates have still found a way to ignore that 'win probability' stuff and go 5-8 when he pitches.
But wait. It gets worse. Would you like to know how much worse? You've come to the right place.
They're taking not winning to a whole new level — In his two seasons in the big leagues, Skenes is now up to 21 career starts in which he hasn't gotten a win. Somehow, it doesn't feel like that's his fault. His numbers, just in those non-wins: a 2.59 ERA, 0.84 WHIP, 9.6 strikeouts per nine innings.
Ready for the complete list of everyone in history with that many starts (or more) whose career ERA is that spectacular in their non-wins? (This is since earned runs became an official stat in 1913 — and not counting openers.) It won't take long. Here it comes:
Paul Skenes — 2.59
That's a wrap on that list.
(Source: Baseball Reference / Katie Sharp)
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But here's even more perspective: Only one pitcher in history is even within half a run of that: Hoyt Wilhelm (who spent most of his career as a reliever), at 2.99. And the next closest active starter — Jacob deGrom — has an ERA in those games nearly a full run higher (at 3.54).
So there's that. But also …
Crazy Eights — Skenes has made three career starts of eight innings or longer. His ERA in those starts is 1.48. His record in those starts is … what else? … 0-3.
The record of all other MLB starters over the past two seasons, in starts of eight innings or longer: How about 86-5!
And just for fun … how about we throw in a few more tidbits where those came from? These are just in games he hasn't won:
• Four non-wins this season in starts of five innings or longer, with no more than three hits allowed. That would be — shockingly, I know — the most of any pitcher in baseball.
• Nine non-wins, in his career, in starts of five innings or longer, with no more than one run allowed. That's tied for (yep) the most in baseball in that span.
• Ten non-wins, in his career, in starts of five innings or longer, with no more than one earned run allowed. That's tied for most in the NL, and it's one behind Yusei Kikuchi for most in baseball.
All of this is happening at the confluence of the Allegheny, Monongahela and Ohio Rivers, in real life, to one of the special talents we've seen pass through our sport in this century. To everyone in Pittsburgh, we can only say: Sorry! And just seven weeks until Steelers training camp!
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New York Times
9 hours ago
- New York Times
It's a pivotal trade deadline for the Pirates — but are they willing to all-out sell?
Pittsburgh Pirates ace Paul Skenes blanked the best-record-in-baseball Detroit Tigers on Monday, tossing his third scoreless start this month and lowering his league-leading ERA to 1.91. Yet the attendance at PNC Park was roughly half the season-high crowd on hand two nights prior to procure a bobblehead and loudly petition owner Bob Nutting to sell the team. Advertisement Such is the state of Nutting's last-place ballclub a week before the trade deadline. After wasting Skenes' sensational rookie season last year, the Pirates have fully capsized in what could be his first Cy Young season. Despite sweeping the Tigers, the Pirates are 19 games under .500 and firmly sellers ahead of the July 31 trade deadline. How aggressively they'll sell is being debated around baseball. The stakes have made it a defining week for Ben Cherington. If the sixth-year GM is on the hot seat, as many in the industry believe, it could be his last chance to chart a course toward contention in 2026 that persuades Nutting to give him another year. Nutting's comments upon firing manager Derek Shelton in May suggested his patience was wearing thin: 'We need to act with a sense of urgency and take the steps necessary to fix this now to get back on track as a team and organization.' It's been a decade since the Pirates reached the postseason, nine years since they finished better than fourth place in their division, and seven years since their last winning season. Difficult as any GM might find it to construct a contender on a bottom-five budget, Cherington signed up for that challenge. He so far has failed to win on Nutting's terms and replicate the successful low-payroll model of the Tampa Bay Rays, Cleveland Guardians and Milwaukee Brewers. While the downfall of the previous Pittsburgh front office, led by Neal Huntington, was its inability to push pitching prospects to their full potential, the Cherington regime has failed to develop enough homegrown hitting. The Pirates rank last in the majors this season in runs, homers and OPS. The lack of run support explains why Skenes' Cy Young resume currently features a 5-8 record. The organization's best position player in the minors, 2024 first-rounder Konnor Griffin, is three levels from the majors. Advertisement Cherington's only viable path to upgrading the lineup by