Pirates' Paul Skenes off to best 39-game start to pitching career in MLB history

If it feels like there's never been a pitcher like Paul Skenes, that's because there hasn't been.

The Pittsburgh Pirates' right-handed ace has started his career better than any pitcher in MLB history.

At least by a measure combining ERA and strikeouts, Skenes is unprecedented.

Through 39 career starts, Skenes has 276 strikeouts and a 1.91 ERA.

According to the New York Times, no pitcher before Skenes ever had 275-plus strikeouts and a sub-2.00 ERA in their first 39 games.

The Pirates don't win as many of Skenes' starts as they should, but that's a matter for another day.

It's just worthwhile to appreciate this ability.

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Seriously, Skenes throws a pitch called a "splinker" (sinker and splitter) that gets up near 100 miles per hour and just slices across the strike zone.

All his pitches are good. He's huge and durable. 

That's not even to mention that if pitchers still hit for themselves, Skenes would be one of the best. He absolutely raked early in his college career at Air Force, when he was a catcher and a closer.

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This is just a supreme athlete who has chosen to use all his athletic abilities on a baseball mound.

And each time he pitches, Skenes makes new history for the Pirates.

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