Pirates’ Paul Skenes Gets His Name In MLB Record Book (Again)

If it wasn’t for bad luck, Paul Skenes wouldn’t have any luck at all.

The Pittsburgh Pirates ace is a top contender for the National League Cy Young Award in just his second season in the majors. The 23-year-old right-hander leads all MLB pitchers with 4.1 WAR and is second in the majors with a 1.78 ERA.

USA Today’s Bob Nightengale noted Sunday Skenes has given up just 19 earned runs in 96 innings this season. Yet in 15 starts this year, the hard-throwing phenom has just four wins to his credit

“He is the first pitcher in MLB history to have a sub-1.80 ERA over a 15-game stretch and have fewer than five victories, according to Codify Baseball,” Nightengale reported. “In Skenes’ career, spanning 38 starts, he has given up just 48 earned runs for a 1.89 ERA.”

Skenes last took the mound on Friday, throwing five shutout innings but getting a no-decision in the Pirates’ 2-1 win over the Chicago Cubs. According to R.J. Anderson of CBS Sports, Skenes’ latest no-decision helped break a six-way-tie between current and former pitchers to claim another entry into MLB’s record book.

“In turn, [Skenes] earned the dubious honor of recording the fewest number of wins (four) by a pitcher who began a season with a sub-2.00 ERA through 15 starts since Major League Baseball integrated in 1947,” wrote Anderson.

According to Nightengale, Skenes has not surrendered more than six hits in any of his 38 career starts. While the Pirates are 22-16 when Skenes gets the ball, he has just 15 career wins to his credit.

The reigning NL Rookie of the Year returns to the mound Thursday in Detroit when he closes out a three-game series against the Tigers.

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