In opener vs. Reds, Skenes vies for first win in 8 starts

PITTSBURGH -- Paul Skenes began May with two eight-inning outings, producing two victories in the process. Fast-forward a few weeks, and Skenes remains winless since May 12 while pitching to a 4.03 ERA in 38 innings.

Skenes has thrown six innings and allowed two runs in each of his last three starts. Still, those performances did not produce victories. Skenes will make his final start of June on Friday, taking on the Reds at PNC Park. Amazingly, Skenes also didn’t record a win last June despite four starts of two earned runs or fewer. Here’s what to know ahead of Skenes’ 17th start of 2026.

Last time out
While pitching amid the thin air of Coors Field in Denver, Skenes managed to mow past the Rockies' offense on June 20. He struck out eight and allowed only two earned runs, but the Pirates scored just one run in a 2-1 loss.

Skenes gave up a leadoff inside-the-park home run and an RBI single, also walking two or more batters for the sixth time this year. The loss moved Skenes’ record to 6-7, under the .500 mark for the first time since Opening Day.

Facing Cincinnati
Skenes will face the Reds for the second time this season. In his first outing against them, on April 1, Pittsburgh’s ace earned the win after allowing one run on three hits over five innings.

Star Cincinnati shortstop Elly De La Cruz is 4-for-13 (.308) with six strikeouts against Skenes in his career. Skenes has not allowed a homer across 122 at-bats against any player on the Reds’ current roster for his career. Cincinnati’s batters are 24-for-122 (.197) with only four walks against him.

Stat to know: 30.6%
Although the average velocity on Skenes’ four-seam fastball has dipped from 98.2 mph to 97 mph since last season, his 30.6% strikeout rate overall is slightly higher than it was a year ago (29.5%). Skenes’ 30.6% strikeout rate ranks in the 95th percentile in the Majors.