So when Skenes walked into the dugout on Monday night after needing 86 pitches to get through six innings against the Detroit Tigers, the 23-year-old didn't put up a fight when manager Don Kelly turned to reliever Braxton Ashcraft for the seventh in what eventually became a 3-0 victory.

Paul Skenes tamed the Tigers in another sterling performance on the mound Monday night to help the Pirates secure their 40th win.

Flaherty, a right-hander for the Detroit Tigers, didn't return to the mound for the fourth inning Monday, July 21, against the Pittsburgh Pirates, replaced by left-handed reliever Dietrich Enns, who completed the next 2⅔ innings. It was another poor start.