Pirates' Paul Skenes Becomes Just Sixth MLB Player Since 1893 to Achieve Strikeout Milestone

Skenes needed just 13 games to reach 100 strikeouts in his career.

Jul 29, 2024; Houston, Texas, USA; Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher Paul Skenes (30) delivers a pitch during the second inning against the Houston Astros at Minute Maid Park. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports / Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports

Another Paul Skenes start, another piece of history made by the Pittsburgh Pirates rookie starting pitcher.

Skenes, who earned a no-decision in the Pirates' 5-3 win over the Houston Astros on Monday at Minute Maid Park, struck out six batters, allowed a trio of walks and one earned run in six innings of work.

In doing so, Skenes joined some of baseball's best strikeout artists. He became just the sixth pitcher to record 100 career strikeouts in 13 games or fewer since the current mound distance of 60 feet, six inches was established back in 1893, according to the Pirates' account on X, formerly Twitter.

No. 100 👏

Paul Skenes is just the sixth player all-time (since the current mound distance was established in 1893) to reach 100 strikeouts in 13 or fewer games. pic.twitter.com/VDgQGRIZvZ

— Pittsburgh Pirates (@Pirates) July 30, 2024

Below is a table showing the select company Skenes joined on Monday.

Player	Number of Strikeouts	Games Played
Hideo Nomo (1995)	119	12
Kerry Wood (1998)	118	12
Herb Score (1955)	107	12
Jose DeLeon (1983)	106	13
Paul Skenes (2024)	103	13
Masahiro Tanaka (2014)	103	13

When told of the milestone, Skenes acknowledged that it was "cool."

"It's pretty cool,” Skenes told MLB.com. “That's where the game is now. Starting pitchers get rewarded. That's the goal to get a lot of swing and miss."

Skenes, 22, has pitched to a 6-1 record with a 1.90 ERA and 103 strikeouts in 80 2/3 innings. He is among the odds-on favorites to win the National League Cy Young Award—and has all but secured the NL Rookie of the Year Award.

Skenes will next take the mound on Tuesday, August 6 against the San Diego Padres.