Pirates' Paul Skenes Posts 2nd-Lowest ERA Through 50 MLB Starts Since 1920

Paul Skenes has emerged as a historic pitching talent for the Pittsburgh Pirates during the 2024 MLB season, boasting the second-lowest ERA through the first 50 career starts since the live-ball era began in 1920, with a 2.02 ERA just behind Vida Blue's 2.01 mark. His recent dominant performance against the Colorado Rockies, where he threw seven scoreless innings with seven strikeouts, helped the Pirates secure a series sweep and further cemented his status as one of the league's elite pitchers. Skenes leads the league with a 2.07 ERA, a 0.94 WHIP, and 181 strikeouts over 161 innings, despite playing on a struggling Pirates team with an 8-9 personal record that reflects the team's overall challenges. He has earned accolades including a two-time All-Star selection, National League Rookie of the Year, and a Cy Young Award finalist, while also becoming the first Pirates rookie since 1975 to start an All-Star Game. Pirates manager Don Kelly and Skenes himself emphasize consistency and continuous improvement as keys to sustaining his success, with Skenes expressing a strong drive to keep getting better and letting awards follow naturally from his performance. His ability to mix pitches effectively and maintain control underlines his dominance and potential for a long and successful career at the top level of MLB pitching.