Pirates' Skenes ends sophomore season with MLB-best 1.97 ERA

Pittsburgh Pirates right-hander Paul Skenes joined exclusive company after tossing six shutout innings against the Cincinnati Reds on Wednesday.

Skenes finished his sophomore campaign with a 1.97 ERA, becoming the first qualified pitcher to complete a season with an ERA under 2.00 since Justin Verlander in 2022.

"I'm actually worse than I was last year," Skenes said, according to the Associated Press. "It was 1.96 last year. I'm 1.97 this year. Just got to be better. No, it's cool. I don't come into the year with any numerical goals."

In the past 10 seasons - not including the shortened 2020 campaign - six qualified pitchers have posted an ERA under 2.00.

"There's going to be a lot of records that Paul Skenes will have as he continues to go throughout his career," Pirates manager Don Kelly said. "How he prepares. How he competes. What a start today and what a season he’s had."

Only 51 pitchers have accomplished the feat during the live-ball era (since 1920). None of them played for the Pirates.

"He's the best in the world. I've said that time and time again, and he doesn't disappoint," Skenes' teammate Spencer Horwitz said postgame, according to MLB.com's Alex Stumpf.

Skenes is the front-runner to win the NL Cy Young award after finishing third during his rookie campaign in 2024.