Skenes is the eighth Pirates pitcher ever, along with Nova, that won NL Pitcher of the Month honors. The other award recipients include Gerrit Cole (April 2015), Randy Tomlin (June 1992), Doug Drabek (three times, August 1987, July & August 1990), Rick Rhoden (June 1986), John Candelaria (July 1982) and Kent Tekulve (August 1978).

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.