Paul Skenes’ next start has been delayed by the Pittsburgh Pirates

The Pittsburgh Pirates have made a notable change to their weekend pitching plans involving one of MLB‘s biggest stars. Paul Skenes will no longer make his scheduled start Sunday, with the Pirates instead pushing the reigning NL Cy Young winner back to Wednesday, according to manager Don Kelly. The team is giving its ace additional rest, and importantly, the decision is not injury-related. MORE: MLB awards predictions for the 2026 season Pirates giving their ace extra rest Aug 9, 2026; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Paul Skenes (30) walks out to the bullpen before the game against the New York Mets at PNC Park. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images The decision comes after Skenes has experienced an unusually difficult stretch this season. The right-hander has dealt with a noticeable drop in fastball velocity and has struggled to replicate the dominant form he displayed during his first two major league seasons. His most recent outing against the Marlins was particularly noteworthy, as he was pulled after just 65 pitches and five innings. Skenes allowed two runs and struck out four in that game, but his fastball topped out at just 96.5 mph, another sign that his velocity has dipped considerably. That has naturally led to questions about whether something is wrong physically. However, the Pirates have repeatedly maintained that Skenes is not dealing with an injury, and this latest decision is being framed strictly as an opportunity to give him more recovery time. MORE: 4 MLB teams most likely to win the World Series, not including the Dodgers Wednesday now becomes the target Rather than sending Skenes to the mound Sunday, Pittsburgh will give him several additional days before he takes his next turn. Considering how important Skenes is to the organization, it makes sense for the Pirates to be cautious. The 24-year-old is the reigning National League Cy Young Award winner, and getting him back to his dominant form is far more important than forcing him to stick to a strict rotation schedule. The timing is certainly interesting given his recent struggles, but for now, there is no indication that the Pirates believe he has suffered an injury. Skenes’ next scheduled start is now Wednesday, giving him extra rest and another opportunity to get back to being the pitcher Pittsburgh knows he can be. — Enjoy free coverage of the top news & trending stories with The Big Lead Newsletter —