Pirates

Pirates Preview: Paul Skenes Welcomes Reds to PNC Park

Published

2 months ago

August 22, 2024

The Pittsburgh Pirates dropped another one-run game, falling 1-0 in walk-off fashion to the Texas Rangers in the series rubber match on Wednesday.

Domingo Germán threw six-scoreless innings but Wyatt Langford delivered the game-ending single off of David Bednar in the bottom of the ninth.

After a brief three-game road trip, the Pirates (59-67) will host the Cincinnati Reds (61-65) at PNC Park for a four-game series starting Thursday night.

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

Weather

Temperatures in the lower-70s at start time with sunny skies and winds NNW at 5-6 mph.

The Pittsburgh Pirates Will Send Out RHP Paul Skenes (7-2, 2.30 ERA)

After a couple of pedestrian starts from the talented rookie, Skenes rebounded and recorded the win after tossing six-strong innings against the Mariners on Friday.

Skenes leads qualified rookies in ERA, WHIP (0.97) and strikeouts per nine innings (11.11).

Since his debut on May 11, Skenes leads all starting pitchers in ERA, and is is second in both strikeout percentage (31.8%) and strikeout-to-walk percentage (25.5%).

Skenes faced the Reds at PNC Park on June 17 and got the win after throwing six innings of one-run ball and striking out seven.

The Cincinnati Reds Will Send Out LHP Nick Lodolo (9-5, 4.55 ERA)

Lodolo is coming off a dreadful outing in which he allowed eight runs in 2.1 innings against the Royals. It was the second time in his last four starts in which he allowed eight runs.

Fortunately for Lodolo, this start will come away from Great American Ballpark. The left-hander has a 3.05 ERA on the road this season compared to a 6.09 ERA at home. In road games, opponents are slashing a lowly .169/.251/.269 against him.

Expect to see plenty of fastballs from Lodolo with a curveball as his go-to secondary pitch. His changeup is his best pitch and he also features a sinker.

Lodolo was the winning pitcher against the Pirates on June 18 after throwing seven-strong innings. Since then, he’s posted a 7.15 ERA in nine starts.

Reds Hitters vs. Skenes

Elly De La Cruz: 2 for 3, one double
Spencer Steer: 2 for 3, one double, one RBI, one strikeout
TJ Friedl: 0 for 3, one strikeout
Tyler Stephenson: 0 for 3, two strikeouts

Pirates Hitters vs. Lodolo

Bryan Reynolds: 4 for 9, one double, two strikeouts
Oneil Cruz: 2 for 6, one RBI, four strikeouts
Connor Joe: 1 for 5, one RBI, one walk, two strikeouts
Bryan De La Cruz: 0 for 4, three strikeouts
Michael A. Taylor: 0 for 3, one strikeout
Jared Triolo: 0 for 3

Tidbits

Prior to allowing the winning run in the ninth, Pirates’ pitchers combined to throw 22-straight innings without allowing a run. That was the team’s longest streak since 2015.
After finishing 1 for 3 with a walk, Oneil Cruz extended his on-base streak to 13 games.
Paul Skenes’ win his last time out was his first since July 11. He took two losses and two no-decisions over that span despite a healthy 3.13 ERA.