How Pirates’ Paul Skenes Responded To Quick Hook After Reaching Benchmark

Paul Skenes dominated again during another efficient but short outing.

Skenes became the fourth pitcher to reach 200 strikeouts this season when tallying eight punchouts over five scoreless innings on Wednesday. The Pittsburgh Pirates ace threw a season-low 64 pitches before getting pulled early in a 2-1 loss to the Baltimore Orioles.

The 23-year-old wasn’t bothered by the abbreviated outing, per MLB.com’s Alex Stumpf.

“The biggest thing, the main goal that I’ve had coming into the last two years is making every start,” Skenes said after the game. “There are opportunities to give and take throughout the season. Tonight was kind of one of those. I probably needed it, to be honest. It’s September, it’s late. I’m feeling it a little bit. Biggest thing is being set up to make every start.”

Skenes has achieved that goal, making 30 starts in his second season. The former first-round pick gave himself some breathing room in the National League Cy Young Award race by improving his ERA to 1.92 on Wednesday.

The 6-foot-6 right-hander has worked 178 innings, a tally exceeded by only four pitchers this season. With two or three starts remaining, Skenes is unlikely to reach 200 frames based on his recent workload.

Pirates manager Don Kelly said he’s determining how to use Skenes and his rotation on a per-start basis to close the season.

“Just trying to make sure that we’re managing their workload,” Kelly said. “Make sure that they’re going all the way through the end of the season healthy and ready to finish a full season and be ready for next year.”

Skenes is scheduled to make his next turn at home against the Chicago Cubs.

More MLB: Pirates Ace Paul Skenes Joins Exclusive Club With Major Strikeout Milestone