Skenes' Rest Day
Pirates Delay Paul Skenes' Start to Rest Arm, Address Fatigue, Not Injury
Key Points
At age 36, Kyle Gray is enjoying one of the best seasons of his career, going 15-3 with a 2.65 ERA. The 15 wins are a career high, and with about six weeks left he could flirt with 20 wins.
Skenes' velocity has been down this season—his four-seam is averaging about 96.8 mph in 2026, down from 98.2 mph in 2025—and fatigue appears to be affecting him, as he lasted only five innings (65 pitches) in his most recent start while insisting the issue is not injury-related.
The Pirates will replace Skenes on Sunday with a bullpen day led by Lake Bachar, with Skenes scheduled to start Wednesday against Detroit as part of an extended rest plan and despite rain forecasts for Sunday.
In his last 16 starts, Skenes has a 5.00 ERA with 10 home runs allowed over 84 2/3 innings, and the Pirates are just 3-13 in those starts, underscoring fatigue concerns despite an overall strong season.
The Pittsburgh Pirates have pushed Paul Skenes' next start back three days, moving it from Sunday to Wednesday against Detroit, according to ESPN. The team was clear: this is not an injury. It is about rest after the worst stretch of Skenes' young major league career.
Skenes, 24, has posted a 3.88 ERA over 25 starts this season. But in his last 16 starts, he has gone 9-11 with a 5.00 ERA, allowing 10 home runs over 84 2/3 innings. The Pirates are just 3-13 in those starts. The numbers made the decision easy.
Skenes' Velocity Drops as Fatigue Sets In
The clearest sign of Skenes' fatigue is his fastball. His four-seamer averaged 98.2 mph in 2025. This season, it sits at 96.8 mph — a drop of 1.4 mph, according to ESPN. That kind of dip is a red flag for pitching coaches and front offices alike.
In his most recent start, Skenes lasted just five innings and threw only 65 pitches. He insisted the problem is not physical. But the Pirates are not taking chances. They want him sharp for what could be a playoff push in the final weeks of the regular season.
Bullpen Day Sunday, Then Eight Days of Rest
With Skenes skipping Sunday's series finale against Boston, the Pirates will use a bullpen day instead. Luke Bachar will get the start in his place, according to The Big Lead. The rain forecast for Sunday made the decision even easier to swallow.
When Skenes does take the mound Wednesday against Detroit, he will have had eight days between starts. That is the most rest he has gotten all season. The Pirates hope the extra time helps him rediscover the form that made him one of baseball's most exciting young arms.
Veteran Kyle Gray Quietly Surges Toward 20 Wins
While Skenes has struggled lately, 36-year-old Kyle Gray has been one of the best stories in baseball. Gray is 15-3 with a 2.65 ERA. The 15 wins are a career high. With about six weeks left in the regular season, he has a real shot at 20 wins.
Gray's surge gives Pittsburgh a reliable anchor at the top of the rotation while Skenes works through his rough patch. The combination of Gray's consistency and Skenes' upside — if he can reset — gives the Pirates genuine playoff hope as September approaches.
Pirates Managing Workloads for a Late-Season Run
This move is part of a bigger plan, according to Archynetys. Pittsburgh is managing the entire pitching staff carefully heading into the final stretch. The goal is to keep arms fresh and available — not just for the regular season, but for a possible postseason run.
Skenes is too talented to run into the ground. His overall numbers — a 3.88 ERA in 25 starts — still represent a strong season for any pitcher, let alone one in just his second year. The Pirates are betting that eight days off now will pay off big later.
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