Pirates

Pirates Preview: Paul Skenes Starts in St. Louis

Published

4 months ago

September 16, 2024

The Pittsburgh Pirates squeaked out a 4-3 win over the Kansas City Royals on Clemente Day to salvage the three-game series.

Isiah Kiner-Falefa had three hits and scored a pair of runs while five Pirates’ relievers combined to allow one run across the final five innings of the game.

The Pirates (71-78) are back on the road and start a four-game series with the division-rival St. Louis Cardinals (74-75) for the final matchups of the season.

First pitch is set for 7:45 ET and the game will be aired on SportsNet Pittsburgh.

Weather

Mostly sunny skies with temperatures starting in the lower-80s. Winds ESE at 5-6 mph.

The Pittsburgh Pirates Will Send Out RHP Paul Skenes (10-2, 2.10 ERA)

Skenes earned his 10th win in his last start after holding the Miami Marlins on one run and striking out nine in six innings pitched.

The rookie right-hander has posted a 1.61 ERA over his last five starts and has a personal record of 4-0 while the Pirates have won all five games over that span.

Skenes’ 2.10 ERA is the best in baseball since he made his major-league debut on May 11. He ranks second with a 32.3 strikeout percentage over that same time.

He’s faced the Cardinals twice this season and combined to allow two runs with 16 strikeouts and no walks in 14.2 innings.

The St. Louis Cardinals Will Send Out RHP Andre Pallante (6-8, 4.13 ERA)

Pallante’s September has gotten off the a rocky start. Through his first two outings of the month, he’s 0-2 with a 7.20 ERA.

The Cardinals transitioned Pallante from the bullpen to the starting rotation at the end of May and he has gone 6-7 with a 3.90 ERA since.

The right-hander relies primarily on a four-seam fastball, which he throws 51% of the time. He also throws a sinker, slider and curveball.

Pallante has done extremely well against the Pirates this season. In two starts. he’s only allowed two runs in 13 innings.

Cardinals Hitters vs. Skenes

Alec Burleson: 3 for 7, one RBI, one strikeout
Masyn Winn: 0 for 7, two strikeouts
Nolan Arenado: 3 for 6, one double, one home run, one RBI
Paul Goldschmidt: 0 for 6, four strikeouts
Brendan Donovan: 1 for 5
Michael Siani: 1 for 5, one strikeout
Lars Nootbar: 0 for 3, two strikeouts

Pirates Hitters vs. Pallante

Bryan Reynolds: 2 for 14, 2 home runs, three RBIs, two strikeouts
Rowdy Tellez: 3 for 12, two doubles, two RBIs, one strikeout
Andrew McCutchen: 2 for 8, one double, three walks, two strikeouts
Connor Joe: 1 for 6, one walk, two strikeouts
Nick Gonzales: 0 for 6, two strikeouts
Oneil Cruz: 2 for 5, one RBI, two walks, one strikeout

Tidbits

After holding the Royals scoreless across 1.1 innings out of the bullpen, Dennis Santana extended his scoreless-innings streak to 18.1.
Skenes leads rookie starters in ERA, WHIP (0.99) and strikeouts per nine innings (11.33).
The Pirates have gone 4-5 through the first nine matchups against the Cardinals this season.