With the Pirates' ace, Paul Skenes, on a losing streak that's approaching historic proportions, the question on everyone's mind is: What's next for the young pitcher? Skenes, who's been winless in nine starts since May 12, is in the midst of his worst stretch in the MLB. This drought is tied for the second-longest by a reigning Cy Young Award winner, just one behind Blake Snell and Jim Perry for the record, according to the Elias Sports Bureau. Despite this, Skenes made headlines over the weekend for a different reason. He was selected to the National League All-Star team, becoming the fourth pitcher in MLB history to make the Midsummer Classic in each of his first three seasons, joining the ranks of Yu Darvish, Dwight Gooden, and Tom Seaver. However, Skenes' selection might be more symbolic than practical, as he's set to pitch against the Brewers on Sunday, and his appearance in the All-Star Game is unlikely. The real challenge lies ahead, as Skenes prepares to face the Braves on Tuesday. This game will be a test of his resilience and ability to bounce back from his recent struggles. Last time out, Skenes faced the Phillies and had one of his worst starts in his career. He allowed eight runs (seven earned) on two home runs in just four innings, striking out five. This performance marked a noticeable change in his pitching style. Skenes' fastball, which topped out at 101.9 mph as a rookie, has now slowed down to a range of 93.6 mph to 97.9 mph. In his first 55 MLB starts, Skenes averaged 26 pitches at 98 mph or more per outing. However, in his last three starts, he's thrown a combined total of four pitches at 98 mph or more. The spin rate on his four-seam fastball has also decreased significantly, from 2,318 on April 1 to 1,987 on July 1. When asked about this change, Skenes was unsure of the cause. Now, with the Braves on the horizon, Skenes will face a familiar challenge. He's faced the Braves only once in his career, striking out nine in six innings on June 29, 2024, and allowing only one run, a home run by Jarred Kelenic. Since then, a few Braves hitters have faced Skenes, including Ozzie Albies, Matt Olson, and Austin Riley. However, Skenes has yet to oppose Ronald Acuña Jr., who has been sidelined with a left hamstring strain for nearly a month. One stat that stands out is Skenes' offspeed value. When he was a rookie, it was in the 100th percentile in all of baseball. In 2025, it slightly declined but remained in the 98th percentile. This season, however, Skenes is in the 17th percentile for offspeed pitches, according to Baseball Savant. This decline in offspeed value could be a contributing factor to his recent struggles. As Skenes prepares to face the Braves, it's clear that he needs to find his rhythm and regain his confidence. The young pitcher has the talent and the experience to turn this losing streak around. It's just a matter of time and effort. In my opinion, Skenes' ability to adapt to his changing pitching style and his resilience in the face of adversity will be key to his success moving forward. The All-Star selection is a testament to his potential, and I believe he has the skills to bounce back and reclaim his place as one of the top pitchers in the game.
