Paul Skenes responded to the worst outing of his career with a steadier performance against the Reds on Wednesday, helping Pittsburgh secure an 8-3 victory. While the result marked a clear improvement, the outing felt more functional than dominant, especially when measured against the standard he has already established early in his career.
Skenes worked five innings, allowing three hits and one run while walking two batters and striking out five. He exited after 77 pitches, a limit that manager Don Kelly described as part of a planned approach to gradually build his workload with the long season in mind. The right-hander acknowledged the controlled nature of the outing, noting that simply being able to contribute multiple innings was a step forward.
For many pitchers, that kind of line would represent a strong showing against a competitive opponent. In Skenes’ case, however, the reaction was more tempered. Given his previous dominance and the expectations surrounding him, the performance was viewed as solid but not especially striking, leaving observers wanting a more emphatic statement.
Heightened expectations after breakout career
Skenes entered the season with a reputation that has quickly elevated expectations to an uncommon level. With an ERA of 1.96 across 55 career starts heading into the year, his track record has already set a high benchmark for consistency and effectiveness. That body of work has shaped how each of his outings is evaluated, often turning otherwise good performances into something closer to merely acceptable by comparison.
His prior success has created a situation where routine effectiveness is not always enough to satisfy outside expectations. Even when he delivers a competent start, the bar he has set for himself leads to a sense that something more dominant should have been on display. Wednesday’s outing fell into that category, as it lacked the overpowering presence that has often defined his best appearances.
The context of the opponent also contributed to the narrative. Skenes has historically performed exceptionally well against Cincinnati, having allowed just one run over 29 innings in five previous starts, with 40 strikeouts and only two walks. That level of past dominance against the Reds made the more modest results in this game stand out further, even though the outing itself remained effective.
Recovery from opening day struggles
The contrast with Skenes’ Opening Day performance helped frame Wednesday’s start as a recovery effort. In that earlier outing, he lasted less than an inning and was charged with five earned runs, producing a line that ballooned his ERA to an extreme figure over the following days. It was a rare setback in a career that has otherwise been defined by strong results.
There were complicating factors in that Opening Day appearance, including defensive miscues behind him, but Skenes also issued walks and hit a batter, contributing to the difficult outcome. The combination of errors and command issues made the start unusually challenging by any standard, not just his own.
Against the Reds, his performance was more controlled, though not dominant. He allowed a leadoff walk to TJ Friedl twice and saw a long scoreless streak against Cincinnati come to an end. While the outing marked progress relative to his previous start, it still lacked the overwhelming edge that has come to be associated with his best work.
Skenes himself downplayed external narratives, emphasizing focus on each individual game rather than broader expectations. For a pitcher who has already reached elite levels of performance early in his career, maintaining that standard remains the central challenge as he moves further into his third season.