Paul Skenes could be nearing the end of his stellar rookie season, but he will take the ball at least one more time for the Pittsburgh Pirates when they host the Cincinnati Reds on Thursday in the opener of a four-game series.
Skenes (7-2, 2.30 ERA) is still a favorite to win National League Rookie of the Year honors, but that could change if the Pirates decide to shut him down and preserve his arm for next season and beyond.
The No. 1 overall pick in the 2023 draft has made 16 major league starts this season, notching 121 strikeouts in 98 innings.
He has tailed off in recent outings, however, going 1-1 with a 4.15 ERA in three starts this month.
Skenes most recently was the winning pitcher in a 5-3 victory against the Seattle Mariners on Friday. He allowed two runs and three hits in six innings, striking out six and walking a season-high four batters.
“It didn’t look like he was in sync with his delivery throughout the entire game,” Pirates manager Derek Shelton said. “He was still able to give us a good start and give us a chance to win, and he got the win.”
Skenes beat the Reds on June 17, holding them to one run and six hits in six innings of a 4-1 victory.
Pittsburgh received some outstanding pitching performances from its starters on Tuesday and Wednesday against the Texas Rangers.
Mitch Keller threw seven-plus shutout innings in a 4-0 win on Tuesday, and Domingo German made his first start since July 25, 2023, on Wednesday and tossed six shutout innings in a 1-0 loss.
On the downside, two-time All-Star reliever David Bednar was tagged with the loss on Wednesday after giving up the walk-off run in the ninth. He has allowed at least one earned run in seven of his past nine outings, compiling a 9.00 ERA in that span.
“It has to be the execution of pitches,” Shelton said of Bednar. “That’s been the thing that’s plagued him, and it’s got to get better.”
The Reds plan to start left-hander Nick Lodolo, a Southern California native like Skenes.
Lodolo (9-5, 4.55 ERA) should be eager to rebound from his worst outing of the season. He surrendered eight runs and eight hits in 2 1/3 innings of a 13-1 loss to the Kansas City Royals on Saturday.
“It’s just unacceptable to throw the ball like that,” Lodolo said. “Nothing crazy to work on. I’ve just got to find a way to be better.”
Lodolo has made three starts against the Pirates in his career and is 2-1 with a 2.95 ERA. He beat Pittsburgh on June 18, firing seven innings of one-run ball.
The Reds won the decisive game of their three-game series against the Toronto Blue Jays on Wednesday night.
The top three hitters in Cincinnati’s batting order, Jonathan India, Elly De La Cruz and Tyler Stephenson, combined to go 7-for-14 with seven RBIs and seven runs in the 11-7 win.
De La Cruz hit his 22nd home run of the season and stole his 60th base, joining Joe Morgan, Rickey Henderson Eric Davis and Ronald Acuna Jr. as the only players with at least 20 home runs and 60 stolen bases in a season since 1901.
The Reds could be without outfielder Jake Fraley, who was scratched from the lineup on Wednesday because of a right knee sprain.
