MLB is in the midst of a fascinating season, with several trends emerging that are worth keeping an eye on. One of the most notable is the recent slump of Paul Skenes, the reigning NL Cy Young winner. Skenes, who has been a dominant force in the league, is experiencing a slight dip in performance, prompting questions about what's wrong. The answer lies in two key factors: Pittsburgh's defense and sample size noise with men on base. The Pirates' defense is abysmal, ranking sixth-worst in the MLB, and this has significantly impacted Skenes' performance. Among the 168 pitchers with at least 100 defensive opportunities, Skenes is the third-most affected by his team's poor defense. Additionally, Skenes' numbers with men on base have been less impressive this year, which is a new issue. However, his overall performance remains excellent, and he's getting great results with his fastball. The Pirates need to improve their defense to support their ace, and as long as Skenes remains healthy, he shouldn't be a cause for concern. Another trend to watch is the Cleveland Guardians' uncharacteristically shaky bullpen. The Guardians have long boasted one of the best bullpens in baseball, but this year, they're closer to the middle of the pack. The bullpen's numbers have declined, with an increase in home runs and a higher xERA. The absence of Emmanuel Clase, who is no longer pitching due to a gambling scandal, has also impacted the team's performance. The Guardians' plan of relying on their bullpen to support a not-quite-league-average offense is becoming more challenging. The sudden drop in 'drag' on the baseball is another interesting trend. Drag measures how the baseball interacts with the air, and a decrease in drag means the ball carries more. This has led to an increase in home runs league-wide, and the MLB is investigating the cause. The league has acknowledged an aesthetic issue with the baseballs, but denies that it's causing the decline in drag. Whatever the reason, the change in drag has significantly impacted the state of offense in the MLB.