next spring is via trade. (The Pirates haven't signed a free-agent hitter to a multi-year deal since John Jaso in 2015.) As Cherington considers the possible roadmaps for fielding a winning team in 2026, here are a few ways his trade-deadline maneuvering could progress — listed in order of escalating aggressiveness — and what it would mean for the franchise's future: On the move: UTIL Isiah Kiner-Falefa, LHP Andrew Heaney, OF Tommy Pham, LHP Caleb Ferguson Savings for 2026: None The upshot: This result would be a sign the Pirates were unwilling to lower their demands on players under club control beyond 2025, namely starter Mitch Keller and closer David Bednar, who are healthy and rolling. On one hand, that's a reasonable approach; buyers are exceedingly reluctant to part with top prospects, and the Pirates would rather not trade core players for multiple mid-tier prospects. However, other than saving about $6 million in 2025 salary, dealing only rentals would mean the Pirates are determined to run it back in 2026 with a similar roster. Maybe they'd move a pitching prospect for a bat in the offseason. Maybe not. And maybe by then Nutting will have decided to let a different GM call the shots. Likelihood: 25 percent On the move: RHP Mitch Keller, RHP David Bednar, RHP Dennis Santana and rentals Savings for 2026: About $27 million The upshot: Cashing in on the depth of their pitching reserves and capitalizing on having several of the most coveted arms on the market, the Pirates would swap a proven starter and two leverage relievers for a handful of young hitters. They might not get any top-100 prospects in return, but the sheer volume would instantly increase the talent in their pool of position player prospects. They could backfill Keller's and Heaney's rotation spots with prospects at Triple A — Bubba Chandler, Thomas Harrington, Hunter Barco — and spend the savings this offseason further strengthening the lineup and rebuilding the bullpen. Likelihood: 35 percent On the move: 3B Ke'Bryan Hayes, Keller, Bednar, Santana and rentals Savings for 2026: About $34 million The upshot: Two things can be true about the $36 million in guaranteed money remaining on Hayes' contract: It's far more than the Pirates would prefer to pay for his light production with the bat, and it's not a number most contenders would balk at paying one of the best fielders in the sport. Even with Hayes' OPS sitting below .600 for the second consecutive season, the Pirates may see this as a prime opportunity to offload his contract while doing no harm to their offensive outlook for 2026. Likelihood: 30 percent On the move: OF Bryan Reynolds, Hayes, Keller, Bednar, Santana and rentals Savings for 2026: About $48 million The upshot: If Cherington rises to this level of aggressive sell-off, it would suggest that either Nutting directed him to dump long-term salary — Reynolds, Keller and Hayes are signed to the three largest contracts in club history — or that the owner is so unwilling to add payroll for 2026 that Cherington felt he had to force financial flexibility. Trading Reynolds while he's at a low point in value offensively and defensively would achieve very little beyond savings. While the Pirates have the depth to replace a few pitchers, it's hard to imagine that even with some operating room below Nutting's payroll limit Cherington would be able to meaningfully improve at third base and right field, upgrade other weak spots in the lineup (shortstop, left field, catcher) and sign a couple late-inning relievers. Likelihood: 10 percent Seven months ago, at the Winter Meetings, Cherington remarked, 'If you look at Cleveland, Tampa and Milwaukee, yes, they're getting value out of the draft. Yes, they're getting value in international (signings). But the trades are a big piece of how those teams are built. Trades are harder emotionally. Everybody celebrates a draft pick when you make it. It's all upside. Right? But trades, there's a give and take. You're giving something up, so it's a different emotional, psychological decision and experience. Advertisement 'But to win in Pittsburgh we're going to have to be willing to embrace that as those competitive teams have done. We've got to be open to it.' Cherington has another chance this week to embrace that give and take. Thus far, his trading history in Pittsburgh has received poor grades; the paucity of impact players he acquired when trading away numerous veterans early in his tenure remains a frequent talking point among disappointed fans. This week, Cherington can't afford to miss. The phone calls started during the All-Star break, with other GMs asking not only about rentals but about players Cherington had extended, anticipating they'd be part of the Pirates' window of contention. As the trade deadline nears, Cherington will make some of the most important decisions of his Pirates tenure. For now, those calls are still up to him.

