Pittsburgh Pirates rookie Paul Skenes has made a remarkable impression in his first six starts, earning standing ovations even from fans of opposing teams. Skenes, boasting a 3-0 record with a 2.43 ERA, will return to the cheers of his home crowd on Monday as the Pirates kick off a three-game series against the Cincinnati Reds. Following a successful series in Denver where they took two out of three games from the Colorado Rockies, Pittsburgh heads into the matchup while Cincinnati, having lost four of its last six games, faces a tough challenge against Skenes after a close 5-4 defeat to the Milwaukee Brewers on Sunday.
The 22-year-old right-hander has showcased an impressive 46-to-6 strikeout-to-walk ratio over his first 33 1/3 innings. “You can tell he’s confident, aggressive, pounding the zone,” remarked Pirates infielder Connor Joe. “It’s really, really fun to play defense behind him. He’s just attacking, confident and keeping us off the field, in the dugout, which is great. So, really, really fun to watch him and see him do his thing.”
Skenes delivered a stellar performance in his last outing, striking out eight over 6 1/3 scoreless innings against the St. Louis Cardinals, where fans at Busch Stadium gave him a standing ovation as he exited after a career-high 103 pitches. “He was extremely efficient,” praised Pirates manager Derek Shelton. “Overall, he was very impressive. We continue to see growth out of Paul.”
The Pirates have thrived with a 5-1 record in games started by Skenes, who will face the Reds for the first time in his young career. On the opposing mound, right-hander Carson Spiers (0-0, 2.33 ERA) will make his first start of the season for Cincinnati, following several strong relief appearances, including a standout performance against the Chicago Cubs earlier in June.
“Certainly, Spiers has shown he can pitch in any spot,” acknowledged Reds manager David Bell. “He’s displayed great movement and a variety of pitches, all of which he can throw for strikes.”
Meanwhile, Cincinnati shortstop Elly De La Cruz is making a case for his first All-Star selection with a standout season, batting .235 with 12 home runs, 31 RBIs, and a league-leading 36 steals. Despite his impressive stats, De La Cruz remains focused on his daily performance. “I don’t think about that,” he said. “I’m just playing every day, enjoying the game, trying to do my job.”
The Pirates recently welcomed shortstop Oneil Cruz back into the lineup after a brief absence due to ankle soreness, and he made an immediate impact with a solid performance in Sunday’s 8-2 victory. Additionally, left fielder Bryan Reynolds enters the series riding a 14-game hitting streak, currently the longest active streak in the majors.
