Pirates' Paul Skenes is getting even better with new-and-improved putout pitch
This is just getting unfair at this point.
Pirates' Paul Skenes is getting even better with new-and-improved putout pitch originally appeared on The Sporting News . Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here . The Pittsburgh Pirates might not have had the best Opening Day, with Paul Skenes being chased out of the game in the first inning, but they still have one of the best pitchers in baseball in Skenes and plenty to like about the team.
While it might have started poorly, Skenes is looking to piece together another Cy Young season, and could easily do so with a strong rebound from a five-run outing to begin the year. If he does rebound to such a degree, as David Adler of MLB. com noted, the new-and-improved pitch Skenes has in his arsenal would likely be a big reason why.
Skenes is getting even better, and this pitch is a huge reason why. Paul Skenes has a new curvier curveball "However, early in 2026, Skenes has revamped his curveball," Adler writes. "It's slower - down to under 82 mph from about 84 mph last season - and is dropping seven inches more (48 inches vs.
41 inches) and breaking three inches more horizontally (nine inches vs. six inches). " This new-and-improved curveball for Skenes is still a work in progress, as it's not one of the more dominant curveballs in the sport.