Pirates Preview: Paul Skenes Takes the Mound for Start of Long Homestand

The Pittsburgh Pirates squandered a chance to win their weekend series in a 6-4 loss to the San Diego Padres at Petco Park on Sunday.

Andrew McCutchen and Adam Frazier each homered, but the Padres scored five times in the seventh inning to overcome a three-run deficit.

Following a day off on Monday, the Pirates (22-38) will welcome the Houston Astros (32-27) to PNC Park to start a nine-game homestand.

First pitch is set for 6:40 p.m. ET, and the game will be broadcast on SportsNet Pittsburgh and 93.7 The Fan.

Weather

Sunny skies with temperatures around 80 degrees at first pitch. Winds SSE at 4-5 mph.

RHP Paul Skenes (4-5, 2.15 ERA) Will Start for the Pirates

Skenes last pitched on Wednesday in Arizona and held the Diamondbacks scoreless with seven strikeouts in 6.2 innings pitched.

The Pirates’ ace wrapped up an impressive month of May in which he posted a 1.91 ERA across six starts.

Skenes ranks eighth in Major League Baseball in ERA and is fifth in both WHIP (0.92) and opponent batting average (.187).

Skenes faced the Astros in Houston last season and allowed two runs (one earned) in 6.0 innings.

RHP Lance McCullers Jr. (0-1, 5.89 ERA) Will Start for the Astros

McCullers returned to the mound on May 4 for the first time since 2022 due to surgery from a flexor tendon injury.

Since allowing seven runs and recording just one out against the Reds in his second start of the season on May 10, McCullers has been better.

Over his last three starts, the right-hander has a 3.14 ERA (5er/14.1ip). He threw a season-high 6.0 innings against the Athletics in his last start.

This will be his first time facing the Pirates.

Astros Hitters vs. Skenes

• Isaac Paredes: 0 for 7, one walk, two strikeouts
• Jose Altuve: 1 for 3, one RBI
• Yainer Diaz: 1 for 3, one double, one strikeout

Pirates Hitters vs. McCullers

• Isiah Kiner-Falefa: 4 for 16, one double, two RBI, one walk, two strikeouts
• Nick Solak: 3 for 11, one double, two walks, two strikeouts

Tidbits

• Andrew McCutchen’s home run on Sunday was the 240th of his career. That ties Roberto Clemente for third place on the Pirates’ all-time list, trailing only Willie Stargell (475) and Ralph Kiner (301).
• Paul Skenes has allowed two runs or fewer in eight of his last nine starts. He has a 1.74 ERA (11er/57.0ip) over that span.
• Isiah Kiner-Falefa (.303) ranks fifth in the National League in batting average among players with at least 170 plate appearances.

Links

Perrotto: Chase Shugart Learned Valuable Lesson From Legend

Pirates Roster Moves: Ronny Simon Claimed From Marlins, Rainey DFA’d

Pirates Q&A: What Could Mitch Keller Fetch? When Will Bubba Chandler Get Promoted? (+)

Pirates Minor League Report: Hunter Barco Deals in Return from Injury

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