Paul Skenes' Velocity Concerns Amid Pirates' Struggles

Pittsburgh pitcher Paul Skenes has seen a decline in his fastball velocity over the past three years, with his average speed dropping from 98.8 mph in 2024 to 96.5 mph in July 2026. Although he reported a slight recovery to 97.1 mph in August, his performance has been troubling, especially after winning the NL Cy Young award last year.

In his latest outing against the Marlins, Skenes' fastest pitch was recorded at 96.5 mph, marking the lowest of his career. Despite his claims that the velocity decrease is intentional and not due to injury, his current ERA stands at 3.88, significantly higher than the sub-2.00 ERAs he posted in his first two seasons. The Pirates have struggled in recent games, losing their last four starts with Skenes on the mound.

Meanwhile, the Mariners are also facing difficulties, with catcher Cal Raleigh openly criticizing his team's performance after a recent loss. The Angels have made coaching changes in response to their poor pitching statistics, while Jose Cuas, a former FedEx driver turned MLB pitcher, continues to make headlines with his unique pitching style.