Pirates manager Don Kelly reveals concern before pulling Paul Skenes vs. Diamondbacks

The Pittsburgh Pirates secured a 1-0 win over the Arizona Diamondbacks on Wednesday, but the Don Kelly decision to pull Paul Skenes after eight scoreless innings became the biggest storyline postgame.

Skenes controlled the game from the jump, allowing just two hits while striking out seven across eight scoreless frames. The Pirates’ flamethrower additionally generated consistent weak contact throughout the night, preventing the Diamondbacks from building any type of offensive momentum and allowing Pittsburgh’s defense to remain comfortable behind its young ace. The outing improved his record to 5–2 with a 2.36 ERA and reinforced his status as the centerpiece of Pittsburgh’s rotation.

Still, Kelly noticed subtle signs late in the game that influenced his decision. Although Skenes struck out the side in the eighth inning, his command and velocity dipped slightly, prompting the Pirates to take a cautious approach.

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reporter Colin Beazley shared Kelly’s explanation on X, formerly Twitter, detailing what led to the move.

“Don Kelly said he noticed Paul Skenes’ command and velo drop a little bit in the eighth, leading to the decision to pull him.

Skenes struck out the side in the eighth. Just three hitters reached three-ball counts in the game, including two in the eighth.”

Don Kelly said he noticed Paul Skenes’ command and velo drop a little bit in the eighth, leading to the decision to pull him.

Skenes struck out the side in the eighth. Just three hitters reached three-ball counts in the game, including two in the eighth.

— Colin Beazley (@colin_beazley) May 7, 2026

The explanation showed how closely Pittsburgh monitors its ace, even during one of his most efficient starts of the season. Only three Diamondbacks hitters reached three-ball counts all night, yet two of those came in the eighth inning.

That late shift gave the Pirates enough reason to avoid pushing their star into the ninth. Rather than chase a complete game, Kelly prioritized the long-term health of a pitcher central to the franchise’s future.

For Pittsburgh, the win showcased the team’s ability to combine dominance with discipline at a high level. The Pirates improved to 20–17 and remain in the mix in the competitive NL Central while continuing to manage Skenes carefully throughout the long season.

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