Pirates Reveal Next Paul Skenes Start

The Pirates have left-handed pitcher Andrew Heaney making the start in the series finale vs. the San Diego Padres at PNC Park on June 1.

Heaney, who is number four in the rotation, generally would mean that Burrows, who is number five, would start the following game.

Skenes last pitched vs. the Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field on May 28, but had a day off on May 29 and will have a day off on June 2 after the Padres series.

He will have six days from his last start, which gives him enough rest to start the series vs. the Astros and not pitch the second day of the series.

Skenes dominated in that start vs. the Diamondbacks, allowing four hits, no walks and no runs over 6.1 innings pitched, while posting seven strikeouts. The offense came through for him, in the 10-1 victory, as the Pirates took the series on the road.

He has had a great season so far, even with a 4-5 record, posting a 2.15 ERA over 75.2 innings pitched, 77 strikeouts to 18 walks, an opposing batting average of .187, a 0.92 WHIP and a 9.20 K/9.

Skenes ranks amongst the best pitchers in baseball, including fourth in innings pitched and opposing batting average, tied for fifth in WHIP, ninth in ERA and 12th in strikeouts.

Burrows will make his third start of the season after taking over from right-handed pitcher Carmen Mlodzinski as the fifth starter in the lineup. He has struggled so far, allowing an 8.64 ERA over those first two outings.

Keller is 1-7 overall, but has a 3.73 ERA over his first 12 starts of the season and a 2.52 ERA over his past four outings.