PITTSBURGH — Within the historical past of the Pirates, solely two pitchers have ever received a Cy Younger. One is Doug Drabek in 1990. Earlier than him was Vern Legislation in 1960, again when just one pitcher received the award as a substitute of 1 pitcher per league.
There’s nonetheless a superb chunk of the season remaining, however there’s a reasonably good likelihood each will get some firm this yr.
Paul Skenes has been excellent in his sophomore season, recording a 2.07 ERA with 181 strikeouts over 161 innings. There are nonetheless 5 weeks left to the season, however many are forecasting the Pirates’ right-hander to take dwelling the Nationwide League’s highest pitching honor.
“I feel so too, and that’s good,” Legislation mentioned earlier this week. “I hope so. It’s going to be great to have the ability to try this.
“Give him some years, he’s in all probability going to get higher.”
Get higher than what he has accomplished up to now in his Main League profession? There doesn’t appear to be a lot room for enchancment, not less than within the context of his first 50 begins.
Sunday was Skenes’ fiftieth begin within the Majors, and it was one in every of his greatest, hanging out seven whereas permitting simply three hits over seven scoreless innings. He walked off to a standing ovation from the PNC Park crowd because the Pirates beat the Rockies, 4-0.
With that efficiency, Skenes lowered his profession ERA to 2.02. Because the begin of the Dwell Ball Period in 1920, the one pitcher to have a decrease ERA over their first 50 begins is Vida Blue, who recorded a 2.01 clip from 1969-1972.
Trying on the different pitchers on this listing, it’s been many years since anybody has even come near what Skenes has accomplished:
Lowest ERA via 50 profession startsIn Dwell Ball Period (since 1920)
1. Vida Blue: 2.01 (1969-72)2. Paul Skenes: 2.02 (2024-25)3-T. Howie Pollet: 2.15 (1941-46)3-T. Orel Hershiser: 2.15 (1984-85)3-T. Jerry Koosman: 2.15 (1967-69)
Not too shabby for somebody who’s in simply his first full season within the Majors.
“It is superb,” Pirates supervisor Don Kelly mentioned. “It is superb what he is capable of do. You see the fastball. The velo, the command was there immediately. With the ability to combine it up out and in, up and down. Go to the changeup, the sweeper. He is at all times in management, which is actually spectacular.
“It is actually exhausting to place that expectation on him. You simply mentioned it. It is his first full Main League season, 50 begins. He continues to exit and do what he does. He was phenomenal immediately.”
With these first 50 begins within the books, Skenes’ focus has rapidly turned to what’s in retailer. He’s made a stamp on the Main Leagues in his first yr and a half, however this journey has by no means been about simply 50 outings.
“Simply gotta do it within the subsequent 50, and the 50 after that,” Skenes mentioned. “Consistency is the most important factor, I really feel. Being on the sector, doing the identical factor each day. That is all you’ll be able to ask for from gamers. Been fairly constant up to now. Simply acquired to maintain going.”
OK, however what about what Legislation mentioned? Is there one other gear, a strategy to get even higher than traditionally nice?
“I positively assume that [there is],” Skenes mentioned. “I’ve simply acquired to seek out it. To be sincere, I don’t know what it’s but. It’s there. I feel that’s what energizes me and it’s what makes me preserve exhibiting as much as the sector, doing the work within the offseason. It’s simply getting higher. I do know I can get higher. I’ve simply acquired to determine how.”
Till then, it’s onto the Cy Younger watch. As of proper now, Dwight Gooden is the one pitcher to win Rookie of the Yr after which Cy Younger of their sophomore season. Skenes is in a superb place to hitch him.
However in a yr of specializing in controlling what he can management, Skenes is aware of the award doesn’t fall in that class.
“One, the award itself is out of my fingers,” Skenes mentioned. “If it is as much as the voters, it is out of your fingers. Two, in case you do what you are presupposed to do and maintain it, preserve doing the work and pitch nicely, it’ll maintain itself, nonetheless it ought to. Whether or not you win it or not. It is the identical factor as Rookie of the Yr final yr. That is how I take a look at it.”