Yahoo
a day ago
- Yahoo
‘We all feed off of each other': White Sox are receiving contributions across their bullpen
TAMPA, Fla. — The Chicago White Sox called on Tyler Gilbert after the Pittsburgh Pirates knocked starter Adrian Houser out of Saturday's game with one out in the fifth inning. The Pittsburgh Pirates had a two-run lead and a runner on second. Gilbert struck out Oneil Cruz. He then intentionally walked Ke'Bryan Hayes to face Spencer Horwitz, who grounded out to second baseman Chase Meidroth. Gilbert stabilized the situation. And the offense took off in the sixth, scoring six runs in an eventual 10-4 victory at PNC Park. Gilbert was one of five relievers the Sox used in the win. They surrendered a combined three hits while striking out four in 4 2/3 scoreless innings. 'Those guys picked me up huge,' Houser said after the game. 'Big tip of the cap to them for picking me up and basically shutting it down right there where it was at. The offense came through and got the big lead and the bullpen just cruised, so it was great to see.' The bullpen has settled in as of late. The group's 2.75 ERA heading into Monday's series opener against the Tampa Bay Rays at George M. Steinbrenner Field is the second-best mark in baseball since June 19. The Miami Marlins own the top spot (2.36) during that stretch. The Sox still have the fewest saves in the majors (12). But the overall strides from the relievers over the last month are notable. Assistant pitching coach Matt Wise has watched the group grow. 'It's kind of been the same group for a longer chunk of time,' Wise said Sunday in Pittsburgh. 'Most bullpens in the big leagues, it takes from opening day to the beginning of May to where, 'OK, this is our setup guy, this is our closer.' We've floated a little bit with some other, new names. But those guys, they've all been really consistent, hard-working dudes.' The Sox have relied on a mix of youth — like Grant Taylor, Mike Vasil and Brandon Eisert — and experience — like Tyler Alexander, Steven Wilson and Dan Altavilla. 'It's been great,' Vasil told the Chicago Tribune on Monday. 'The guys as a whole, we always talk about the process-oriented stuff. So whether it's first-pitch strike, race to two strikes — getting two out of three — everyone's doing a really good job of that. We all feed off of each other and keep a good environment and light and when it's time to compete we all support each other.' Taylor has 22 strikeouts and three saves in 14 outings since being called up from Double-A Birmingham on June 10. He's thrown 31 pitches over 100 mph. 'The stuff is off the charts and his heartbeat is really, really slow, which I don't think you can teach that,' Wise said. 'He's been in big situations probably since he was 14 years old. Some guys freak out, they can't process any information as they are getting ready for a game. He does a good job of taking information, and the stuff is obviously as good as anybody.' Vasil has been effective as a starter and reliever after being claimed off waivers during spring training. He is 1-1 with a 1.29 ERA in his last five appearances. 'He's doing a hell of a job when he's in there,' Wise said. Fellow right-hander Jordan Leasure has a 3.60 ERA in his last 15 relief appearances. Altavilla, another righty, has allowed one run in his last nine outings (10 innings). Alexander, Gilbert and Eisert have been the left-handed options. Alexander has a 2.49 ERA since signing a one-year deal with the Sox on June 8. 'He's been great,' Wise said. 'He's been there, done it and when he comes in, we know what we're going to get. That makes (manager Will Venable's) job a lot easier when he comes in because you know what you're going to get.' Eisert, who has a 3.20 ERA over his last 20 relief outings, said the mindset of every member in the bullpen is, 'Just always be ready.' 'It can be anyone at any time, we all understand that,' Eisert told the Tribune on Monday. 'We're making sure we're loose. It's been good. Just have to stay focused throughout the whole game and pulling for each other.' Venable said that connection has been crucial. 'You've got guys who genuinely like each other and get along and are supporting each other and rooting for each other,' Venable said on Monday. 'As we mix and match at the end of games and are asking different guys to pitch in different situations, that really lends to a collective spirit of going out there and getting the job done and getting outs no matter what the situation, no matter who it is. 'For me, that's what it's been. And to have Wise leading that group, he does a tremendous job and is ultimately responsible for that bullpen culture. And he's been doing an outstanding job.' ____
Yahoo
a day ago
- Yahoo
Pirates complete sweep of AL-best Tigers on heels of getting swept by AL-worst White Sox
It's been a polarized week for the Pittsburgh Pirates since their return from the MLB All-Star break. The Pirates opened the second half of their regular-season schedule by getting swept by the Chicago White Sox, the worst team in the American League. They followed that up with a sweep of the Detroit Tigers, the team with the best record in the AL. [Join or create a Yahoo Fantasy Football league for the 2025 NFL season] The Pirates completed the three-game sweep of the Tigers on Wednesday with a 6-1 win. They also won, 8-5 on Tuesday and 3-0 on Monday, anchored by six shutout innings from Paul Skenes. Per Elias Sports Bureau, that makes the Pirates the first team since the 1980 San Diego Padres to get swept by the worst team and a league and sweep the best team in the league in back-to-back series past the midway point of the season. The third consecutive loss to Pittsburgh dropped the Tigers to 60-43, into a virtual tie with the Houston Astros (59-42) and Toronto Blue Jays (59-42) for the best record in the AL. Though the Astros and Blue Jays (.584) have a better winning percentage by a smidge than the the Tigers (.583) thanks to having played two fewer games each. The White Sox, meanwhile, remain the dregs of the AL at 36-66 (.354) So which Pirates are the real Pirates? Their record speaks for itself. Despite the sweep of the Tigers, the Pirates remain one of the worst teams in baseball and sit at the bottom of the NL Central with a 42-61 (.408) record. This is a team that's produced a 5-8 record for Skenes, a Cy Young contender with a 1.91 ERA and 0.91 WHIP. The sweep of the Tigers is a highlight of their season, but it's not a sign of anything larger for the Pirates.