Paul Skenes has quickly become one of the biggest sensations in professional baseball. At just 22 years of age and in his second season in the major leagues, the Pittsburgh Pirates right-handed pitcher has not only demonstrated absolute dominance on the mound, but has also changed the debate about how starters should be evaluated in the modern era of baseball. His powerful fastball, accuracy and competitive maturity have led him to lead multiple statistical categories, even on a team that has failed to provide him with the necessary support.
The Pirates’ young ace continues to generate debate over his inclusion as the National League team’s starter in the 2025 MLB All-Star Game, which will be played next week in Atlanta. Despite his modest record (4-7), multiple analysts argue that his numbers and performance make him the best choice for the starting mound.
Adam Gretz of Yardbarker analyzed Skenes’ performance, explaining that he “threw five more scoreless innings and recorded a season-high 10 strikeouts before being pulled after just 78 pitches”. However, despite that masterful performance, he again went without a decision. His performance in Seattle was another example of his dominant form, but insufficient to turn those outings into victories due to the Pirates’ poor offensive support.
Group vs individual performance
One of the great arguments made by Gretz was that the win-loss system is obsolete for measuring a pitcher’s quality, especially in the era of advanced statistics. “The win/loss record is a terrible metric for evaluating a starter. It’s a team stat, not a reflection of individual performance.”
By comparison, Zack Wheeler (Phillies) is 9-3 and is also a candidate for the All-Star starting spot. However, his ERA is higher than Skenes’, and he does not lead the league in WAR or WHIP as the Pittsburgh youngster does.
The statistics support Skenes
- ERA: 1.94 (1st in the National League)
- WHIP: 0.92 (2nd in the National League)
- WAR: 4.5 (1st among starters in the National League)
- Strikeouts: more than 125 in 116 innings
- Age: 22 years
- All-Star: 2nd consecutive call-up, as in his rookie season
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