MLB.com just released their latest MVP Poll, giving a top five vote getters for both leagues. In the National League, Shohei Ohtani is leading all candidates with 34 first place votes, with Kyle Schwarber garnering two first place votes, and Peter Crow-Armstrong holding a single first place vote. Rounding out the top five is the Phillies’ Trea Turner and the Pirates’ Paul Skenes. This is just another accolade that Skenes has been chasing this year as he has largely been the best pitcher in the NL.
Skenes appearing in this latest MVP poll is just another way to validate the kind of success that he has had all season long. This year Skenes ranks atop all pitchers in three statistical categories, to include WAR (6.2), ERA (2.07) and home runs per nine innings pitched (.503). He is also in the top five for strikeouts as well as walks and hits per innings pitched. In the NL, his 2.39 FIP is best and his 0.94 WHIP is tied for the best in the league.
Obviously, this season has been incredible, but Skenes is doing things on a historical level that has been relatively unseen. This past Sunday was Skenes’ latest start and the 50th of his young career. He put on a clinic against the Colorado Rockies, going seven scoreless innings in which he allowed just three hits while striking out seven. That start saw him lower his career ERA to 2.02, which is the second lowest ERA in the Live Ball Era (since 1920) through 50 Major League starts. Pirates’ manager Don Kelly commented on how incredible Skenes has been through just two seasons.
“It’s amazing what he’s able to do,” Kelly said. “You see the fastball. The velo, the command was there today. Being able to mix it up in and out, up and down. Go to the changeup, the sweeper. He’s always in control, which is really impressive.”
In just his first full Major League season, Skenes has the poise of a veteran ace and knows there’s plenty of work that still needs to be done.
”Just gotta do it in the next 50, and the 50 after that,” Skenes said. “Consistency is the biggest thing, I feel. Being on the field, doing the same thing every day. That’s all you can ask for from players. Been pretty consistent to this point. Just got to keep going.”
Given the competition ahead of him and the lack of first place votes, the odds are not in Skenes’ favor to win the NL MVP this season, even though he is absolutely playing like an MVP with extreme control and domination on the bump. With that being said, he’s still the NL favorite to win the Cy Young Award, and doing so would cement him as one of the best pitchers in Pirates’ history with just Vern Law and Doug Drabek winning the award previously as members of Pittsburgh’s ball club.
With five weeks left in the season, there is still plenty that can happen and change across Major League Baseball, but it’s hard to argue with Skenes receiving the kind of recognition he has to this point and appearing in the MVP conversation for several media outlets.