Mark Madden's Hot Take: Pirates' Paul Skenes won't be an exception to Cy Young rule

Paul Skenes ranks second among MLB pitchers in ERA (1.78) and WHIP (0.85), eighth in strikeouts (97).

Skenes is overwhelming. A phenom. Terrific to watch.

Skenes won’t win the National League Cy Young Award.

Not if he doesn’t have a winning record.

Skenes is 4-6. The Pittsburgh Pirates are 7-8 in games he has started.

That’s not Skenes’ fault. But that’s too bad.

No starting pitcher has ever won a Cy Young without a winning record. Jacob deGrom went 10-9 when he won the NL Cy Young in 2018.

So the Pirates better start scoring more when Skenes pitches.

In Skenes’ last three starts, the Pirates have scored two runs, two runs and been shut out. Skenes got two no-decisions and a loss.

Skenes has been tagged with losses of 1-0, 2-1 and 3-0 (twice).

It’s got to be frustrating. To Skenes’ credit, he’s never abandoned his positive demeanor.

Skenes isn’t pitching in a vacuum. Other NL pitchers are having good seasons.

Kodai Senga of the New York Mets has a 7-3 record to go along with his 1.47 ERA. You’d have to vote for Senga ahead of Skenes. (Senga is currently sidelined with a bum hamstring.)

There’s lots of baseball to be played. Atlanta’s Chris Sale, last year’s NL Cy Young winner, has a 2.79 ERA. Runner-up Zach Wheeler of Philadelphia is at 2.85. They’re both lurking.

Skenes needs a winning record to get the Cy Young.

Skenes figures to make lots of MLB history. But not by being an exception to that rule.

Las Vegas oddsmakers disagree, it should be noted: Skenes is -350 to win the NL Cy Young, a heavy favorite. Wheeler sits second at +1000.