Kelly says Skenes must make adjustments in search for Cy Young form
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MIAMI -- After winning the National League Rookie of the Year Award and the NL Cy Young Award over his first two Major League seasons, Paul Skenes expected to maintain that success in Year 3, according to Pirates manager Don Kelly.
Skenes entered Tuesday with a 3.96 ERA this season, while his average fastball velocity had dipped from 98.2 mph last season to 96.9 mph. His walk rate had also climbed to 6.8%, compared with 6.2% in 2024 and 5.7% in 2025.
“The league is adjusting back,” Kelly said before the Pirates' 2-0 loss to the Marlins at loanDepot park on Tuesday. “Paul's gonna have to fight to make the adjustment back to the league and find a way to adjust himself. Yes, the velo is down. I think command has been a bigger thing, at least for me.
“That could come from multiple things. Trying too hard to be too perfect. Trying to maybe get velo back that he knows is down a mile per hour. Well, you can't just go and try to get it. So how does Paul make the adjustment back?”
That is something Skenes is still trying to figure out. That was apparent on Tuesday night against the Marlins, when he gave up two runs (one earned) on five hits while striking out four and walking one across five innings on 65 pitches, the fewest pitches he’s thrown in a start since April 18.
Skenes worked around a first-inning single and a walk in the second before Miami broke through in the third. Esteury Ruiz sent a first-pitch, 95.5 mph four-seam fastball from Skenes into the Marlins' bullpen for his 14th home run allowed this season, giving Miami a 1-0 lead.
Skenes pitched a scoreless fourth inning before Miami added to its lead in the fifth. After Ruiz was hit by a pitch, he stole second and scored on an Edwards' single after a throwing error by shortstop Jacob Gonzalez.
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The Marlins took a 2-0 lead, though it could have been worse for Skenes. Griffin Conine's drive to left field appeared destined for a two-run homer, but Bryan Reynolds tracked it down at the wall to end the inning.