#paul-skenes

#paul-skenes

Remember last season, around the trade deadline, when every analyst in America was calling for the Tigers to trade Tarik Skubal because their "window" wasn't open? Then they went on a run, made the playoffs, did it again the next season without trading Skubal? People have already started talking about the Pirates trading Paul Skenes. They have their own issues, but trading Paul Skenes won't solve them.

The Pirates may have been abysmal again but have remained appointment viewing thanks to Paul Skenes, whose highlight reels make you question physics. It's not just his raw pace, throwing 100mph+ deep into games, but his mastery of late-moving variations that mean batters can't pick whether it's a sweeper or a splinker until it's already behind them.

Jeff Passan: Under 61, but not by much. The Seattle Mariners have 31 games remaining. Raleigh has had two distinct 31-game spans this year in which he has hit at least a dozen home runs -- the number he needs to get to 61 -- so it's possible. Now that he has passed Salvador Perez for the most in a season by a catcher, Raleigh can target the Mariners' franchise record of 56 set by Ken Griffey Jr. in 1997.

Paul Skenes of the Pittsburgh Pirates and Tarik Skubal of the Detroit Tigers were named All-Star Game starters, representing the National League and American League respectively.

I don't expect it to happen. Ben's job is to create a winning team and a winning organization...but I have to pitch well. That's the bottom line.