CINCINNATI (AP) 鈥 Pittsburgh Pirates ace Paul Skenes isn鈥檛 a big numbers guy, yet he does maintain high standards for himself.
The 23-year-old right-hander allowed four hits and struck out seven in six innings in his final scheduled start of the season on Wednesday night. While he didn’t figure in , he lowered his ERA to 1.97.
Skenes became the first qualified pitcher with an ERA under 2.00 since Justin Verlander in 2022. He鈥檚 the youngest pitcher with a sub-2.00 ERA since 20-year-old Dwight Gooden鈥檚 1.53 in 1985.
鈥淚鈥檓 actually worse than I was last year,鈥 Skenes said with a wry smile. 鈥淚t was 1.96 last year. I鈥檓 1.97 this year. Just got to be better. No, it鈥檚 cool. I don鈥檛 come into the year with any numerical goals.”
Skenes struck out Spencer Steer in the second inning Wednesday for his 211th strikeout, a single-season Pirates franchise record for a right-handed pitcher, surpassing Mitch Keller鈥檚 210 in 2023. He ran his strikeout total to 216 for the season.
鈥淭here鈥檚 going to be a lot of records that Paul Skenes will have as he continues to go throughout his career,鈥 Pirates manager Don Kelly said. 鈥淗ow he prepares. How he competes. What a start today and what a season he鈥檚 had.鈥
Skenes is considered the favorite to win the NL Cy Young Award, but says he hasn’t given the award much thought.
鈥淯nfortunately, you can鈥檛 have two guys win the Cy Young,” said Skenes, the 2024 NL Rookie of the Year who went11-3 with 170 strikeouts in 23 starts last season. “I don鈥檛 really know what my numbers versus other guys stacks up too, so we鈥檒l see.鈥
On Wednesday night, Skenes faced Reds right-hander Hunter Greene in a marquee pitching matchup in front of an announced crowd of 30,725 and a playoff atmosphere at Great American Ball Park, with the Reds chasing an NL wild-card berth.
Skenes (10-10) responded by lowering his career ERA against the Reds to 0.31 in five starts. He has thrown 28 consecutive scoreless innings against Cincinnati. It was the 12th scoreless outing by Skenes this season.
鈥淔acing Greene, it鈥檚 going to be a battle,鈥 Skenes said, 鈥淭he atmosphere was electric. Hopefully we have that in Pittsburgh next year. Having a sub-2.00 is great, but it鈥檚 about winning.鈥
Skenes鈥 1.97 ERA is the second-best mark by a qualified Pirates pitcher since Wilbur Cooper鈥檚 1.87 in 1916. His 1.96 ERA through 55 career starts is the lowest for any pitcher in that span since 1913.
His 0.95 WHIP is the second-lowest for a Pirates鈥 pitcher in a single season behind only Babe Adams鈥 0.90 in 1919.
But of all his statistical accomplishments this season, the ones that stand out for Skenes relate to his workload and endurance. He pitched 187 2/3 innings this year, after throwing 133 last season, and he made 32 starts.
鈥淗ow many innings did I throw?,” Skenes said. “That one (innings) and 32 starts. Made all my starts. That鈥檚 pretty cool. It鈥檚 a product of doing what you鈥檙e supposed to, making pitches throughout the year.鈥
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