Paul Skenes is no stranger to performing under pressure.
However, Monday night marks a significant milestone, as one of the game’s most dynamic pitchers, Skenes, is set to make his first substantial appearance in New York City. He will take the mound for the Pittsburgh Pirates to open a three-game series against the New York Mets.
The right-hander Skenes (3-4, 2.77 ERA) is scheduled to face Mets lefty David Peterson (2-2, 3.05 ERA).
Both teams are coming off wins in their respective series finales on Sunday. The Pirates secured a 4-3 walk-off win over the Atlanta Braves, while Francisco Lindor’s go-ahead home run in the eighth propelled the Mets to a 6-2 victory over the Chicago Cubs.
This rare series win was a much-needed morale boost for the Pirates, who sit at the bottom of the NL Central with a 14-27 record. A sluggish start led to the dismissal of manager Derek Shelton last Thursday after the team dropped seven straight games.
The Pirates opened their weekend series with a 3-2 win under interim manager Don Kelly, lost in extra innings 3-2 on Saturday, and jumped ahead 3-0 on Sunday before the Braves tied it in the eighth inning against reigning NL Cy Young winner Chris Sale.
In the ninth, Pittsburgh loaded the bases with one out. Joey Bart then hit a sharp grounder to shortstop Nick Allen, whose errant throw to home allowed Adam Frazier to score the game-winning run.
It marked just the third series victory in 12 attempts this season for Pittsburgh.
“We needed that,” Bart commented. “We played a good team and came out on top. No complaints. We just have to keep pushing forward.”
Skenes was handed the loss in his last outing on Tuesday, despite allowing just two runs across six innings in a 2-1 defeat to the St. Louis Cardinals. Monday will be his second game appearance in New York, but his first with a full workload expected.
He finished off his 2024 Rookie of the Year season — highlighted by a National League All-Star Game start on July 16 — with two perfect innings in a 9-4 win over the Yankees on September 28.
Skenes previously faced the Mets on July 5, earning the win after allowing two runs in seven innings in Pittsburgh’s 14-2 rout.
The Mets, leading the NL East at 26-15, continued their strong start by winning two of three against the division-leading Cubs. After a 7-2 win on Friday and a narrow 6-5 loss on Saturday, Lindor’s late homer sparked a four-run surge on Sunday that was capped by Brandon Nimmo’s two-run blast.
New York ranks second in the National League with a .769 OPS and is among the top five in runs (199), home runs (51), and batting average (.255).
“We’ve got a solid lineup,” Lindor said. “The communication in the dugout is great. It’s good to know that anyone in the lineup can deliver.”
Peterson was also charged with a loss in his most recent start last Tuesday, giving up four runs (two earned) across six innings in the Mets’ 5-1 loss to the Diamondbacks. He holds a 3.48 ERA in three career appearances (two starts) against Pittsburgh but has no decisions.
