{
  "id": 1309904,
  "title": "Pirates push Paul Skenes' next start back 3 days; manager Don Kelly said decision is based on recovery time, not injury",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/16/pirates-push-paul-skenes-next-start-back-3-days-manager-don-kelly",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-08-16T16:56:29.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Yahoo Sports",
    "slug": "yahoo-sports",
    "url": "https://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/article/pirates-push-paul-skenes-next-start-back-3-days-manager-don-kelly-said-decision-is-based-on-recovery-time-not-injury-165629966.html"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The Pittsburgh Pirates have delayed Paul Skenes' scheduled start from Sunday to Wednesday to provide the reigning National League Cy Young Award winner with additional recovery time, according to manager Don Kelly. The decision was not based on injury concerns, but rather the need for increased rest between starts. Skenes acknowledged the move, stating that he has confidence in Kelly's judgment. Since June, the Pirates have struggled, posting a 3-10 record in games Skenes has started. The 26-year-old's recent performance has been a cause for concern, with a noticeable decline in velocity and concerns over a possible injury. However, Skenes believes the issue is more related to the physical toll of playing a full MLB season and the challenges of maintaining consistency. His arm path has lengthened, and he appears more rotational in his pitching mechanics, resembling a carousel rather than a ferris wheel. The Pirates hope that the extra recovery time will allow Skenes to bounce back and return to his previous level of performance.",
  "summary": "The reigning NL Cy Young Award winner is slogging through a difficult nine-start stretch and throwing with decreased velocity.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}