Pirates Delay Paul Skenes' Next Start After Recent Performance

The Pittsburgh Pirates have decided to push back Paul Skenes' next start, originally scheduled for Sunday against the Red Sox, to Wednesday when he will face the Tigers. This decision comes after Skenes' recent performance, which raised concerns about his pitching.

Manager Don Kelly confirmed that the change is not due to an injury but is intended to provide Skenes with additional rest. In his last outing against the Marlins, Skenes recorded a career-low fastball velocity of 95.7 mph and was removed after 65 pitches, allowing one earned run over five innings. His ERA has now risen to 3.88, a significant increase from his previous seasons.

Despite the struggles, Skenes has shown flashes of his former self earlier in the season, including a strong performance after the All-Star break. Kelly emphasized that Skenes has not indicated any injury concerns, and the team is hopeful that the extra rest will benefit him moving forward.