The 2025 MLB season is right around the corner, meaning fantasy baseball and MLB DFS is almost here. Coming off an impressive rookie year, Pittsburgh Pirates right-handed pitcher Paul Skenes looks to take the next step as one of the top aces in baseball.
Skenes captured the NL Rookie of the Year in 2024, and he’s now the consensus top pitcher for the 2025 fantasy baseball season. Skenes’ fantasy baseball projections are set at 215.5 strikeouts, 4.5 double-digit strikeout games, and 12.5 season wins on PrizePicks' MLBSZN game.
We’ll dive deep into Skenes’ past performances, compare them to his 2025 season projections, and see if he can eclipse his impressive 2024 numbers and cash in on MLBSZN on PrizePicks.
Understanding MLBSZN and PrizePicks
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In MLBSZN, you can call your shots on season-long stat projections to pick whether a player will go More or Less than a set stat — like Paul Skene’s 2025 strikeouts or Aaron Judge’s home runs. If your picks are correct, you’ll win real money when the season is over.
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Paul Skenes 2024 Stats
There were high expectations for Skenes when he entered the Pittsburgh rotation last May, and yet he outperformed all of them. The top pick of the 2023 draft out of LSU produced an 11-3 record for the last-place Pirates. Skenes started 6-0 and picked up seven or more strikeouts in 10 of his first 11 outings.
The right-hander produced 170 strikeouts and was tied with Kansas City’s Brady Singer for 33rd in the league in that category. However, Skenes reached this number in 133 innings and 23 starts, making him one of two pitchers with fewer than 150 innings pitched to rank in the top-35 of strikeouts — Astros’ starter Spencer Arrighetti was the other.
Skenes didn’t qualify for the ERA title because he didn’t pitch enough innings, however, he finished with a 1.96 ERA. In 2025, his ERA projection at PrizePicks is listed at 2.9 for 2025.
The only category he’ll need to pick up is double-digit strikeouts, as he posted two games of more than 10 strikeouts in 2024, while his projection for 10-strikeout games is set at 4.5. However, he should be expected to pitch longer in his second year in the big leagues.
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What Do Skenes’ 2025 Predictive Stats Say?
Several advanced analytics from 2024 show that Skenes isn’t likely to slow down this season.
Skenes recorded 11.5 strikeouts per nine innings, which was the highest among any starting pitcher in 2024.
Atlanta’s Chris Sale won the NL Cy Young Award and led MLB among qualified pitchers with a 2.64 xFIP. Skenes closed the season by compiling a 2.54 xFIP, but didn’t have enough innings pitched.
In nine of 11 road starts, Skenes allowed one earned run or fewer as he posted a 5-2 record away from PNC Park.
Skenes also gave up the lowest xwOBA among starters last season at .248, according to Baseball Savant — matching up nearly identically to his actual wOBA.
There’s no doubt that as long as Skenes remains healthy, he will be in the running for the NL CY Young award this season.
Who Can Throw More Strikeouts Then Skenes?
Skenes is one of four pitchers this season to have a projection of more than 200 strikeouts at PrizePicks, as he has massive expectations for this season.
San Diego’s Dylan Cease (209.5), AL Cy Young winner Tarik Skubal (204.5), and Boston southpaw Garrett Crochet (204.5) will all look to keep pace with Skenes for the most K’s in baseball.
Get Ready for MLBSZN on PrizePicks
Opening Day is right around the corner, and that means it’s officially fantasy baseball season. Don’t miss out on building your ideal fantasy baseball squad with MLBSZN on PrizePicks.
Just pick More or Less on season-long player stats, like strikeouts or home runs, and cash in if your picks are correct at the end of the season.
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