Paul Skenes insists he has had stretches during his still-burgeoning career when he has had to grit his teeth and grind through it. The problem is, it rarely seemed like it. Spending two seasons doing things few pitchers in the history of the game have done -- as Skenes did while winning NL Rookie of the Year in 2024 and the NL Cy Young in 2025 with a dazzling arsenal that was frequently unhittable -- has a way of raising expectations.

At least not as easy as Skenes has made it look so often since his electrifying arrival. So while he feels there are things to be upbeat about during a 4⅓-inning stint in Wednesday's 4-3 victory over Detroit, particularly a fastball that clicked back into the upper 90s after hovering at 95 mph in a loss to Miami last week, he knows there remains plenty to work on after another outing where the results were just a little off.

"I think the walks, it's frustrating," he said. "Nobody wants to go out there and walk anybody. Nobody is trying to."

Skenes allowed three runs on four hits with a season-high-tying four walks and five strikeouts while throwing just 46 of his 81 pitches for strikes. While he credited the extended break he received when the Pirates adjusted their rotation over the weekend for the uptick in velocity, the fact that the ball isn't bending to his will remains baffling.