Gameday 40: Paul Skenes makes his major league debut vs the Cubs

Former first overall pick makes debut in Pittsburgh

Jared Jones may not have had the best game, allowing three runs (two earned) while striking out four in six innings, but when he left the game, the Cubs were only 3-2 in favor of them.

The Pirates didn’t score again, and the Cubs put up four on Hunter Stratton, with the score ending up being 7-2 in favor of the road team.

Now, all attention shifts to Paul Skenes, the top pitching prospect in baseball and the first overall pick in the 2023 draft, as he makes his major league debut.

Skenes has posted an ERA of under one in seven starts with Triple-A Indianapolis and has struck out 45 batters in 27.1 innings pitched.

First pitch is expected around 4:05 pm ET.

Pirates Lineup

DH - Andrew McCutchen

LF - Bryan Reynolds

1B - Connor Joe

SS - Oneil Cruz

RF - Edward Olivares

2B - Nick Gonzales

C - Yasmani Grandal

3B - Jared Triolo

CF - Michael A. Taylor

Cubs Lineup

DH - Mike Tauchman

RF - Seiya Suzuki

CF - Cody Bellinger

3B - Christopher Morel

LF - Ian Happ

SS - Nico Hoerner

1B - Michael Busch

2B - Miles Mastrobuoni

C - Yan Gomes

Pitching Matchup

PIT - Paul Skenes (Major League Debut)

CHC - Justin Steele (0-0, 0.96 ERA, 9.1 IP, 2 BB, 8 K)

Yesterday’s Feature

Ethan wrote about the service time implications of Paul Skenes getting promoted on the day that he did.

Examining Paul Skenes’ Service Time

Today’s Feature

Everyone deals with pressure differently, Ryan Palencer takes a look at how Pauls Skenes deals with it through mental toughness.

Paul Skenes deals with pressure through mental strength

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