Pirates

Pirates Preview: Paul Skenes, Bucs Look for Rubber Match Win vs. Brewers

Published

4 months ago

July 11, 2024

Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher Paul Skenes delivers during the second inning of a baseball game against the Tampa Bay Rays, Sunday, June 23, 2024, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Matt Freed)

The Pittsburgh Pirates were blanked 9-0 by the Milwaukee Brewers at American Family Field on Wednesday night.

Martín Pérez was tagged for five runs and failed to get out of the fifth inning while Milwaukee starter Tobias Myers threw eight-shutout innings.

The Pirates (44-48) have a chance to bounce back from a bad night and earn a series victory over the first-place Brewers (54-39) on Thursday afternoon.

First pitch is set for 2:10 ET and the game will be aired on SportsNet Pittsburgh.

Weather

American Family Field as a retractable roof, so weather will not be an issue this series.

The Pittsburgh Pirates Will Send Out RHP Paul Skenes (4-0, 2.12 ERA)

This will be Skenes’ first start since being named to the National League All-Star team.

In his last outing, Skenes tied a career-high with seven innings against the New York Mets and allowed two runs on four hits with eight strikeouts

It was more of the same from the rookie right-hander, who has been on a roll. Skenes hasn’t allowed more than two runs in any of hi s last five starts. During that stretch, he has a 1.39 ERA (5er/32.1ip).

Skenes has faced the other three teams in the division but this will be his first time facing Milwaukee.

The Milwaukee Brewers Will Send Out RHP Aaron Civale (2-6, 5.18 ERA)

The Brewers acquired Civale from the Tampa Bay Rays for an infield prospect on July 3.

Civale made his team debut two days later against the Los Angeles Dodgers and pitched five innings, allowed four runs on five hits, walked three and struck out eight. Three of the five hits went for home runs.

The home runs have been an issue for Civale all season. He’s already allowed 19 in 92 innings pitched and opponents are slugging .468 against him.

The right-hander faced the Pirates while with the Rays on June 23 and allowed just one run in five innings. In four career starts against Pittsburgh, Civale is 4-4 with a 4.63 ERA.

Brewers Hitters vs. Skenes

Pirates Hitters vs. Civale

Yasmani Grandal: 1 for 13, one double, seven strikeouts
Michael A. Taylor: 1 for 12, one walk, four strikeouts
Bryan Reynolds: 3 for 10, two home runs, three RBIs, one strikeout
Rowdy Tellez: 3 for 7, one home run, two RBIs, one walk, one strikeout
Ke’Bryan Hayes: 3 for 5, two doubles
Jack Suwinski: 1 for 5, one RBI, one strikeout
Jared Triolo: 1 for 4
Nick Gonzales: 2 for 2, one RBI

Tidbits

The Pirates had homered in each of their last 12 games against the Brewers before Wednesday’s shutout loss. It was their longest streak against one team since 2013-14 (Reds, 12 games).
Joshua Palacios has started five games since being recalled had has recorded a hit in each of those games. He’s drawn five walks in 23 plate appearances and has yet to strike out.
Paul Skenes leads all qualified rookie starting pitchers in ERA, strikeouts per nine innings (11.83) and strikeout-to-walk ratio (6.50).