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Skenes Named All-Star Amid Slump, 9-Loss Streak

7/5/2026

Summary

Paul Skenes All-Star

On July 4, 2026, Paul Skenes was named to the NL All-Star game on July 14 in Philadelphia, his All-Star selection.
Paul Skenes posted a 6-8 record, 3.62 ERA, 119 strikeouts and 22 walks in 97 innings, ranking seventh in strikeouts.
After a 6-3, 1.98 ERA stretch, Paul Skenes lost nine straight starts since May 17, dropping to a 5.36 ERA, with Braxton Ashcraft, Brandon Lowe and Bryan Reynolds replacements.

Summary

Pirates Home Opener

The Pirates opened July 4 with an 11:05 a.m. start—their first home game in 31 years—and beat Washington 7-1.
Braxton Ashcraft threw 5.2 innings, allowed one run, struck out seven and kept a 12-start five-plus-inning streak.
Esmerlyn Valdez extended her hitting streak to nine games with an RBI single in the second.
Yohan Ramirez posted a 14.1-inning scoreless stretch while Miles Mikolas awaited his July 5 start pending a suspension appeal from a June 30 brawl.

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Paul Skenes All-Star

On July 4, 2026, Paul Skenes was named to the NL All-Star game on July 14 in Philadelphia, his All-Star selection.
Paul Skenes posted a 6-8 record, 3.62 ERA, 119 strikeouts and 22 walks in 97 innings, ranking seventh in strikeouts.
After a 6-3, 1.98 ERA stretch, Paul Skenes lost nine straight starts since May 17, dropping to a 5.36 ERA, with Braxton Ashcraft, Brandon Lowe and Bryan Reynolds replacements.

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