Overview
- Skenes has not recorded a personal win since May 12 and is listed 6-7 with a 2.86 ERA heading into the June 26 start against Cincinnati.
- Despite the winless stretch, he has posted multiple quality starts, a roughly 30% strikeout rate, and has routinely worked deep into games with high pitch counts.
- Skenes owns strong career numbers vs. the Reds, going 5-0 with about a 0.6 ERA and 45 strikeouts in 34 innings, a split that underpins optimistic projections for him tonight.
- Cincinnati will counter with Andrew Abbott, who has limited runs recently, and bettors and models cite the Reds’ poor offense and park effects when favoring unders and Skenes strikeout props.
- Analysts note the streak reflects poor Pirates run support and bullpen outcomes more than Skenes’ pitching; a small drop in his fastball velocity has been flagged, so the bullpen and offense will likely decide whether the streak ends.