Paul Skenes Reaches 200 Strikeouts in Reflective 2026 Finale

Pittsburgh Pirates ace Paul Skenes capped his 2026 season by pitching 6.1 dominant innings in a 2-1 win over St. Louis, reaching 200 strikeouts for a second consecutive year. Despite a 10-11 record and 3.82 ERA—down from his Cy Young 2025 campaign—Skenes made 32 starts while battling fastball velocity dips (96.8 mph average) and career highs in home runs (20) and walks (49). He becomes just the second pitcher in franchise history to achieve back-to-back 200-strikeout seasons.