Paul Skenes' 2.12 ERA Put Him With Babe Ruth, And The League Is Still Talking About It

Hold up, Mariners faithful, because across the country, something truly wild is brewing on the mound. Paul Skenes, the dude who just won NL Rookie of the Year and a Cy Young, went out and punched out 10 North Siders last night. Yeah, his team lost 7-2, but trust me, that's not the whole story. This guy's career ERA just slid down to a mind-blowing 2.12, putting him in a class of players only seen in the freaking 1910s, with a name you might know: Babe Ruth. You read that right. Babe. Ruth.

The Kid Is On Fire, Literally

This dude is on another level already, and he's not even 24 yet! Skenes bounced back from giving up nine combined runs in his previous two starts to absolutely carve up the Cubs, striking out 10. That's just one shy of his career best, folks! Even though the Bucs dropped the game 7-2, with Skenes giving up three runs (only one earned) on four hits, his season ERA dipped to a sweet 2.89. But here's the kicker, the stat that should make your jaw drop: his career ERA now sits at a ridiculous 2.12. We're talking fourth-best *ever* for a pitcher before they hit 24, a list that includes some guy named Babe Ruth from like, the 1910s. When told about it, Skenes just calmly said, "That's cool. There's a lot of baseball left." No kidding, kid. No kidding.

Daytime Scares, Nighttime Dominance, And A Manager's Trust

Alright, so you think the Babe Ruth comparison is wild? Check this out: Skenes has the most insane day-night splits you've ever seen. We're talking a 6.57 ERA during the day and a miniscule 0.51 ERA at night. Seriously? Thank goodness last night's game kicked off at 6:42 PM! He was absolutely dialed early, retiring the first eight batters he faced, striking out seven of the first eight and using his famed sweeper for six whiffs. But then, things got a little wild. His pitch count ballooned to 70 by the fourth inning, which Skenes chalked up to "uncompetitive pitches." The Cubs capitalized, scoring a run in the fourth after a walk and two singles.

In the sixth, with two runners on, manager Don Kelly came out to the mound for a chat. Skenes, being Skenes, asked if he could get one more batter, and Kelly, showing immense trust, agreed. "He said he had enough left in the tank to keep rolling, and I totally trust him in that," Kelly stated, adding he thought Skenes "threw the ball extremely well tonight." Skenes forced an infield grounder, but an errant throw to first allowed another unearned run to score, and that was his night. Pittsburgh's bullpen then failed to keep the game close.

What a night for the kid, even if the W didn't come. You gotta wonder if those day game jitters are gonna haunt him, or if he'll keep dominating under the lights. Keep an eye on Skenes, because he's writing history right now, and the league is definitely watching.

Meanwhile, for fans keeping an eye on other AL happenings, Munetaka Murakami of the White Sox had to exit Friday's game against the Tigers with right hamstring tightness. The 26-year-old first baseman, who has been an absolute force with 20 homers to lead the AL (tied with Yordan Alvarez) and a .938 OPS, is undergoing further evaluation. He just signed a two-year, $34 million deal this offseason and has been in every game so far this season. Losing him for any time would be a gut punch for Chicago, and for baseball fans who love seeing offensive powerhouses.

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