Pittsburgh Pirates star Paul Skenes is entering the final month of the season with the National League Cy Young award in his grasp.
Skenes only has a few starts left, but he is currently the favorite to take home the award. The Athletic contributor Levi Weaver spoke about what Skenes needs to do to be the Cy Young winner.
“Thank goodness for Skenes, because picking another award nominee from the Pirates seems like a frustrating proposition,” Weaver wrote.
Fortunately, Skenes — 9-9 with a 2.05 ERA and
187 strikeouts to 38 walks in 167 innings pitched — exists. His ERA+ of 207 and FIP of 2.45 both lead the NL, as do his 28 starts.“
In Skenes’ last appearance for the Buccos, he pitched six innings of one-run ball as the Pirates beat the Boston Red Sox 4-2 at Fenway Park.
Skenes will have to be strong in his final few starts, but the main way he loses the award is if someone else completely overshadows him in the last few weeks.
There’s a chance someone like San Francisco Giants star Logan Webb could sneak in or Philadelphia Phillies rising phenom Cristopher Sánchez makes a run with Zach Wheeler out, but the award is Skenes until it isn’t.
Skenes will have another great opportunity to cement his status as the National League’s best pitcher when he faces off against the defending champion Los Angeles Dodgers on Thursday at 6:40 p.m. ET inside PNC Park. Fans can watch the game on Sportsnet locally or stream it on MLB.com.
