The Pittsburgh Pirates have pushed back star pitcher Paul Skenes' next starting appearance by three days following his recent struggles on the mound. Skenes was originally scheduled to pitch on Sunday against the Boston Red Sox, but Pirates manager Don Kelly announced that the right-handed ace will instead be rested until Wednesday, when Pittsburgh takes on the Detroit Tigers.
The decision comes after Saturday's 4-0 loss to Boston at PNC Park, after which Skenes publicly supported his manager's choice to adjust the rotation. "Ultimately, it was Donny's decision," Skenes said. "But we had talked about it, and like I said after the last start, I'll have his back on whatever that is. I don't necessarily disagree with the decision either."
The rotation change occurs during the most challenging stretch of Skenes' Major League Baseball career. The 24-year-old pitcher entered the league in 2024 with immense expectations and has anchored the pitching staff for the Pittsburgh Pirates, a franchise competing in the National League Central division. However, his performance hit a new low earlier in the week during a disappointing outing against the Miami Marlins.
Reduced velocity and shortened outings
On Tuesday night, Skenes threw just 65 pitches across five innings in a 2-0 loss to Miami before being pulled from the game. During his brief appearance on the mound, he surrendered a home run and an RBI single. Crucially, Skenes was unable to throw a fastball faster than 96.5 mph throughout the contest.
The lack of velocity marks a notable departure from his previous dominant form. During the 2025 season, Skenes threw pitches reaching 99 mph or higher on 68 separate occasions. Tuesday's loss also marked the third time this season that the starter was removed from a game after throwing 65 or fewer pitches.
Skenes enjoyed a rapid rise to stardom after being selected first overall in the 2023 MLB draft out of Louisiana State University. He won the National League Rookie of the Year award in 2024 and followed it up by capturing the 2025 Cy Young Award, the prestigious annual honor presented to the top pitcher in each league. Despite those early achievements, Skenes has appeared largely ordinary through the majority of the 2026 season.
Social media attention and delivery mechanics
Away from the field, Skenes attracted online commentary following an off-day in Florida on Wednesday with his girlfriend, 23-year-old social media personality and LSU gymnast Livvy Dunne. Images of the couple on the beach circulated widely online, drawing lighthearted criticism regarding his physical appearance that added to the scrutiny surrounding his recent form.
Baseball analysts and former players have debated the reasons behind the pitcher's dip in effectiveness. Former MLB pitcher Curt Schilling attributed the issue to mechanics, linking Skenes' recent struggles to his early-season workload at the World Baseball Classic. Skenes, who previously attended the United States Air Force Academy before transferring to LSU, represented his country for the first time in the international tournament earlier this year.
Pirates manager Don Kelly took a different view, suggesting that Skenes might be experiencing the pressure of trying to meet the extraordinarily high expectations established during his first two seasons in Major League Baseball.
Injury fears and insider clarification
The combination of lower pitch speeds and brief starts has led to speculation among fans regarding a potential physical issue. Concerns have focused on the possibility of an elbow injury requiring Tommy John surgery, a common procedure among pitchers to repair a torn ulnar collateral ligament that typically requires up to 18 months of rehabilitation.
However, an insider speaking exclusively to the Daily Mail addressed those concerns directly, downplaying rumors of a major injury. "Paul's recent troubles have been happening for several reasons, but if injury is one then both Paul and the team are very tight lipped and keeping any of that information a secret," the insider said.
The source noted that the team's management strategy indicates Skenes remains healthy. "But most are thinking he isn't hurt because if he was, either himself or the Pirates would have shut him down to protect him for the future," the insider added.
With his start pushed back, Skenes will now take the mound on Wednesday against the Detroit Tigers as Pittsburgh seeks to keep their star pitcher refreshed for the remainder of the season.
