Paul Skenes and the Pirates are Coming to Chase Field this Week

The Pirates 4.00 ERA is ranked middle of the pack at 17th. That of course is due in large part to having Paul Skenes in their rotation. Skenes will pitch in this series on Wednesday. The Pirates +21 defensive runs saved and +4 Outs Above Average rank seventh and eighth respectively. They're also 10-12 in one run games.

Pitching Matchups

Monday, 5:10 p.m. MST. NOTE: Early start for Memorial Day

Andrew Heaney LHP, 3-3, 2.91 ERA, 4.03 FIP in 55.2 IP. Heaney has a similar repertoire to what we've seen in the past, throwing mostly four seamers, and relying on his change up and slider for his off speed and breaking. But the fastball velocity is down to 90 MPH, from the 92.5 he threw in 2023 when he faced the D-backs in the world series.

His walk rates are up and strikeout rates are way down, but his ground ball percentage is up sharply, and as a result his home run rates are down by quite a bit. He seems to have found a way to transition away from a fly ball approach as his velocity has ebbed.

Ryne Nelson RHP, 1-1,4.60 ERA, 3.55 FIP in 31.1 IP, Nelson is making his third start of the season, the second one since filling in for the injured Eduardo Rodriguez. He went five innings on 71 pitches against the Dodgers May 20, allowing just one run on three hits, one walk and two strikeouts. Perhaps looking to pitch to contact due to pitch count limit, there was a lot of hard contact that found gloves.

Tuesday, 6:40 p.m. MST

Mike Burrows, RHP. 0-1, 7.20 ERA. Drafted out of high school back in 2018, it took Burrows seven years to reach the majors and make his debut last year. This will be his second career start, the first coming May 22 against the Brewers. He gave up four runs in five innings, taking the loss.

Burrows is a study in perseverance. An oblique injury in 2021, and a shoulder injury in 2022 were already big setbacks. Then he had Tommy John surgery in April of 2023. Now 25, Burrows posted a 2.51 ERA in eight games in Triple-A this year, earning his call up. He throws a 95 MPH four-seamer, a changeup, curveball, and slider.

Corbin Burnes, RHP 3-2, 2.73 ERA, 4.03 FIP in 52.2 IP. Burnes was pitching fantasically against the Dodgers for 5 innings in his last outing. But he got clipped on a hanging slider to Teoscar Hernandez for a three-run homer in the sixth. Burnes tossed one more scoreless inning, but his offense couldn't pick him up in a 3-1 loss. That homerun broke a 21 inning scoreless streak.

Wednesday, 12:40 p.m. MST

Paul Skenes, RHP 3-5, 2.36 ERA, 2.62 FIP in 68.2 IP. Skenes is following up his sensational rookie season by posting the third best ERA and fourth best FIP in the National League. He throws a 98 MPH fastball, a 94 MPH splitter, along with a sweeper, change up, slider, sinker, and curveball. The only pitch that has rated below average among those is the curve. Good luck.

He's done everything he possibly can to pitch his team to victory, but somehow the Pirates are just 4-7 in his starts. That of course is due mostly to run support, as the Pirates have scored only 14 runs in those seven lossed, while Skenes has allowed just 16 earned runs. Skenes is winless in May, going 0-3 with two no-decisions.

Zac Gallen, RHP 3-6, 5.25 ERA, 4.65 FIP in 61.2 IP. Gallen has been plagued by walks and homers, giving up career worst 4.23 BB/9 and 1.46 HR/9 ratios. The walks and homers tend to come in bunches. He'll sometimes be cruising, and then all of a sudden give up some hard contact, which is followed by a tendency to nibble. A free agent at the end of 2025, Gallen is a shadow of his former self from his peak in 2022 and 2023.