Pirates star Paul Skenes vies for season milestone vs. D-backs

Pirates ace Paul Skenes will try secure pitching wins in back-to-back starts for the first time this season when he opposes Arizona Diamondbacks right-hander Zac Gallen on Sunday afternoon in the finale of a three-game series in Pittsburgh.

The Pirates dropped a 1-0 decision in 11 innings to the Diamondbacks on Friday before rebounding for their fourth win in five outings with a 2-0 victory on Saturday.

Skenes (5-8, 1.91 ERA) regained his form in his most recent start, and the All-Star picked up his first pitching win since May 28 when the right-hander threw six innings of a 3-0 win over the Detroit Tigers last Monday.

That May 28 start was against the Diamondbacks and Gallen, and Skenes struck out seven over 6 2/3 shutout innings. Gallen gave up five earned runs, walked three and struck out three in a game that the Pirates won 10-1 in Phoenix.

Skenes, who is the only qualifying starter in the majors with a sub-2.00 ERA, struck out six, walked one and allowed three hits on 86 pitches against Detroit. He has thrown five or more shutout innings in three of his past four starts.

Last Monday’s game also was the first time Skenes had pitched more than five innings since June 19 as the Pirates continue to monitor the Cy Young contender’s innings.

“I think that was about as good as it could have been,” Skenes said. “Eighty-six pitches and six innings is a pretty good starting point. I mean, we’re still going to monitor innings, all that. Not all of that’s up to me, but we’ll have a good plan going forward.”

Skenes — who is 1-0 with a 1.50 ERA in two career starts vs. Arizona — is one of the hardest pitchers to hit this season. He has 45 strikeouts in 37 innings over his past seven starts.

In 21 starts this season, Skenes has struck out 137 and walked 31 while allowing only six home runs in 127 innings, and averages 9.7 strikeouts per nine innings.

“Like we’ve talked about before, sometimes it’s so hard to square up his stuff because it’s so good,” Pirates manager Don Kelly said of the two-time All-Star and 2024 National League Rookie of the Year.

While Skenes has been hard on opposing hitters, the same cannot be said for Gallen (7-11, 5.58). Two years after an All-Star appearance, Gallen is in the midst of the worst season of his career.

His ERA and losses are career worsts.

Gallen also has allowed a career-high 23 home runs, which are the most allowed this season by any qualifying starting pitchers.

He yielded two homers in his most recent start, a 6-3 loss to the visiting Houston Astros last Monday. Gallen gave up six runs on seven hits, walked one and struck out six.

Gallen’s struggles have amplified during his past two starts. He has allowed six runs in each, including a combined three home runs.

Gallen is 3-3 with a 4.15 ERA in 34 2/3 innings over six career starts against Pittsburgh.

“It feels like every time I make a mistake, it turns into a home run, which is unfortunate,” Gallen said. “It’s hard to keep runs off the board when balls are leaving the ballpark. I don’t know what the fix is there.”

Gallen, like right-hander Merrill Kelly, is a potential trade piece for Arizona, which is struggling to remain in playoff contention.

“I think just from a team standpoint, we’re trying to answer the bell and play a little bit better and give the front office and ownership a reason to add,” Gallen said. “We feel like we still have good talent in this room.”

–Field Level Media