Pirates

Pirates Preview: Paul Skenes Faces Dodgers in Battle of Aces

Published

4 weeks ago

April 25, 2025

Photo provided by Matt Lynch

The Pittsburgh Pirates let a potential series sweep slip away in a 4-3 loss to the Los Angeles Angels on Thursday night.

Oneil Cruz and Matt Gorski each homered to help build an early three-run lead, but the Angels tallied four unanswered runs to sink Pittsburgh.

On Friday night, the Pirates (10-16) will make the short trip to Dodger Stadium to begin a three-game series with the Dodgers (16-9). This one has plenty of storylines.

First pitch is set for 10:10 p.m. ET and the game will be broadcast on Sportsnet Pittsburgh, MLB Network and 93.7 The Fan.

Weather

Mostly clear skies and cool. Temperatures in the high-50s with winds SW at 7-9 mph.

RHP Paul Skenes (2-2, 2.87 ERA) Will Start for the Pirates

Though he took the loss, Skenes is coming off of a strong start in which he held the Guardians to two runs in 7.0 innings at PNC Park on Saturday.

After getting tagged for five runs in 6.0 innings against the Cardinals on Apr. 8, Skenes has a 2.08 ERA (3er/13.0ip) over his last two starts.

Skenes hasn’t relied as much on strikeouts this year as he did last year — 25.4% strikeout rate this year vs. a 33.1% strikeout rate last year — but he’s holding opponents to a .186 batting average and a .495 OPS.

Skenes faced the Dodgers twice last year and split a pair of decisions after allowing seven runs with 16 strikeouts in 11.0 innings.

RHP Yoshinobu Yamamoto (3-1, 0.93 ERA) vs. Will Start for the Dodgers

Yoshinobu enters Friday’s start against the Pirates as the National League leader in ERA.

Additionally, the talented right-hander is fifth in the NL In strikeouts (38) and batting average against (.178) and is tied for fifth with a 0.86 WHIP.

Yoshinobu has yet to allow more than two runs in a start this season and hasn’t been charged with an earned run over his last three starts — a span of 19.0 innings.

This will be the Pirates first time seeing him.

Dodgers Hitters vs. Skenes

Shohei Ohtani: 2 for 6, one home run, two RBI, three strikeouts
Freddie Freeman: 0 for 6, one strikeout
Teoscar Hernández: 3 for 5, one double, one home run, one RBI, one walk
Will Smith: 1 for 3, one strikeout
Austin Barnes: 0 for 3, two strikeouts
Mookie Betts: 0 for 3, two strikeouts
Andy Pages: 2 for 2, one home run, one RBI

Pirates Hitters vs. Yamamoto

Tidbits

Matt Gorski became the first Pirates’ player to homer in his first big-league at-bat since Starling Marte in 2012.
With a first-inning double, Andrew McCutchen tied Yadier Molina for 200th on the MLB all-time hit list with 2,168.
Skenes’ 5.73 ERA against the Dodgers is his highest against any team. Only the Cardinals (10r/8er in 26.2 innings) have scored more times against him than the Dodgers (7r/7er in 11.0 innings).