August 4, 2024; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Pittsburgh Pirates beginning pitcher Paul Skenes (30 years outdated) performs in opposition to the Arizona Diamondbacks within the fourth inning at PNC Park. Necessary Credit score: Charles Leclerc-USA TODAY Sports activities Pittsburgh Pirates rookie Paul Skenes will get his first likelihood to play near residence on Saturday in opposition to the host Los Angeles Dodgers.
The closest Skenes has come this season to pitching within the Orange County the place he grew up was on July 29 in Houston, when he allowed two runs (one earned) in six innings. Skenes (6-1, 1.99 ERA) allowed two runs in 5 1/3 innings at residence in opposition to the Arizona Diamondbacks on Sunday.
He allowed two runs or fewer in 12 of his first 14 profession begins.
He allowed three runs twice, one in every of which got here on June 5 at residence in opposition to the Dodgers when he pitched 5 innings. His six hits that day have been a season excessive. Though Skenes hit residence runs to the Dodgers’ Shohei Ohtani and Andy Pages in that sport, he nonetheless ended the night time with a win, the third of his profession.
Skenes was a Nationwide League starter in final month’s All-Star Sport, putting out 107 in 86 innings.
Skenes, whose management has at all times been exact, strolling a season-high three batters in every of his final two begins, threw 100 pitches on Sunday, his shortest look since June 5 .
“That is the primary time we have actually seen him unfold the ball round a bit of bit,” Buccaneers supervisor Derek Shelton mentioned.
The Dodgers will counterattack with their very own rookie, River Ryan (1-0, 1.72). The correct-hander is much much less skilled than Skenes, having made simply three begins since making his debut on July 22.
In his most up-to-date begin Sunday at Oakland, Ryan allowed two runs on 5 hits and struck out 4 in 4 2/3 innings. He walked three batters in all three begins.
Ryan will face Pittsburgh for the primary time and can look to the run assist the Dodgers supplied in Friday’s 9-5 win over the Pirates. Freddie Freeman, Otani and Enrique Hernandez hit residence runs. Ohtani’s 448-foot hit introduced his Nationwide League-leading residence run complete to 35.
Nonetheless, regardless of successful 4 of their previous six video games, the Dodgers have struggled to fend off two robust division opponents. The San Diego Padres, who’ve received six straight, are 2 1/2 video games behind, whereas the Arizona Diamondbacks, who’re 15-5 because the All-Star break, are 3 1/2 video games behind. On July 23, Los Angeles led by 8 1/2 video games.
“We’re very conscious of that,” Dodgers supervisor Dave Roberts mentioned. “I might be mendacity if I mentioned nobody was trying on the scoreboard and appreciating the efficiency of the opposite groups in our division. It simply places the onus on us to play good baseball.”
Freeman had a success in all 4 video games he appeared in after lacking eight video games as his three-year-old son recovered from a well being scare.
“I do not know the way I’ll be after 10 days off from reside pitching, however I truly really feel good on the sector,” Freeman mentioned to Los Angeles Sports activities Community. “It’s good to hit the ball laborious.”
Not solely did Dodgers right-hander Jack Flaherty strike out 10 in his residence debut together with his new membership on Friday, however all the workers mixed to strike out 16 that night time.
The Pirates received two of three video games in Pittsburgh in early June, and the Dodgers received the opener of the sequence.
–Scene-level media
