Paul Skenes Just Did Something Pirates Haven't Seen in 60 Years

Though Paul Skenes will not win a second straight Cy Young, the Pirates ' ace has still turned things around in the second half of the season. He made some history before his regular season ended.

Skenes reached only 20.1 innings in August. In September, he exceeded that. He may have a 3.82 ERA compared to a 1.97 ERA last year, but his strikeout total has been impressive.

Against the Cardinals on Thursday, Skenes went 6.1 innings and struck out eight. He has over 200 strikeouts this year, striking out Leo Bernal to get the mark. Last year, he had 216.

Per Real App , Skenes is the first Pirates pitcher since 1966 to have consecutive 200-strikeout seasons.

Bob Veale went three straight years striking out 200+ batters. He had 250 strikeouts in 1964, 276 in 1965, and 229 in 1966.

Skenes has improved significantly since not lasting an inning against the Mets in March. Before the All-Star break, he won his first outing in ten starts. He's traded wins and losses, but Skenes believes there's a lot to be thankful for this year.

He will look back on his season and assess all aspects of his game, attempting to showcase a different Skenes next year.

"I learned a lot… From offseason to Spring Training, early in the season, stuff like that. I don't want to say everything's gone right my first two years, because I think you create your own luck, whatever the sayings are," Skenes said via MLB.com .

"I think in a lot of ways the pendulum has swung the other way this year. But in terms of controllables, I think I've learned a lot. When I show up at Spring Training next year, I'll have more of an answer. I'll have a lot of time to think about it."

NL Cy Young Award, MLB ERA Leader, All-Star