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Paul Skenes starts against Tigers amid pitching struggles

Yahoo Sports • 1 min read • Latest: Aug 19, 2026, 10:07 AM

Last updated Aug 19, 2026

Paul Skenes starts against Tigers amid pitching struggles

Summary

Paul Skenes pitches for the Pittsburgh Pirates on August 19 against the Detroit Tigers after a notable decline in performance. Skenes had a 1.98 ERA through May 12 but has seen that rise to 5.00 since, with decreased fastball velocity. The Pirates attributed his struggles to typical fatigue rather than an injury, as he is on seven days' rest after a tough stretch. Five other Team USA pitchers from the World Baseball Classic are also currently injured, adding context to Skenes' struggles. Skenes aims to reverse his trend in this ongoing matchup.

Source Links

Yahoo Sports

Status Watch

•Skenes has a 1.98 ERA through May, now at 5.00.
•Fastball velocity dropped from 98.2 to 96.8 mph.
•He pitches on seven days' rest after struggles.
•Five Team USA pitchers have injuries this season.
•Skenes aims for improvement in ongoing matchup.

Latest Updates

10:07 AMYahoo Sports — Paul Skenes' season started early. Is it starting to show?

What they're saying

"
Paul Skenes had a 1.98 ERA through May 12. It's 5.00 since, and his velocity on his fastball has dropped noticeably. Is it because of the WBC?
— Yahoo Sports

Related Teams & Leagues

Pittsburgh Pirates Baseball