Paul Skenes is putting together another stretch that is forcing the rest of the National League to pay attention. The Pittsburgh Pirates ace followed up one dominant outing with another on May 12, continuing a run that now has him looking every bit like the reigning NL Cy Young winner.
Over his last two starts, Skenes has thrown 16 innings without allowing a run. During that span, he has surrendered just four hits, issued no walks, and struck out 17 hitters. The numbers alone are overwhelming, but the way he delivers them has made the performances even more impressive.
Against the Arizona Diamondbacks on May 6, Skenes retired the first 14 batters he faced before finally allowing traffic on the bases. He worked eight scoreless innings, gave up only two hits, struck out seven, and needed just 97 pitches to finish the outing. It was the type of efficient dominance that has quickly become routine whenever he takes the mound.
Skenes Overpowers Rockies Lineup
Then came the matchup against the Colorado Rockies, where Skenes somehow looked even sharper.
Right from the start, he overwhelmed Colorado’s lineup by recording six consecutive strikeouts to open the game. Through six innings, he had already struck out the side three separate times. The Rockies simply could not make solid contact against him, and for several innings, a no-hitter looked very realistic.
That bid finally ended in the seventh inning when Mickey Moniak lined a single into left-center field. It was the only hit Skenes allowed all night.
He finished with eight innings pitched, one hit allowed, no earned runs, no walks, and 10 strikeouts while throwing 89 pitches. He also exited the game holding a 2-0 lead before the Pirates secured a 3-1 victory.
A Different Outcome From Last Season
The outing carried extra significance considering what happened the last time Skenes faced Colorado during the 2025 season. In that game, Jordan Beck delivered a crushing three-run homer that helped the Rockies escape with an 8-5 win over Pittsburgh.
This time, there was no such drama. Skenes completely controlled the game from the first pitch forward, giving Colorado almost no opportunity to generate offense. The adjustment from last season’s matchup was obvious, as Skenes consistently got ahead in counts and attacked hitters with confidence.
After a somewhat uneven opening stretch to the 2026 season, Skenes has clearly settled back into form.
Cy Young Conversation Heating Up Again
Over his last three starts, opponents have struggled to generate offense of any kind, with Skenes allowing fewer than five hits combined during that stretch.
His 1.98 ERA now ranks among the best marks in baseball, and his 0.70 WHIP currently leads the National League. Those numbers continue to reinforce why many around the league already view him as one of baseball’s most dominant pitchers.
If this level of performance continues through the summer, Skenes will once again find himself firmly in the center of the NL Cy Young race while giving the Pirates a legitimate ace every fifth day.
