Paul Skenes' season started early. Is it starting to show?

Paul Skenes began his pitching season much earlier than expected, and the industry is closely monitoring his performance. Originally slated to start on Sunday, the Pittsburgh Pirates granted him an extra rest period after his struggles over the last three months. Both the team and Skenes deny any injury issues, attributing his decline to the typical wear and tear experienced by pitchers in August.

The early start of the World Baseball Classic (WBC) in March has left many pitchers feeling the effects, despite the US team's hitters still performing well. All of Team USA's stars who played in March appear to have been affected by the tournament, with no significant evidence supporting the claim that the WBC is the sole cause of their struggles. However, a toll on many pitchers seems undeniable, as evidenced by the number of injured players on the roster.

Skenes, in particular, had an impressive start to the season, posting a 1.98 ERA in his first nine starts. However, his performance has declined significantly since, with his fastball velocity dropping from 98.2 mph to an average of 96.8 mph. The Pirates and Skenes maintain that he is not injured, but several of his fellow Team USA pitchers have faced arm or shoulder issues during the season.

Notable examples include Gabe Spier, Griffin Jax, Garrett Whitlock, and Brad Keller, who have all been sidelined with various injuries.

While some position players, such as Pete Crow-Armstrong and Kyle Schwarber, have had successful seasons, others have struggled. Tarik Skubal, for example, missed time due to an elbow issue and is now performing well. However, Cal Raleigh's hitting slump, resulting from an oblique injury, stands out as a glaring exception.

With a 24th start coming up against the Detroit Tigers, Skenes and the Pirates will continue to search for answers to his struggles. While some may attribute his decline to the early start of the season or the WBC, no strong evidence suggests a direct link. As the season progresses, Skenes will need to find a way to overcome the challenges he has faced so far.