Overview
- On Tuesday, Aug. 25, Paul Skenes threw six scoreless innings at Petco Park, allowing three hits, striking out four and showing a fastball that topped near 98.6–99 mph.
- Skenes’ 2026 numbers still reflect a clear drop from his 2024–25 dominance, with a career-high ERA around 3.95, a lower average fastball speed (about 96.8 mph) and a higher walk rate.
- Analyst Tom Verducci and pitch-tracking reports say Skenes made major midseason mechanical changes, including shifting his release point and return to a crossfire stride, which appear tied to his recent inconsistency.
- The Pirates have responded by limiting his pitch counts and extending rest between turns to protect durability; he has nonetheless started at least 27 times this year, showing resilience despite performance swings.
- The August outing offers short-term hope, but the team and analysts will watch velocity, command and how Skenes fares under controlled workloads to judge whether changes restore his elite form without risking injury.