Pirates

Pirates Preview: Can Paul Skenes Snap Five-Game Skid?

Published

3 months ago

August 10, 2024

The Pittsburgh Pirates lost their fifth-straight game, falling 9-5 to the Los Angeles Dodgers on Friday night.

Mitch Keller was tagged for seven runs in four innings and Oneil Cruz delivered a three-hit performance, which included a home run, for the second time in as many games.

Rookie sensation Paul Skenes will be on the mound for the Pirates (56-59) as they look to put an end to their five-game losing streak as their series with the Dodgers (67-49) continues.

First pitch is set for 9:10 ET and the game will be aired on SportsNet Pittsburgh.

Weather

A very pleasant evening for baseball. Temperatures in the upper-70s, clear skies with SW at 6-7 mph.

The Pittsburgh Pirates Will Send Out RHP Paul Skenes (6-1, 1.99 ERA)

Skenes has been uncharacteristically wild over his last two starts, with six walks in 11.1 innings. Still, the star rookie posted a healthy 2.38 ERA between the two starts.

Before lasting 5.1 innings in his last start, Skenes had a streak of eight-straight quality starts dating back to June 11.

Since making his debut on May 11, Skenes has the lowest ERA in baseball and he’s the only one with a sub-2.00 ERA over that span.

Skenes faced the Dodgers earlier this season at PNC Park and allowed three runs in five innings.

The Los Angeles Dodgers Will Send Out RHP River Ryan (1-0, 1.72 ERA)

Ryan, the brother of Pirates’ reliever Ryder Ryan, is considered the Dodgers’ No. 4 prospect according to MLB Pipeline.

The 25-year-old made his major-league debut against the Giants on July 22 and allowed one unearned run in 5.1 innings. In his most recent start, he was charged with two earned runs in 4.2 innings.

Ryan’s power fastball is one of six pitches in his arsenal. He also throws a slider, curveball, changeup, sinker and cutter.

This will be his first time facing the Pirates.

Dodgers Hitters vs. Skenes

Shohei Ohtani: 2 for 3, one home run, two RBIs, one strikeout
Will Smith: 1 for 3, one strikeout
Freddie Freeman: 0 for 3, one strikeout
Andy Pages: 2 for 2, one home run, one RBI

Pirates Hitters vs. Ryan

Tidbits

Oneil Cruz has had three games with at least three hits in August. On the month, Cruz is batting .500 (12 for 24) in six games.
The Pirates’ five-game losing streak is their first since dropping five in a row from Apr. 28-May 3.
Paul Skenes is one of five pitchers in Pirates’ history to have a sub-2.00 ERA through his first 14 career starts.