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

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Paul Skenes Pittsburgh Pirates

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

  • N/A

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.

Links

Pirates Minor League Report: Bubba Chandler Shoves in Triple-A

Pirates Fall Behind Dodgers Early, Losing Streak Hits Five

Pirates Select Domingo Germán From Indianapolis

Perrotto: Bigger Stage Proves Too Large for Pirates

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