Pirates Push Skenes' Start to Wednesday for Rest
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- Don Kelly pushed Paul Skenes' scheduled Sunday start against the Red Sox to Wednesday against the Tigers, saying the move was to "give him a few more days to recover" rather than injury-related, even though Skenes told reporters he "was fully anticipating starting tomorrow" and was "ready to go."
- RHP Lake Bachar will start in Skenes' place against the Red Sox on Sunday, and the extra day also gives other Pirates starters an additional rest day.
- In his most recent outing against the Marlins, Skenes was pulled after just 65 pitches and five innings — allowing two runs (one earned) with four strikeouts — and for the first time in his MLB career failed to throw a single pitch at 97 mph or harder.
- Skenes' average fastball velocity has dipped from 98.2 mph in 2025 to 96.8 mph in 2026, though he still owns a 2.99 FIP and the fifth-best K/BB ratio among NL qualifiers — a sharp drop from the 1.96 ERA he carried through his first 55 MLB starts.
- Skenes said he "kind of wish[es] it weren't the case" that he needed the rest, noting it's "something I pride myself on," but agreed it was best for recovery.
- The Pirates enter Sunday at 60-65, last in the NL Central and 6½ games behind the third wild-card spot with five teams ahead of them; SportsLine gives them a 6.3% chance of reaching the postseason for the first time since 2015.
Why it matters: The Pirates invested heavily this offseason to contend in 2026, but a 60-65 record and last-place NL Central standing have made the postseason a 6.3% long shot. Shelving Skenes' turn — when his FIP (2.99) and K/BB ratio remain elite — signals Pittsburgh is prioritizing asset preservation over chasing a fading playoff hope.
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