What Pirates GM says about recent Skenes starts

PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – It might be like watching golfer Scottie Scheffler finish only in the top 10 of a tournament or quarterback Patrick Mahomes throw for 210 yards and only two touchdowns. It’s good, but not the level we’ve typically seen. What does Pirates GM Ben Cherington think of Skenes recent pitching?

Over his last four starts, the National League Cy Young Award winner has given up 15 runs (11 earned) over 20 innings. That’s a 4.95 ERA on 26 hits with six walks (nearly half of his season total) and 26 strikeouts.

None of this is to say anything about his career or what he might do in the future, but it is the toughest stretch of his three seasons. While close, he also hasn’t thrown a pitch 100 miles-an-hour this year. Neither have most pitchers in the League, but again, Skenes is not most pitchers.

“The highest level of trust in him for sure,” Cherington said during the Pirates Insider Show hosted by Jason Mackey on 93.7 The Fan. “He’s still throwing really hard, we’ve seen some bounces up-and-down with the velo, I haven’t seen any significant change since spring training. He’s so good in so many ways. He doesn’t need to throw 100 to be successful.”

“He knows that.”

“I think over the course of his career if you look at him compared to other starters as they advance through their career, in almost every case they are not working with their absolute max velocity every outing. That’s going to be the case with Paul.”

Is there anything different with Skenes? Is it just adjusting to his game? It appears teams almost have a survival instinct against Skenes, wasting pitches to elevate his pitch count and get him out after five innings. It’s not as if he’s faced the best hitting teams in the league, in terms of team OPS he went up against the Phillies (28^th), Toronto (19^th), Cubs (8^th) and Houston (7^th).

“If there is anything different at all?” Cherington said in echoing a question. “We did have the WBC (World Baseball Classic), that simply meant that his preparation for spring training was a little bit different than it has been in years prior. I think it would be natural as we get into the season there is an adjustment from that.”

Skenes last win was May 12 and he faces the World Champion Dodgers on Tuesday. You figure it’s a matter of time to see the dominating Skenes again, that’s where Cherington’s thoughts lie.

“He’s so conscientious and has such a good plan he’s so good at what he does, he’s going to figure that out,” Cherington said. “Full confidence he’s going to give us the best chance to win the next time he is out there.”