![\"Paul](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Skenes-1120x630.jpg\")
Photo provided by Matt Lynch\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tPhoto provided by Matt Lynch\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n
Just over halfway through the 2026 season, Pirates starter Paul Skenes is close to surpassing his total runs allowed during the 2025 campaign, a year that saw him win the National League Cy Young Award.<\/p>\n
Opposing batters have tagged Skenes for 39 earned runs over 97 innings pitched to date; he allowed 41 in 187.2 frames last season. Skenes\u2019 3.62 ERA \u2014 unduly weighed down after a career-worst seven earned runs allowed on Wednesday night against the Phillies<\/a> \u2014 remains strong, ranking No. 30 among qualified starters. It isn\u2019t time to hit the panic button, but it shows he\u2019s a mortal like the rest of us. That\u2019s uncharted territory after Skenes\u2019 meteoric rise to prominence.<\/p>\n The Pirates have lost nine straight Skenes starts. Asked about that fact after allowing four runs in five innings on June 26, Skenes described his season as \u201cweird,\u201d but reasoned \u201cI\u2019m happy with it overall,\u201d<\/a> citing his focus on controlling what he can control even with a lack of run support. Losing to the Phillies in the worst performance of his professional career elicited more of a reaction\u2026which says a lot, coming from the stoic pitcher.<\/p>\n \u00a0\u201cJust didn\u2019t execute very well,\u201d Skenes said. \u201cFell behind in some counts and left some balls over the plate.\u201d<\/p>\n Skenes described the home runs he allowed against Brandon Marsh and Trea Turner as \u201cbreaking balls that caught too much of the plate.\u201d He also mentioned how the Phillies managed to grind out at-bats against him, fouling off pitches he could\u2019ve put them away with. Despite the struggles, Skenes still feels like he\u2019s knocking on the door of a turnaround.<\/p>\n Knocking on the Door?<\/p>\n \u201cI haven\u2019t made it easy on myself. But yeah, just gotta execute a little better,\u201d Skenes said. \u201cFell behind in a few counts and some foul balls. Yeah, just gotta execute a few pitches a little bit better, and I think it, it\u2019s probably a different story.\u201d<\/p>\n Pirates manager Don Kelly said he doesn\u2019t think Skenes is overtaxing himself as he tries to snap out of the funk. Skenes has a reputation for a ferocious work ethic, but he and the training staff are cognizant of how hard to push.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cHe\u2019s always looking at what he\u2019s doing, trying to adjust it and tweak it,\u201d Kelly said. \u201cIt\u2019s something that him and [pitching coach Bill Murphy]\u2026 are constantly looking at.\u201d<\/p>\n Kelly also provided clarification on the play that started Skenes\u2019 spiral in the second inning. With one out and the bases loaded, third baseman Nick Gonzales fielded a chopper down the line cleanly, throwing to catcher Henry Davis for the force play at home. Instead, he hit Alec Bohm, the Phillies\u2019 baserunner, an error that let two runs score.<\/p>\n \u201cI think Henry didn\u2019t know which side to go on because Gonzo could have kept going or stayed inside,\u201d Kelly said. \u201cBaserunner did a good job getting in the way, but we need to make sure we get an out there.\u201d<\/p>\n Kelly suggested that the better move would\u2019ve been conceding the run in favor of an easier throw.<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s where it\u2019s really tough because Gonzo\u2019s going right towards the line and sometimes third base, you keep on going into foul territory and sometimes you stop,\u201d Kelly said. \u201c\u2029Maybe could have gotten an out at third or first. There really didn\u2019t seem to be a really good throwing lane to home.\u201d<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tMentioned in this article: Don Kelly<\/a> Henry Davis<\/a> Nick Gonzales<\/a> Paul Skenes<\/a> Pirates<\/a> <\/p>\n