Paul Skenes has been nothing short of electric this season, and Thursday's matinee against the St. Louis Cardinals could be his biggest statement yet. The reigning NL Cy Young Award winner has a chip on his shoulder: he's never beaten the Cardinals in six career starts. That changes today.

First pitch is at 12:35 ET from PNC Park, and the Pirates ace is locked in. After a rough season-opening start against the Mets, Skenes has been dominant. Over his last five outings, he's allowed just three runs and 10 hits while striking out 29 batters. His ERA during that stretch? A microscopic 0.95. Pittsburgh is 4-1 in those starts, and the offense is finally giving him the run support he deserves.

Last Friday in Milwaukee, Skenes took a perfect game into the 7th inning before Jake Bauers broke it up with a single. That bid tied for the third-longest perfect game attempt by a Pirates pitcher in the expansion era. He finished with seven scoreless innings, one hit, seven strikeouts, and no walks—becoming only the sixth Pirates pitcher since 1901 to put up that kind of line.

Now he's riding a 16-inning scoreless streak. And here's the stat that really turns heads: Skenes' 2.01 ERA through his first 61 MLB starts is the lowest by any pitcher through his first 60 during the Live Ball Era (since 1920). That's not just good—that's historic.

Off the field, Skenes showed his leadership this week by renting a bounce house for rookie shortstop Konnor Griffin's belated 20th birthday celebration. That kind of team chemistry matters, and it's easy to see why the Pirates are playing with so much energy behind their ace.

The Cardinals lineup has given him trouble in the past, but this is a different Skenes. He's the +180 favorite to repeat as NL Cy Young, and with the way he's dealing, don't be surprised if Thursday's game becomes his first career no-hitter. The Pirates are playing with swagger, and their ace is ready to make history.