Already a close to shoo-in for Nationwide League Rookie of the 12 months, Paul Skenes would possibly quickly discover himself within the Cy Younger Award dialog after one other history-making accolade.
On Friday, Skenes was electrical towards the New York Mets, permitting two earned runs off 4 hits whereas hanging out eight over seven innings. The 22-year-old is the primary pitcher since 1901 to report seven or extra strikeouts in not less than 9 of their first 10 profession appearances, per Sarah Langs of MLB.com.Â
With solely 58.1 innings pitched, Skenes should keep wholesome and constant to earn consideration for the Cy Younger. However, if his present tempo continues, holding his identify out of the working will likely be onerous.
Alongside together with his history-making outing on Friday, Skenes has produced eye-popping ends in only a handful of main league begins.
Solely seven pitchers in baseball historical past have posted extra strikeouts than Skenes (78) over their first 10 profession begins. Kerry Wooden (94, 1998) has essentially the most, adopted by Herb Rating (92, 1955), Jose DeLeon (85, 1983), Hideo Nomo (83, 1995), Dwight Gooden (80, 1984), Masahiro Tanaka (79, 2014) and Stephen Strasburg (79, 2010).
Nonetheless, Skenes has the bottom ERA (2.12) out of the group and is the one one to go undefeated (5-0), leaving all 10 begins with the lead.
Successful the Cy Younger Award could be monumental for Skenes. It’d make him solely the second rookie to perform the feat (Fernando Valenzuela, 1981) and simply the third Pirate.
Vern Legislation (1960) and Doug Drabek (1990) are the one Pittsburgh hurlers to earn the distinction. In the meantime, the Pirates are considered one of solely eight MLB groups with two or fewer Cy Younger Award winners regardless of current since 1882.Â
