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.

Pittsburgh Pirates right-hander Paul Skenes picked up his first win of the 2025 season on Wednesday in a 4-2 victory of the hosting Tampa Bay Rays at George M. Steinbrenner Field. Skenes went seven innings in the outing, allowing just one unearned run on three hits while walking none and striking out six. While it wasn't the dominant outing we're already used to seeing from last year's National League Rookie of the Year, his fantasy managers won't complain about it at all. After picking up a no-decision last Thursday on Opening Day versus the Miami Marlins -- he allowed two runs while striking out seven in 5 1/3 innings -- the hard-throwing 22-year-old phenom now has a strong 1.46 ERA as he heads into his third outing of the year, which is expected to come next Tuesday against the division-rival St. Louis Cardinals. Skenes is a must-start every time out in fantasy.

Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher Paul Skenes struck out seven in the first Opening Day start of his career, but he ended up with a no-decision after the Marlins staged a late-inning comeback to walk off as winners by a score of 5-4. Skenes needed 94 pitches to get through 5 1/3 innings but only allowed three hits and two walks. Both walks came in the sixth inning before he was replaced, and one of those two runners came around to score on a wild pitch after he left the game. Even though he didn't get the win, Skenes still looked strong and ready to anchor fantasy rotations all season long. He became the youngest Pirates pitcher to make an Opening Day start since at least 1900 and the youngest in the MLB since Jose Fernandez in 2014 for the Marlins. He is also the fastest player to go from No. 1 overall pick to an Opening Day starting pitcher.

Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher Paul Skenes was named the Opening Day starter. Skenes will face the Miami Marlins. The former first-overall pick in the 2023 MLB Draft made his MLB debut last May and was one of the most valuable pitchers in fantasy. He tossed 133 innings and held a stellar 1.96 ERA and a 0.95 WHIP. He tallied strikeouts at an impressive 33.1 percent rate. He placed in the 97th percentile in xERA and 94th percentile in xBA. He also generated ground balls at an impressive 52.3 percent rate (89th percentile). Skenes was named NL Rookie of the Year. He tallied at least eight punchouts in 13 of his 23 appearances. Skenes will be viewed as a top DFS play on Opening Day as he will face the Marlins who are projected to have one of the worst offensive lineups in the National League.

The Pittsburgh Pirates' Grapefruit League game on Monday against the Philadelphia Phillies was rained out, but right-hander Paul Skenes still threw a 45-pitch live batting practice session at LECOM Park, according to the team. The 22-year-old will have to wait to make his spring training debut in a game, but it has nothing to do with any kind of injury. The former first overall pick out of LSU took the league by storm last year in his MLB debut, going 11-3 with a 1.96 ERA (2.44 FIP), 0.95 WHIP, 170 strikeouts and 32 walks in 133 innings over 23 starts to become a first-time All-Star while also winning the National League Rookie of the Year honors. The sky is the limit for Skenes in 2025 in what will be his first full MLB campaign with the Bucs. RotoBaller has him ranked as the No. 2 fantasy pitcher and the No. 11 overall player.

According to Kevin Gorman of the Tribune-Review Sports, Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher Paul Skenes is experimenting with a cutter and a running two-seamer. Pirates pitching coach Oscar Marin noted that these experiments will improve Skenes' pitching efficiency. Marin noted that the reigning NL Rookie of the Year has emphasized getting into favorable counts and adding more pitches to his repertoire will only improve his chances of doing so. Last summer, the former top pick of the 2023 MLB Draft held a stellar 1.96 ERA and a 0.95 WHIP across his first 133 big league frames. He tallied strikeouts at an incredible 33.1 percent rate and generated ground balls at a strong 52.3 percent rate. Skenes relied heavily on his four-seamer and sinker during his rookie season, but additional pitches could only improve his efficiency on the mound. He is viewed as one of the top pitchers in all formats and is a consensus first-round selection.

