Strange as it may sound, Paul Skenes took the mound at PNC Park on Tuesday against the Dodgers amid at least some level of concern.
His ERA over his past four starts was 5.85. Skenes did not last more than 5 1/3 innings in any of them, while his average four-seam velocity had dropped 1.1 mph on the season.
Yeah, much ado about nothing.
While the Pirates’ 12-3 loss was certainly a tale of two different games, the first part reminded everyone that Skenes is elite … and the second highlighted the Pirates’ remaining work.
“I thought he threw the ball really well,” Pirates manager Don Kelly said of Skenes. “I thought the command was better. Velocity was where it normally is, and I thought his offspeed stuff was sharper.”
Let’s break down Skenes’ outing first before getting into the other stuff — which certainly presented some valid concerns. I also thought it was interesting how Skenes tied it all together at the end of his postgame session.
The driving force behind Skenes’ first quality start since May 12 was his four-seam fastball, which he threw 47% of the time, up from 36% on the season. The reason was simple. Skenes said it felt better execution-wise than it has the past few weeks.
Over six innings of two-run ball, Skenes struck out seven and notched 19 whiffs, 12 coming on the fastball.
“Just a good day with that,” Skenes said.
Along with a previous scoring change, Skenes dropped his ERA to 2.84. Kelly visited Skenes in the sixth inning but let him face one more hitter: left fielder Ryan Ward, who promptly flew out to left.
“To earn that trust and have that trust, it means a lot,” Skenes said. “Appreciate that from him.”
Unfortunately for the Pirates, that’s where things turned sour — after Skenes exited.
They scored their two runs on back-to-back homers from Bryan Reynolds and Ryan O’Hearn in the first, while the Dodgers countered with right fielder Kyle Tucker’s sacrifice fly in the second and a single from third baseman Max Muncy in the sixth.
It should be noted, too, that the pitch to Muncy was a two-strike changeup that would’ve been a ball. Hard to fault Skenes there.
“I’ve been happy with how I’ve been throwing it,” Skenes said. “Just gotta keep going a little bit.”
Now the ugly part.
Wilber Dotel, who had been outstanding while pitching to a 1.08 ERA through seven outings, didn’t have it Tuesday. Whether it was the rain or a general lack of feel, Dotel struggled, allowing six runs (five earned) on five hits and a walk without recording an out.
He threw a four-seamer middle-away to designated hitter Shohei Ohtani that got hit for a double. Dotel fell behind center fielder Andy Pages and grooved a 2-1 cutter that got hit for a two-run homer.
Those hits were also bookended by ugly errors: Henry Davis’ misfiring on a back-pick to try and get catcher Dalton Rushing and Brandon Lowe throwing wide of home, allowing first baseman Freddie Freeman to score.
“We got sloppy,” Kelly said. “We have to play cleaner.”
Certainly not wrong. Brandan Bidois followed Dotel and walked three, the game quickly getting out of hand.
As much artificial concern as there might’ve been with Skenes, it’s real with the bullpen. That group needs answers — now. Internal, external, doesn’t matter. The current level of performance isn’t good enough.
The offense has also failed to score more than three runs in any of the past four games, all losses, though Skenes insisted he’s not concerned.
“We’ve been playing good baseball,” Skenes said. “I know we’ve lost a few in a row, but I’m not worried about that at all. We’re gonna be fine.”
Skenes then continued to offer some impressive perspective, insight that reminds this was only one game — though certainly not a good one.
On Monday night, Skenes was driving down Perry Highway in Wexford, apparently bored, when he decided to stop at Vestal Field, home of Ingomar Franklin Park Little League.
The Pirates ace wanted to see some baseball. He wondered if the fields would be occupied. He said he even circled the parking lot, debating whether he’d get spotted and this would turn into a big thing.
“I guess I’m not very good at staying incognito,” Skenes said. “Should’ve worn some sunglasses and a fake mustache.”
The whole thing was mutually beneficial. A bunch of youngsters were awestruck by Skenes, who signed autographs, played catch and posed for pictures for hours.
But Skenes was also reminded of the length of the season, how frustrating and annoying losses inevitably happen and how teams are judged by how they bounce back.
It was a lesson that Skenes unfortunately will get to put into practice as the Pirates look ahead to game two of the Dodgers series.
“You’ve got to remember that it’s just a game,” Skenes said. “There are a lot of things that make it a business. It’s work. It’s a job for us, for sure, on some days more than others.
“But you got to remember you love the game and why you started playing it in the first place. So, it was good for me to visit them because of that.”
It’s beyond silly to worry about Skenes, who couldn’t possibly have a better head on his shoulders. But the Pirates do need more from their bullpen and offense to preserve his strong starts and snap out of this funk.
Jason Mackey: Jason.Mackey@pirates.com and @JMackey_PGH on X.