Pirates Preview: Paul Skenes Makes 20th Start of Season Against Marlins

The Pittsburgh Pirates cruised to a 7-3 win over the Washington Nationals to split the four-game series at PNC Park on Sunday afternoon.

Jared Jones delivered seven-strong innings and the three different Pirates’ homered, including Michael A. Taylor, who belted the 100th homer of his career.

Up next for the Pirates (67-76) on their 10-game homestand is the Miami Marlins (54-89) for the start of a three-game series on Monday night.

First pitch is set for 6:40 ET and the game will be aired on SportsNet Pittsburgh.

Weather

Temperatures around 75 degrees at first pitch with mostly sunny skies and winds WSW at 6-7 mph.

The Pittsburgh Pirates Will Send Out RHP Paul Skenes (9-2, 2.13 ERA)

Skenes had some rare wildness in his last start and issued four walks but threw five-scoreless innings against the Cubs and got the win.

The 22-year-old leads all qualified rookies in ERA, WHIP (0.98) and strikeouts per nine innings (11.21).

Skenes also leads all starting pitchers in ERA since making his debut. He’s second among all starters in strikeout percentage (32%).

This will be the first time he’s faced the Marlins.

The Miami Marlins Will Send Out RHP Valente Bellozo (2-2, 3.78 ERA)

Bellozo is coming off one of his best starts of the season, when he threw six-scoreless innings against the Nationals on Wednesday in Miami.

While the rookie’s surface numbers are strong, the advanced metrics don’t paint the same picture. Bellozo has a 5.45 ERA, largely due to high home run totals (1.7 HR/9) and a low strikeout rate (6.2 K/9).

The right-hander has five pitches in his arsenal — a four-seam fastball, cutter, changeup, sweeper and curveball.

His 10th-career start will be his first against the Pirates.

Marlins Hitters vs. Skenes

• N/A

Pirates Hitters vs. Bellozo

• N/A

Tidbits

• Billy Cook went 2 for 4 with a two-run double in his MLB debut. He became just the fifth Pirates’ player this season to make his major-league debut. Last year, the Pirates had 14 players make their MLB debuts.
• The Pirates have not lost a four-game series this season. After splitting with the Nationals, the Bucs are 3-0-4 in four-game sets on the year.
• Paul Skenes enters Monday’s started tied with Cy Blanton for the club record with 142 strikeouts in a single season as a rookie.

Links

Pirates Minor League Report: Jack Brannigan Red Hot Since Return

Billy Cook Makes Immediate Impression in MLB Debut for Pirates

Jones Finds Groove in Pirates’ Win Over Nats, Taylor Hits Milestone Homer

Pirates Select Billy Cook From Indianapolis, Place Henry Davis on IL

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