The Cubs were no match for Paul Skenes the second time around.

They could barely touch the Pirates’ phenom fireballer.

Skenes, MLB’s top-ranked pitching prospect and the No. 1 pick in the 2023 MLB Draft, pitched six near-perfect innings Friday afternoon during the team’s 9-3 win over the Cubs at Wrigley Field in Chicago, consistently reaching 100 mph or higher.

He did not give up a hit or a run and walked just one batter while striking out a staggering 11.

“It’s not easy to pitch ever, regardless of the circumstances,” Skenes said after the game, per the Associated Press. “But it’s always easier to pitch when you have fastball command, because you have to have that. So that was the big thing today.”

Skenes, who starred collegiately at LSU, had thrown 100 pitches, however, and was replaced by Carmen Mlodzinski to start the seventh inning.

Mlodzinski promptly surrendered three hits and two runs in 1 2/3 innings.

Skenes’ second MLB outing went far better than the first, which also came against the Cubs.

In his MLB debut last week, a Pirates’ 10-9 win over the Cubs, Skenes, who is dating LSU gymnastics star and social media sensation Olivia Dunne, tossed four innings and gave up three runs and two walks.

“Felt good. I had my pitches working for me a lot better than last time,” Skenes said after this time out. “Like I said, it was nice to get that one out of the way.”

Cubs manager Craig Counsell was left impressed.

“Today he stuck with basically the two pitches; the fastball and the sinker, split, whatever you want to call it,” Counsell told reporters, “and the split was really good, and they were competitive every single time really. There’s enough velocity difference on those two pitches that it makes it really difficult.”

Dunne was also interviewed during Skenes’ last start.

“I have so many amazing memories with him but I know how hard he has worked for this moment,” Dunne said then. “Seriously, there’s nothing that can top this, I’m just so proud.”