The Pittsburgh Pirates secured a 6-0 victory over the Arizona Diamondbacks on Sunday afternoon, as right-handed pitcher Paul Skenes extended his historic pitching streak. Skenes once again proved why he is considered one of baseball’s brightest young talents during this start, which was part of an impressive ongoing run that has drawn significant attention around Major League Baseball.
Record-Breaking Consecutive Starts Without Allowing a First-Inning Run
According to MLB analyst Sarah Langs, Paul Skenes has matched some of the most remarkable pitching streaks in MLB history by not allowing a run in the first inning across 22 consecutive starts to begin a season. This achievement places him just behind the 1923 mark set by Bob Shawkey, who achieved 27 such starts, and ties him with Reese Olson, Juan Guzman, and Paul Derringer, who each had 22. Skenes’ streak remains active as the 2025 MLB season continues.
Most consecutive starts to begin a season without allowing a first-inning run, MLB history:⁰1923 Bob Shawkey: 272025 Paul Skenes: 22 *active2024 Reese Olson: 221992 Juan Guzman: 221942 Paul Derringer: 22h/t @EliasSports https://t.co/WX1RUf9Mln— Sarah Langs (@SlangsOnSports)
Dominant Performance Highlights Career Milestones
In this latest outing, Skenes pitched six strong innings, surrendering just three hits, issuing one walk, and striking out nine batters. These numbers improved his season record to 6-8 while reducing his earned run average (ERA) to an impressive 1.83. Such performances highlight the skill and consistency that have made him a standout figure in the Pirates’ rotation.
A former No. 1 overall draft pick, Skenes has also earned the honor of starting consecutive National League All-Star Games, demonstrating the respect he commands across the league. His career ERA stands at a remarkable 1.89 after 45 starts, one of the lowest since ERA became an official statistic across both leagues in 1913.
Historical Context of Skenes’ Career ERA
Langs noted that Skenes’ career ERA is among the best ever recorded in the initial stages of a pitching career. He ranks behind only Ferdie Schupp and Ernie Shore from the early 20th century in maintaining this low ERA through 45 starts:
Lowest ERA in first 45 career starts, since ER official in both leagues (1913):1913-17 Ferdie Schupp: 1.641914-15 Ernie Shore: 1.782024-25 Paul Skenes: 1.891913-15 Rube Foster: 1.911913-14 Reb Russell: 1.92h/t @EliasSports— Sarah Langs (@SlangsOnSports)
Pirates’ Strategic Challenges Ahead of Trade Deadline
Despite Skenes’ individual brilliance, the Pirates find themselves in a difficult position as they hold a 44-62 record and sit last in the National League Central. The team faces tough decisions with the trade deadline approaching on July 31, as potential moves involving players like Mitch Keller and Bryan Reynolds could aid in building for the future but may undermine competitive prospects during Skenes’ prime years under contract through 2029.
Upcoming Games and Emerging Debuts
The Pirates will continue their road trip on Monday night against the San Francisco Giants, with the first pitch scheduled for 9:45 p.m. ET. Mitch Keller is expected to start, facing Giants rookie Carson Whisenhunt, who will be making his major league debut, adding further intrigue to the matchup.
Implications of Skenes’ Streak for the Pirates’ Future
Paul Skenes’ historic pitching streak not only cements his status as one of baseball’s elite young pitchers but also places a spotlight on the Pirates’ roster decisions. As Skenes continues this rare form, the team’s ability to build a competitive squad around him will likely influence their success in the coming years. Balancing short-term results with long-term growth remains a key challenge as trade negotiations and strategic decisions unfold in the season’s critical stretch.
Our Reader’s Queries
Q. Has anyone found the Paul Skenes card?
A. PITTSBURGH (KDKA) — An 11-year-old from California, who enjoys collecting, discovered a unique Paul Skenes baseball card. The Pirates have been eager to trade 30 years of home plate season tickets for this card.
Q. What is special about Paul Skenes?
A. Skenes uses a variety of pitches, including a four-seamer, splitter, sweeper, sinker, slider, changeup, and curveball. However, his main strengths lie in the four-seamer and splitter. The splitter is particularly unique and is referred to as a “splinker” because it combines elements of a splitter and sinker.
Q. Did anyone find Paul Skenes’ patch card?
A. Excited collectors eagerly looked for Skenes’ unique rookie card. An 11-year-old Dodgers fan from Los Angeles discovered it on Christmas morning. The Pirates had promised a reward for finding the card.
Q. What’s special about Paul Skenes?
A. He was the first pitcher in the Modern Era to achieve 150 strikeouts and an ERA below 2.00 in his first 22 games. Since 1913, when earned runs became an official stat, only Steve Rogers had a lower ERA in his first 22 starts from 1973-74 with a 1.95 ERA.