Paul Skenes DVOA, Advanced Stats, & Fantasy Rankings

Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher Paul Skenes allowed three earned runs on five hits in Thursday's 8-3 loss to the Chicago Cubs. The 22-year-old fell to 3-3 on the season, striking out two batters while allowing four free passes. Skenes cruised through the first four innings in this one, but ran into trouble in the fifth, letting up a home run to Cubs shortstop Dansby Swanson to give Chicago its first run of the game. He'd retire the next two batters, but Kyle Tucker and Seiya Suzuki would jack back-to-back long balls before he could escape the inning. Fortunately, they were all solo shots, but the Cubs would chase him from the mound afterward. It was just the second time this season that the California native struck out fewer than six batters, and the first time he walked more than two. Skenes will look for better results his next time out, which projects to come against the St. Louis Cardinals early next week.

Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher Paul Skenes dominated the Dodgers on Friday, throwing six-and-a-third innings of scoreless ball, scattering five hits while walking none and striking out nine on his way to earning the win in the 3-0 victory. That makes three consecutive quality starts for the righty and four quality starts out of six, now with a 3-2 record to go along with a 2.39 ERA (1.70 FIP), 0.80 WHIP, and a pristine 24.6 percent K-BB%. The 2024 NL Rookie of the Year's next start lines up with the Cubs at home next week, which should be a tough test as Chicago is averaging the highest runs per game in all of baseball to start the year, with the fourth-highest team batting average against right-handed pitching.

Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher Paul Skenes hit an uncharacteristic bump in the road in Tuesday's 5-3 loss to the Cardinals. Skenes pitched six innings, allowing five runs on six hits and a walk with seven strikeouts. The 2024 National League Rookie of the Year had two great starts before Tuesday, bringing his season totals to a 1-1 record with a 3.44 ERA, a 9.82 K/9 rate, and a 1.47 BB/9 rate in 18 1/3 IP. Even the strongest players are bound to have off days, and Skenes should be positioned to rebound nicely in his next scheduled matchup, which will be a favorable one against the Nationals.