Paul Skenes' 2.86 ERA Isn't Cutting It, and Jacob Misiorowski's Numbers Are Getting Hard to Ignore

Man, what a wild start to the summer in baseball. You’d think being the reigning NL Cy Young winner would give you some breathing room, right? Not if you’re Paul Skenes. This dude, who absolutely dominated last season, is in a serious uphill battle to repeat, and honestly, the National League is just flat out moving on without him. It’s early June, but the writing's on the wall when your 2.86 ERA feels like a step backward, and someone else is absolutely dealing.

The NL's New Ace and the Fight for Second

Alright, let's get real about what's happening out there. Jacob Misiorowski is on another planet right now, leading Major League Baseball with a mind-boggling 1.45 ERA. He's not just good, he’s *elite*. In MLB.com's latest Cy Young poll by Thomas Harrigan, Misiorowski pulled in a massive 29 first-place votes, stacking up 153 total points. Skenes? He's all the way down in third with just 55 points, lagging way behind. And get this: Skenes isn't even the second-best pitcher in the NL right now. That spot belongs to Cristopher Sanchez from the Phillies, who’s rocking an insane 1.80 ERA. Seriously, you gotta respect that kind of dominance. Harrigan hit it right on the head, saying, "If Skenes' performanc

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e this season feels like a step back, it's only because he set such an insanely high bar over his first two years in the Majors." Even with his 2.86 ERA, 107 strikeouts, and 18 walks across 88 innings, Skenes needs more than just "contention" when these other guys are throwing like this.

Skenes Needs a Miracle, Maybe Even Two Years

Look, the numbers don't lie. Skenes is a two-time All-Star, so we know he's got the stuff, but he’s not getting any help from his team, either. The Pirates have lost a frustrating seven straight of Skenes' starts, which just crushes any shot he has at piling up the wins needed for a Cy Young. And let's not forget those two rough outings in May. Against the Phillies on May 17 and the Blue Jays on May 23, Skenes gave up nine earned runs over just 10.0 innings. That's just not going to cut it when Misiorowski and Sanchez are pitching nearly flawlessly. With half a season still to go, Skenes still has a chance, sure, but he’s going to need a straight-up miracle to pull it off. Honestly, if he doesn’t manage it this season, we might not see him reclaim the award until 2028. Why? Because the looming work stoppage from the Collective Bargaining Agreement negotiations could mean missed games in 2027. What a gut punch, right? We're talking about waiting two whole years to get back on top.

This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.