Paul Skenes’ already spectacular season continues to become even more impressive.
The Pittsburgh Pirates rookie — also a National League All-Star starter — recorded his 100th strikeout of his fledgling major league career in Monday’s 5-3 win over the Houston Astros. The historic strikeout came in the second inning when Skenes got Jon Singleton to swing at an 88 mph changeup.
A big, round number like 100 is remarkable enough for a rookie pitcher. But Skenes is a phenomenon, and the speed with which he reached 100 strikeouts is what makes his achievement special.
Like pirates shared on social networksSkenes is just the sixth pitcher since the pitching mound was moved 60 feet, 6 inches from home plate in 1893 to reach 100 strikeouts in 13 games or fewer.
(Prior to 1893, pitchers threw from a distance that increased several times since baseball’s origins in 1845, starting at 45 feet before moving to 55 feet 6 inches, As Anthony Castrovince of MLB.com explained.)
Put another way, Skenes is the sixth pitcher since 1901 to compile 100 strikeouts in his first 13 career starts. According to Sarah Langs of MLB.com.
Paul Skenes is the sixth pitcher with 100-plus strikeouts in his first 13-game career appearance (since at least 1901), joining:
1995 Hideo Number: 119
1998 Kerry Wood: 118
1955 Herb Score: 107
1983 Jose De Leon: 106
2014 Masahiro Tanaka: 103 https://t.co/sbuSNmLApF—Sarah Langs (@SlangsOnSports) July 30, 2024
Skenes finished his Monday outing by pitching six innings with six strikeouts, five hits, three walks and two runs allowed (one earned). He left with the Pirates down 2-1, and thus did not get the win. However, Skenes lowered his ERA to 1.90 on the season with 103 strikeouts in 80 2/3 innings.
However, Pittsburgh won the game, capping a ninth-inning comeback on Michael A. Taylor’s three-run homer off Josh Hader.