Paul Skenes’ difficult season hits new low with ‘sloppiest outing of the year’

Paul Skenes’ ho-hum 2026 season took an ugly turn Friday night. 

The reigning National League Cy Young winner allowed five runs on seven hits and a season-high four walks over just four innings in the Pirates’ 8-7 loss to the Reds at Great American Ball Park, an outing Skenes said was his “straight up the sloppiest” of the season.

“It took pretty much an inning to find my delivery, which happens. Usually it doesn’t look that bad in the first inning,” Skenes said. “Just pretty sloppy all around.”

Paul Skenes #30 of the Pittsburgh Pirates throws a pitch during the first inning of the game against the Cincinnati Reds at Great American Ball Park on July 31, 2026 in Cincinnati, Ohio. Getty Images

“I think today was extreme. Today was just straight up the sloppiest outing of the year for me,” Skenes continued. “I think other than that, probably haven’t been getting ahead in counts enough. You know, walking guys, giving up contact when I don’t really want to be giving up contact at times.”

It was the second straight clunker for Skenes, who allowed five earned runs over 5 ⅓ innings against the Cubs an outing earlier. 

The latest start brought his season ERA to 3.90 – far from the Cy Young-caliber levels he flashed over his first two MLB campaigns. 

Even before Friday, Skenes, who posted an ERA below 2.00 in each of the past two seasons, hasn’t seemed right. 

Perhaps most concerning for Pirates fans has been Skenes’ fastball velocity. 

Paul Skenes #30 of the Pittsburgh Pirates looks on during the game between the Pittsburgh Pirates and the Cincinnati Reds at Great American Ball Park on Friday, July 31, 2026 in Cincinnati, Ohio. MLB Photos via Getty Images

Skenes’ average four-seam fastball has dropped from 98.2 mph a year ago to 96.9 mph this season. 

It wasn’t until Friday, though, that Skenes felt he wasn’t pitching well. 

“Up until today, I think I’ve viewed the past month or so as me throwing the ball pretty well even though it doesn’t look like it at all, really. The month as a whole I don’t think has been terrible. Today was pretty terrible,” he said.

“…It’s been an interesting year, a little bit. But, it could be a lot worse. We’ll figure it out. I’m going to figure it out. But it could be a lot worse.”