Rookie sensation Paul Skenes faces the Chicago Cubs for the fourth time this season when he takes the mound for the visiting Pittsburgh Pirates on Tuesday night time.
Every of the right-hander’s first two profession begins got here in opposition to Chicago, together with the memorable second one by which he struck out 11 in six no-hit innings at Wrigley Subject earlier than being eliminated.
His most up-to-date begin in opposition to the Cubs was final Wednesday, when he left with a lead earlier than the Cubs rallied for 11 runs over the ultimate three innings to document a 14-10 victory.
That was a part of a three-game collection by which Chicago scored 41 runs whereas sweeping the Pirates. Pittsburgh began this three-game set a lot better by scoring 5 runs over the ultimate two innings on Monday to put up a 5-3 win.
Bryan Reynolds hit a tying three-run homer within the eighth inning and Andrew McCutchen hit the go-ahead shot two batters later because the Pirates halted Chicago’s season-best six-game successful streak.
“That is why you do not surrender,” stated McCutchen, who prolonged his hitting streak to 14 begins. “It began with the blokes earlier than me, guys getting on. … Bryan hit a giant three-run homer to tie it up. Yeah, I put swing on the ball and obtained it out. Good sport, good win.”
Pittsburgh is simply 8-19 over a troublesome stretch, however there’s at all times hope when Skenes takes the mound.
The 22-year-old who began the All-Star Recreation for the Nationwide League has lived as much as his billing as among the best pitching prospects in latest baseball historical past.
Skenes (8-2, 2.23 ERA) has struck out 136 batters in 109 innings and has restricted hitters to a .201 batting common.
“In all probability my capability to lock in,” Skenes stated of his largest attribute. “Day-after-day, simply coming in and getting my work completed. I do not assume that is one thing folks can see, however simply getting right here and getting high quality work in each single day, each now and within the offseason. That is the largest factor that helps me.”
Skenes is battling San Diego Padres outfielder Jackson Merrill for NL Rookie of the Yr honors. He’s 1-0 with a 3.00 ERA in his three outings in opposition to the Cubs.
Chicago’s Nico Hoerner (2-for-3) homered in opposition to Skenes, whereas Michael Busch and Isaac Paredes are each 0-for-5 in opposition to him.
Chicago missed out on a giant alternative with Monday’s collapse — Jorge Lopez served up each homers — because it fell 3 1/2 video games behind the Atlanta Braves within the battle for the NL’s third wild-card spot. The New York Mets are a half-game behind the Braves.
The Cubs had received 9 of 10 video games earlier than the loss and scored 99 runs throughout that span. However Dansby Swanson’s solo homer and Ian Happ’s two-run triple had been all they may muster on Monday.
Chicago was in management by seven shutout innings from right-hander Jameson Taillon. The choice to tug him after 89 pitches in favor of Lopez did not pan out.
“He did not have night time (Monday),” Cubs supervisor Craig Counsell stated of Lopez. “However that was the choice, and it was a simple choice.”
Proper-hander Kyle Hendricks (3-10, 6.75) will begin Tuesday. Counsell stated after Monday’s sport that left-hander Justin Steele was scratched attributable to elbow soreness.
The Pirates most likely are OK with that, as they torched Hendricks for six runs and eight hits over 1 2/3 innings final Wednesday.
Hendricks, 34, is 9-14 with a 4.09 ERA in 32 profession begins in opposition to Pittsburgh. He’s 0-1 with an 11.12 ERA in three 2024 outings in opposition to the Pirates.
Connor Joe is 9-for-16 in opposition to Hendricks and Reynolds (9-for-38) has two homers off him.
–Subject Degree Media
