Pirates

Pirates Preview: Paul Skenes Starts for Bucs in Rubber Match

Published

8 months ago

May 23, 2024

After coming from behind the beat the San Francisco Giants on Tuesday, the Pittsburgh Pirates blew a five-run lead and fell 9-5 in 10 innings on Wednesday.

Despite a grand slam from Bryan Reynolds, the Pirates (23-27) saw their bullpen falter by allowing six of the Giants’ nine runs in the late innings.

Though it looked like they would be going for the sweep, the Pirates will attempt to win the series against the Giants (24-26) on Thursday afternoon.

For the first time in his career, Paul Skenes will face a team not named the Chicago Cubs when he pitches against the Giants.

The series finale starts at 12:35 ET and the game will be aired on SportsNet Pittsburgh.

Weather

There are some storms in the forecast but it looks like dry conditions with cloudy skies throughout the game. Temperatures in the upper-70s with winds WSW at seven mph.

The Pittsburgh Pirates Will Send Out RHP Paul Skenes (1-0, 2.70 ERA)

Skenes is coming off of an utterly dominant start in his first road test against the Cubs at Wrigley Field on Friday afternoon.

The rookie right-hander no-hit Chicago through six innings, walked one batter and struck out 11. Seven of those strikeouts came against the first seven batters he faced, which was two punchouts shy of the MLB record to start a game.

Skenes made his MLB debut against the Cubs on May 11 and was charged with three runs in four innings pitched while striking out seven.

The San Francisco Giants Will Send Out LHP Erik Miller (0-2, 4.50)

Miller will start for the Giants which means it will be a bullpen game.

The left-hander was on the mound on Tuesday night when Nick Gonzales delivered a walk-off win for the Pirates in the 10th inning on the first pitch he saw.

This will be the second start for Miller this season and his second start. His one other start came on May 1 against the Red Sox when he tossed a scoreless inning at Fenway Park.

Giants Hitters vs. Skenes

Pirates Hitters vs. Miller

Nick Gonzales: 1 for 1, one RBI

Tidbits

Jared Jones recorded his seventh quality start of the season on Wednesday. Six pitchers are tied for the most in baseball with eight.
Bryan Reynolds’ grand slam was the third for the Pirates in 2024, already more than they had last season and the most in one year since they hit four in 2021.
Paul Skenes’ 11 strikeouts at Wrigley are the most ever recorded by a Pirates’ pitcher in what was the 1,017th game.