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Paul Skenes Makes Unfortunate MLB History Following Pirates Game

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Cole Sullivan | Last updated Jun 13, 2025 6:10 PM ET

The Pittsburgh Pirates haven’t had the season they hoped for so far, but one undeniable bright spot has been second-year ace Paul Skenes.

Despite Skenes’ dominance nearly every time he takes the mound, he’s received minimal run support from the Pirates' offense — and it’s now led to a shocking piece of unfortunate MLB history following his outing against the Chicago Cubs on Friday afternoon.

Skenes threw five shutout innings, allowing just four hits and recording five strikeouts. However, with the game still tied 0-0 after five, he was once again ineligible for the win — a frustrating trend throughout much of his season.

According to CBS Sports’ Doug Clawson, Skenes now holds the fewest wins (4) by any pitcher with a sub-2.00 ERA through their first 15 career starts in the live-ball era, which dates back to 1920.

Paul Skenes has the fewest wins (4) by any pitcher with a sub-2 ERA through 15 starts in the live ball era (since 1920) (min. 30 IP)
— Doug Clawson (@doug_clawson) June 13, 2025

Paul Skenes has been a dominant force since the moment he reached the majors after being drafted out of LSU. Unfortunately for the Pirates, they’ve failed to surround him with adequate offensive support — a reality that’s been reflected in both his win-loss record and the team’s overall performance.

Pittsburgh entered Friday’s divisional matchup against the Cubs with a 28–42 record, sitting in last place in the NL Central.

Skenes currently holds a 4–6 record despite a stellar 1.88 ERA over 15 starts and 96.0 innings pitched. He’s also posted an impressive 3.6 WAR, 0.835 WHIP, and 97 strikeouts — numbers that rank among the league’s best.

Amid his standout season, there has been growing speculation about whether the Pirates should consider trading Skenes while his value is arguably the highest of any pitcher in baseball.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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