Skenes seeking to regain Cy Young form against Marlins

PITTSBURGH -- We’re over a week into August, and the reigning National League Cy Young winner has yet to find a groove. Paul Skenes has a 3.96 ERA in 24 starts this season, more than double his ERA from his first two Major League seasons.

With the Pirates falling further out of the playoff picture, they need their ace to find himself to begin a three-game series against the Marlins on Tuesday at loanDepot park. Here’s everything to know ahead of Skenes’ 25th start of 2026.

Last time out

Against MLB’s top team, Skenes allowed three runs on only two hits and no home runs against the Brewers on Thursday at American Family Field. The line is confusing on the surface, until you pull back the curtain to reveal four walks. His 93 pitches over five innings began with a rare four-pitch walk to leadoff hitter Brice Turang.

Skenes’ troubles came largely in the fourth inning, when all three runs scored and he walked three batters with 34 total pitches in the frame. It surely didn’t help that Pittsburgh’s offense went cold vs. left-hander Kyle Harrison.

“Outside of that fourth inning, it was a pretty dang good outing,” Skenes said postgame. “Probably need to get ahead in counts a little more just overall. You can’t walk guys. Probably just trying to be a little too perfect at times, and then you put yourself in those positions and kind of open yourself up to that.”

Facing Miami

Skenes has a lifetime 2.60 ERA against the Marlins in three starts with 26 strikeouts in 17 1/3 innings. On June 14, he allowed two runs on four hits and one walk to go with 10 K’s at PNC Park, but it wasn’t enough to earn a victory.

Shortstop Otto Lopez is 2-for-7 off Skenes, while second baseman Xavier Edwards is 2-for-8. Rookie catcher Joe Mack belted a solo home run off Skenes in the last matchup.

Stat to know: 6.8 BB%

While Skenes is still in the 77th percentile among MLB pitchers in BB%, he’s shown a slight decline in his third season in giving out free passes. After a 6.2% BB mark in 2024 and a 5.7% tally in ‘25, Skenes is up to 6.8%.

Skenes’ last two starts certainly didn’t help. He walked four batters in each of his last two outings against Cincinnati on July 31 and then Milwaukee. In 11 combined starts between April and May, Skenes issued 10 walks. His recent command issues are continuously holding him back from another stellar season.