Pittsburgh Pirates right-hander Paul Skenes, who won the National League Rookie of the Year award in 2024 after posting a 1.96 ERA in 133 innings pitched, said he wants to attack the strike zone more in his sophomore season. Skenes was significantly below Braves lefty Chris Sale and Tigers lefty Tarik Skubal, the NL and AL Cy Young winners, respectively, in first-strike percentage at 62.1%. He ranked 71st in overall strike percentage (66.1%) among pitchers with more than 1,000 pitches thrown. Despite not having pitched in a full season at the major-league level yet, the former LSU star is already one of the best pitchers in baseball and is currently ranked as the No. 3 overall fantasy hurler, behind only Shohei Ohtani and Skubal. Pounding the zone more often will only make Skenes more tough, as no hitter in baseball wants to get behind in the count early to a pitcher with his nasty arsenal.

Pittsburgh Pirates right-hander Paul Skenes was named the 2024 National League Rookie of the Year on Monday evening. Skenes, last year's first overall pick out of LSU, debuted less than a year after being drafted and is a generational talent at the position. The 22-year-old went 11-3 with a 1.96 ERA over 23 starts in 133 innings for the Pirates this year, and his 170 strikeouts were a franchise record. His ERA was the lowest for a rookie pitcher with at least 20 starts in the live-ball era (dating to 1920) and the lowest of any pitcher in 2024 with at least 130 innings. Skenes' fWAR was 10th among big-league pitchers, and he was also named one of the finalists for the NL Cy Young, joining lefty Chris Sale and right-hander Zack Wheeler. Skenes is already one of the most dominant pitchers in the sport and will be a highly-coveted fantasy ace in 2025.

Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher was dominant in his short outing on Saturday and didn't allow a single runner on in his two innings of working during the Pirates' 9-4 win over the New York Yankees. Skenes finishes with a 1.96 ERA on the season with an 11-3 record and a strong case to win the National League Rookie of the Year award. The 22-year-old dazzled all season long and had 22 starts allowing just two ER or fewer. Fantasy managers of all leagues have been thrilled with his performance and he should certainly be a target to hold onto in keeper leagues. In 2025 he may experience some negative regression as his 1.96 ERA is paired with a 2.56 xERA, but his xERA still ranks in the 96th percentile. Should his numbers stay any bit similar to his 2024 season, and if he finishes the 2025 season healthy, he will contend for and likely win the Cy Young award.

Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher Paul Skenes pitched well but took the loss in Monday's 4-0 game against the Cardinals. Skenes pitched six innings, allowing one run on four hits and a walk with seven strikeouts. Unfortunately, the Pirates could not provide any offensive support and were shut down by Andre Pallante. Regardless of the loss, the 22-year-old rookie has been outstanding this season. He is now 10-3 with a 2.07 ERA, a 0.98 WHIP, and an 11.29 K/9 rate in 21 starts and 126 IP. His next matchup will be on the road at the Reds. While the ballpark is not favorable, Skenes has proven to be a top fantasy pitcher in any matchup.

Pittsburgh Pirates rookie starting pitcher Paul Skenes continued to dazzle in Monday's 3-2 win over the Marlins. Skenes pitched six innings, allowing one run on six hits and a walk with nine strikeouts. The 22-year-old has lived up to all the hype that came with being a No. 1 overall pick and is 10-2 with a 2.10 ERA, a 0.99 WHIP, and an 11.33 K/9 rate (151 strikeouts) in 20 starts and 120 IP. Not only did the start help Skenes break the Pirates franchise record for strikeouts by a rookie, but it put him in a select group of all historical pitchers with more strikeouts in their first 20 games. Skenes' next start is slated to be a favorable matchup at the Cardinals, although the team does not strike out much.

Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher Paul Skenes turned in another excellent start in Tuesday's 5-0 win over the Cubs. Skenes pitched five innings, allowing four hits and four walks with six strikeouts on 100 pitches. The 22-year-old rookie has lived up to the hype this season as one of baseball's top prospects, going 9-2 with a 2.13 ERA, a 0.98 WHIP, and an 11.21 K/9 rate in 19 starts and 114 IP. His performance has put him in the National League Rookie of the Year conversation and has made him a high-end fantasy option on a start-by-start basis. He will have another opportunity to showcase his skills in his next start, which will be a favorable matchup against the Nationals.

Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher Paul Skenes put on another show in Thursday's series-opening victory over the visiting Cincinnati Reds at PNC Park, throwing six scoreless innings with nine strikeouts. Skenes twirled a gem on Thursday evening against the Reds, scattering two hits and one walk amid rumors the Pirates could eventually elect to shut down the electric 22-year-old National League Rookie of the Year frontrunner down the stretch of what's becoming a lost season. Skenes was held to 87 pitches despite his dominance in this one, so the monitored workload appears to have arrived. On the campaign, Pittsburgh's ace now has seven wins and owns a 2.16 ERA and 0.94 WHIP with 130 punchouts and 25 walks across 104 frames (17 starts). As it stands, Skenes remains tentatively scheduled to toe the rubber next on Tuesday at home against the division-rival Chicago Cubs.

The Pittsburgh Pirates have no immediate plans to shut rookie right-hander Paul Skenes down. "There is no immediate plan to shut him down. There has never been any immediate plans to shut him down. How we monitor that, whether it's an innings limit or a workload limit per game, we'll be thoughtful about that," manager Derek Shelton said. While the Pirates continue to say they don't have any plans to shut down the 22-year-old phenom, they previously said they will consider shortening his outings. Last year's first overall pick out of LSU has already thrown more innings in 2024 than he did all of last year combined between college and in the minors. Skenes has been as advertised, going 7-2 with a 2.30 ERA, 0.97 WHIP and 121 K's in 98 innings over his first 16 MLB starts. However, fantasy managers should expect some kind of restrictions down the stretch, especially if the Bucs are officially eliminated from playoff contention.

With the Pittsburgh Pirates' chances of making the postseason now below one percent, the Pittsburgh Pirates could consider shortening rookie sensation Paul Skenes' starts down the stretch. This is Skenes' first professional season and he's thrown 125 1/3 innings between the majors and minors in 2024, nearly as many as he did a year ago between LSU and his brief stint in the Pirates' system. Pittsburgh could cite the long-term health of Skenes as a reason to do so, but it would also prevent him from finishing first or second in the National League Rookie of the Year voting, an outcome that would deprive him of gaining a full year of service time and keep him in Pittsburgh for at least one extra season. However, according to sources briefed on their thinking, the Pirates currently have no such plans and don't have a set innings limit for him. Skenes remains a must-start in all fantasy lineups, but this is a disclaimer that his upside the rest of the year could be limited if he's not working as deep into games.

Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher Paul Skenes allowed two earned runs on three hits and four walks while striking out six batters over six innings of work in Friday's 5-3 victory over the Mariners. He also hit a batter. It was the former first-round draft pick's 12th quality start in 16 games started and he now has a sterling 2.30 ERA, 0.97 WHIP, and a 25.5% K-BB%. While there isn't much to complain about, it was the third time in the last four starts that the 22-year-old walked at least three batters, and he's hit a batter in five of seven, so he could be tiring with 125 1/3 IP under his belt this season between the minors and majors. Regardless, as long as he's on the mound fantasy managers should be firing him up.

Pittsburgh Pirates rookie hurler Paul Skenes recorded his 11th quality start in 13 appearances during Monday's 5-3 win at the Houston Astros and also reached 100 strikeouts in the big leagues. Skenes went six innings, allowing two runs (one earned) on five hits while striking out six and walking three in a no-decision that lowered his ERA to 1.90. He did see his nine-start streak of at least seven strikeouts end, tying him with Dwight Gooden (1984) and Brandon Beachy (2011) among rookies. Skenes is 6-1 with 103 strikeouts and a 0.90 WHIP, dominant numbers his fantasy managers will look forward to in his next scheduled start versus the San Diego Padres on August 6.

Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher Paul Skenes turned in another gem but came away with a loss in Tuesday's 2-1 defeat to the Cardinals. Skenes pitched 8 1/3 innings, allowing two runs on four hits (including a solo home run) and no walks with eight strikeouts. The 22-year-old All-Star rookie has been a fantasy sensation this season, going 6-1 with a 1.93 ERA, an 11.69 K/9 rate, and a 1.57 BB/9 rate in 12 starts (10 quality starts) and 74 2/3 IP. He hasn't accumulated as many starts as other pitchers but has been one of fantasy's best on a start-per-start basis. He will look to continue his elite production in his next start, which will be a decent matchup at the Astros.