Pirates ace Paul Skenes struggles with low velocity in Miami start

Paul Skenes, the Pittsburgh Pirates' ace, continues to struggle this season, with the team falling to 9-16 when he starts. In his recent outing against the Miami Marlins on August 11, Skenes was removed after five innings despite allowing only two runs. Manager Don Kelly described the decision as strategic, noting that Skenes has shown a notable drop in velocity and performance metrics, leading to speculation about fatigue or physical adjustments. Skenes averages 96.8 mph with his fastball this season, a significant decrease from previous years, and faced challenges with command and pitch control. The Pirates are struggling for playoff contention as Skenes seeks to adjust back to his previous form.

• 7:25 PMYahoo Sports — What is wrong with Paul Skenes? And how can the Pirates' ace get back on track?
• 9:21 AMYahoo Sports — Pirates Paul Skenes continues to struggle, velocity at all time low