Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher Paul Skenes was impressive once again on Thursday night against the Los Angeles Dodgers. He pitched six innings and only gave up two hits in a 5-3 Pirates win over the Dodgers.
Skenes did not give a run in this game. He only walked one batter and struck out eight batters. The Pirates' ace is on the verge of winning the National League Cy Young award in 2025. During the 2025 season so far, Skenes has a 10-9 record with a 1.98 ERA. In 173.0 innings pitched, he has given up 123 hits and 42 runs. Skenes has also walked only 39 batters and has struck out 195 batters.
MLB Analyst Believes That Pittsburgh Pirates Pitcher Paul Skenes Is the Best Pitcher Ever
Kody Duncan is a Pirates blogger and also a writer for Fans First Sports Network. He made a bold take about Skenes and Duncan said on his Twitter about the Pirates ace,
"Paul Skenes may be the greatest pitcher I’ve ever seen. Not even hyperbole at this point. He makes the greatest hitters in the world look like little leaguers most nights."
Skenes is only in his second season. He is 23 years old and has a chance to be the best starting pitcher in the sport over the next 10-15 seasons as long as he can stay healthy. Future hall of famers like Justin Verlander and Clayton Kershaw are still pitching in the MLB. There is a really good chance that Skenes can have the same kind of MLB career as those starters.
With that being said, it feels as if starting pitchers don't go to distance or dominant like they used to. It appears as if Skenes is going to be a complete out lair over the next decade and just dominant on the mound. However, saying that he is the best pitcher ever maybe a far stretch from right now. This statement should be revisited in five years from now.
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