PITTSBURGH -- In the history of the Pirates, only two pitchers have ever won a Cy Young. One is Doug Drabek in 1990. Before him was Vern Law in 1960, back when only one pitcher won the award instead of one pitcher per league.
There’s still a good chunk of the season remaining, but there’s a pretty good chance both will get some company this year.
Paul Skenes has been outstanding in his sophomore season, recording a 2.07 ERA with 181 strikeouts over 161 innings. There are still five weeks left to the season, but many are forecasting the Pirates’ right-hander to take home the National League’s highest pitching honor.
“I think so too, and that’s good,” Law said earlier this week. “I hope so. It’s going to be wonderful to be able to do that.
“Give him some years, he’s probably going to get better.”
Get better than what he has done thus far in his Major League career? There doesn’t seem to be much room for improvement, at least in the context of his first 50 starts.
Sunday was Skenes’ 50th start in the Majors, and it was one of his best, striking out seven while allowing just three hits over seven scoreless innings. He walked off to a standing ovation from the PNC Park crowd as the Pirates beat the Rockies, 4-0.
With that performance, Skenes lowered his career ERA to 2.02. Since the start of the Live Ball Era in 1920, the only pitcher to have a lower ERA over their first 50 starts is Vida Blue, who recorded a 2.01 clip from 1969-1972.
Looking at the other pitchers on this list, it’s been decades since anyone has even come close to what Skenes has done:
Lowest ERA through 50 career starts
In Live Ball Era (since 1920)
1. Vida Blue: 2.01 (1969-72)
2. Paul Skenes: 2.02 (2024-25)
3-T. Howie Pollet: 2.15 (1941-46)
3-T. Orel Hershiser: 2.15 (1984-85)
3-T. Jerry Koosman: 2.15 (1967-69)
Not too shabby for someone who is in just his first full season in the Majors.
“It's amazing,” Pirates manager Don Kelly said. “It's amazing what he's able to do. You see the fastball. The velo, the command was there today. Being able to mix it up in and out, up and down. Go to the changeup, the sweeper. He's always in control, which is really impressive.
“It's really hard to put that expectation on him. You just said it. It's his first full Major League season, 50 starts. He continues to go out and do what he does. He was phenomenal today.”
With those first 50 starts in the books, Skenes’ focus has quickly turned to what’s in store. He’s made a stamp on the Major Leagues in his first year and a half, but this journey has never been about just 50 outings.
"Just gotta do it in the next 50, and the 50 after that,” Skenes said. “Consistency is the biggest thing, I feel. Being on the field, doing the same thing every day. That's all you can ask for from players. Been pretty consistent to this point. Just got to keep going."
OK, but what about what Law said? Is there another gear, a way to get even better than historically great?
“I definitely think that [there is],” Skenes said. “I’ve just got to find it. To be honest, I don’t know what it is yet. It’s there. I think that’s what energizes me and it’s what makes me keep showing up to the field, doing the work in the offseason. It’s just getting better. I know I can get better. I’ve just got to figure out how.”
Until then, it’s onto the Cy Young watch. As of right now, Dwight Gooden is the only pitcher to win Rookie of the Year and then Cy Young in their sophomore season. Skenes is in a good position to join him.
But in a year of focusing on controlling what he can control, Skenes knows the award doesn’t fall in that category.
“One, the award itself is out of my hands,” Skenes said. “If it's up to the voters, it's out of your hands. Two, if you do what you're supposed to do and take care of it, keep doing the work and pitch well, it's going to take care of itself, however it should. Whether you win it or not. It's the same thing as Rookie of the Year last year. That's how I look at it."