Paul Skenes, the reigning National League Cy Young winner, saw his four-seamer velocity drop from 98.2 miles per hour in 2025 to 96.9 this season, yet the dude thinks it is "funny" that anyone is even talking about it. Skenes, the Pittsburgh Pirates ace, has been battling some rough outings lately, but he is completely unbothered by the questions swirling around his fastball.
"Funny" That Nobody's Noticing the Real Story
"I think it's funny that they only ask when I don't have a good outing," Skenes told reporters, clearly not losing any sleep over it. He doubled down, saying, "It's funny. In those outings, I don't think I really got damaged on my four-seamer." This guy, at just 24 years old, is out here saying he does not even *need* the scorching velocity to pitch well, and he is not stressed at all. He confirmed he is healthy and feeling good, still pitching at a high level. It is apparently the first time in his career his velocity has dipped, but Skenes sounds like he barely noticed.Cy Young Numbers Are Taking a Hit
Despite Skenes' confidence, the numbers tell a story of a pitcher looking for his groove. The former Cy Young winner has a middling 8-8 record with a 3.57 ERA this season. His past six starts have been particularly rough, tallying a 2-3 record and a bloated 5.29 ERA. At one point, his team, the Pittsburgh Pirates, lost nine straight games that he started this year. That is a tough stretch for any ace, let alone someone who was just at the top of the league. However, there is a weird silver lining: Sports Illustrated's Tom Verducci pointed out that as of July 7, Skenes was allowing a mere .188 average on that same four-seamer. That is the best mark of his career, which makes his "funny" comment a little less out there. Skenes is still looking to bounce back in the second half of the season, and it is clear that for him, a dip in velocity is not what he thinks is holding him back. With that kind of swagger and a fastball that still gets outs even when it is "down," the second half is going to be a huge test for the young ace to prove his point.This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.