August 28, 2024; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Pittsburgh Pirates beginning pitcher Paul Skenes (30 years outdated) performs towards the Chicago Cubs within the fourth inning at PNC Park. Obligatory Credit score: Charles Leclerc-USA TODAY Sports activities Rookie Paul Scones will take the mound for the visiting Pittsburgh Pirates on Tuesday night time, going through the Chicago Cubs for the fourth time this season.
The precise-hander’s first two profession begins got here towards Chicago, together with a memorable Sport 2 through which he struck out 11 of six hitless innings at Wrigley Area earlier than being pulled.
His most up-to-date begin towards the Cubs was final Wednesday, when he left with a lead earlier than the Cubs scored 11 runs within the last three innings to win 14-10.
It was a part of a three-game collection through which Chicago scored 41 factors to brush the Buccaneers. Pittsburgh began the three-game collection significantly better, scoring 5 runs within the last two innings on Monday to win 5-3.
Bryan Reynolds hit a game-tying three-run homer within the eighth inning and Andrew McCutcheon hit the go-ahead shot two batters later because the Pirates snapped Chicago’s season-best six-game successful streak.
“That is why you do not quit,” stated McCutchen, who prolonged his hitting streak to 14. “The sport began with the man earlier than me and everybody was bettering… Brian hit a three-run homer to tie the sport. Yeah, I hit the ball very well, bought the ball out. Good recreation, gained.
Pittsburgh has gone simply 8-19 throughout a tough stretch, however there’s all the time hope when Skenes takes the mound.
The 22-year-old began within the Nationwide League All-Star Sport and lived as much as expectations as among the finest pitching prospects in latest baseball historical past.
Skenes (8-2, 2.23 ERA) struck out 136 batters in 109 innings and restricted batters to a .201 batting common.
“In all probability my locking capability,” Skenes stated of his largest asset. “Every single day, simply coming in and doing my job. I do not suppose it is one thing that individuals see, however simply coming in right here and doing a high quality job every single day, whether or not it is now or within the offseason. That is what helps probably the most. It is my enterprise.
Skenes is competing with San Diego Padres outfielder Jackson Merrill for NL Rookie of the Yr honors. He was 1-0 with a 3.00 ERA in three video games towards the Cubs.
Chicago’s Nico Hoerner (2-for-3) homered towards Skenes, whereas Michael Busch and Isaac Paredes Isaac Paredes went 0-for-5 towards him.
Chicago missed a major alternative in Monday’s collapse — a two-homer run by Jorge Lopez — to fall behind the Atlanta Braves within the race for the NL’s third wild-card spot. Staff 3 1/2 video games. The New York Mets path the Braves by a half recreation.
The Cubs gained 9 of 10 video games earlier than shedding and scored 99 runs in that span. However Dansby Swanson’s solo house run and Ian Happ’s two-run triple had been all they might muster on Monday.
Proper-hander Jameson Taillon took management of Chicago by seven scoreless innings. The choice to deliver him again to Lopez after 89 pitches did not pan out.
“He had a fantastic night time (Monday),” Cubs supervisor Craig Counsell stated of Lopez. “However that is the choice, and it is a straightforward choice.”
Proper-hander Kyle Hendricks (3-10, 6.75) will begin Tuesday. Counsell stated after Monday’s recreation that left-hander Justin Steele was scratched with elbow soreness.
The Pirates most likely do not thoughts that, as they held Hendricks to 6 runs and eight hits in 1 2/3 innings final Wednesday.
Hendricks, 34, has began 32 profession video games towards Pittsburgh and is 9-14 with a 4.09 ERA. He’s 0-1 with an 11.12 ERA in three begins towards the Pirates in 2024.
Connor Joe was 9-for-16 towards Hendricks and Reynolds (9-for-38) had two homers.
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