Justin Verlander reassured Paul Skenes

Paul Skenes hasn't been himself this season. The Pittsburgh Pirates' tall right-hander has lost a significant amount of velocity on his fastball and is no longer dominating the way he has since making his major league debut.

Before hitting the road with his teammates, Skenes took some time to discuss his situation with Justin Verlander, while the future Hall of Famer and the Tigers were in Pittsburgh.

Verlander reassured Skenes by telling him that he'd experienced the same concerns during his third season in the majors. It's therefore reassuring for the Pirates pitcher to know that Verlander was able to regain his form after the velocity issues he faced in 2008.

Skenes can now take comfort in the fact that his situation is not unique and that his career is not in jeopardy, especially since he's in good form—just as Verlander was at that time.

Chatted with Paul Skenes yesterday about what he may have discovered in his last start, questions regarding his velocity, and an interesting anecdote he shared involving Justin Verlander: https://t.co/Mgu3YF0IeQ

— Jason Mackey (@JMackey_PGH) August 29, 2026

In 2007, Verlander pitched the first of his three no-hitters, and his fastball reached 102 miles per hour. The following season, over 33 starts, his average velocity was just 94.3 miles per hour. He also had his doubts at the time, but things fell into place, and he went on to have a stellar career.

Since he's known as a power pitcher, it's natural for Paul Skenes to define himself that way, but there's more to pitching than just velocity. Greg Maddux is in the Hall of Fame, and he never smashed his catcher's mitt.

After an excellent start in San Diego last Tuesday, where he allowed neither a run nor a walk in six innings of work, Skenes felt his rhythm was back. He struck out only four batters in that game, but he led his team to a 1-0 victory.

The conversation between these two great pitchers was significant, as it helped put things into perspective for Skenes and reassured him about the road ahead. He, too, is in his third season in the majors—just as Verlander was when he began to doubt himself due to the same struggles the young Pirates pitcher is facing.

A pitcher must rely on his mechanics to control the quality of his pitches, but he must also be confident in order to dominate opposing batters. In 2026, it seemed as though all of Skenes' strengths had failed him at once. It was as if his presence on the mound was no longer as intimidating.

Let's hope his last start has helped restore his self-confidence, because he's the key to the Pirates' success in the coming seasons. Or will that success be in Los Angeles or somewhere else?

Created by humans, assisted by AI.