(File Photo: Source for Photo: Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Paul Skenes delivers during the first inning of a baseball game against the St. Louis Cardinals in Pittsburgh, Thursday, Sept. 24, 2026. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Pittsburgh, PA) Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher Paul Skenes recorded 200 strikeouts for his second MLB season in a row in the team’s game yesterday against the St. Louis Cardinals at PNC Park. 

The 2025 National League Cy Young Award winner struck out Cardinals catcher Leo Bernal in the seventh inning of that game to reach 200 strikeouts for the second time in two seasons.  

Skenes was then removed from the game by Pirates manager Don Kelly after that strikeout.

Despite his struggles on the mound this season compared to his first two years in the MLB, Skenes is the first Pirates starting pitcher with two seasons in a row with 200 or more strikeouts since Bob Veale accomplished that achievement from 1964 to 1966.