Paul Skenes had a ton of hype after being selected No. 1 overall in the 2023 MLB Draft, and Saturday he proved there may be some substance to it.
While he did struggle to go long into his first start, failing to finish five innings, he did strike out seven batters in his first start, allowing three earned runs against the Cubs. Skenes, who was a longshot to win NL Rookie of the Year, is now viewed as a contender.
However, Skenes is competing with a handful of capable players in the National League, keeping his odds at +2000 through his one start.