Paul Skenes made extra MLB historical past on Thursday in opposition to the Milwaukee Brewers.
Simply days after making historical past as the primary No. 1 general MLB draft choose to be named to the All-Star Recreation the next season, Skenes took to the hill to take vs. the Brewers on Thursday afternoon within the getaway recreation for the Pittsburgh Pirates forward of their weekend collection with the Chicago White Sox.
Skenes, as he has been this complete season, was stellar.
So stellar, in truth, that he put supervisor Derek Shelton in a troublesome place. When Skenes induced a groundout to finish the seventh inning, it got here on a 93-mph splitter and was his one centesimal pitch of the afternoon.
He had but to permit a success.
With the Pirates main 1-0, Shelton made the decision to the bullpen, pulling the rookie whereas he was chasing a no-hitter.
Making it the second time this season Shelton has made such a call. Again in Skenes’ second begin of his profession, in opposition to the Chicago Cubs, he had labored six innings of hitless ball, however with Skenes already sitting on 100 pitches Shelton pulled the large right-hander, reasonably than operating him out for one more inning of labor.
Whereas Skenes was denied an opportunity at baseball immortality, he nonetheless made some historical past with the outing. He struck out 11 Brewers on Thursday over seven innings of hitless work, matching the 11 punchouts he recorded again in mid-Could in that recreation in opposition to the Cubs.
The one different hitter to have two hitless video games of six innings or extra with 11 strikeouts or extra in a single season?
Nolan Ryan, again in 1973. It ought to be famous that Ryan completed each of these outings with a no-hitter, however given the best way he has began his profession, a no-hitter from Skenes appears like only a matter of time.
However returning to the historical past the younger right-hander has been making, it additionally appears like some extra historical past could possibly be on the horizon. As famous above Skenes was named to the All-Star Recreation, which is subsequent Tuesday night time in Arlington, Texas.
Might Skenes get the decision to start out the sport for the Nationwide League?
There’s a sturdy case to be made that Skenes — who’s headed to Arlington with a 6-0 report over 66.1 innings of labor with a 1.90 ERA and a WHIP of 0.92 — is worthy of beginning on Tuesday night time. John Smoltz replied “in all probability sure” when requested if Skenes had earned the spot, and on MLB Community Thursday analyst and former pitcher Dan Plesac referred to as Skenes a “slam dunk” to start out the All-Star Recreation.
If he does, it could be much more historical past.
Skenes would develop into simply the fifth rookie pitcher in MLB historical past to start out the All-Star Recreation, becoming a member of Hideo Nomo (1995), Fernando Valenzuela (1981), Mark Fidrych (1976) and Dave Stenhouse (1962).
Nonetheless, with simply 11 begins beneath his belt, that will tie Fidrych as an All-Star Recreation beginning pitcher with simply 11 begins to their identify over their rookie season.
Identical to that eventual no-hitter, it appears much more historical past is coming Skenes’ manner.
