Pirates’ Paul Skenes Struggles Through Worst Month as Pro, Velocity Decline Raises Red Flags

August arrives with mounting concern for Pittsburgh Pirates supporters as star pitcher Paul Skenes continues a troubling downward spiral. The 24-year-old right-hander allowed five runs across seven hits Friday night in a defeat to the Cincinnati Reds, marking his second consecutive outing with five-run damage and capping a disastrous July performance.

Skenes’ monthly struggles included at least five runs surrendered in three of five starts, leaving his ERA at 3.90 — a dramatic two-run increase from his 2024 and 2025 season marks. Though the pitcher recorded three quality starts earlier in July with a 3-0 record and just five earned runs combined, the recent collapse overshadows those achievements.

A startling velocity metric has ignited widespread alarm throughout baseball circles. Skenes has not reached 98 miles per hour in his last four outings and has topped that threshold only 95 times this season, compared to nearly 900 occasions last year and approximately 700 the year prior.

While Skenes acknowledged velocity management as intentional last month, the statistical decline remains jarring for a pitcher historically known for one of baseball’s most dominant fastballs. The pitcher lasted just four innings Friday while surrendering five runs on back-to-back occasions for the first time in his career.

Pittsburgh’s analytics department faces another concerning number: Skenes has allowed 54 earned runs through 23 starts in 2026, already surpassing his entire 2025 total of 41. Pirates broadcaster Dan Zangrilli offered blunt assessment after the loss, suggesting the ace must perform better for Pittsburgh’s plans to succeed.