Paul Skenes has often thrived in the role of stopper and will try to fill the role again on Tuesday night when the Pittsburgh Pirates host the Los Angeles Dodgers in the opener of a three-game series.
The Pirates appeared to be hitting their stride after winning five of six, but then they were swept over the weekend on the road against the Atlanta Braves. Bullpen issues continued to plague the Pirates, who lost on Sunday for the sixth time this season after taking a lead into the seventh inning.
Pittsburgh’s bullpen has 14 blown saves, including three each from Evan Sisk and closer Gregory Soto. To be fair, Soto also has a team-high eight completed saves.
Skenes (6-5, 3.09 ERA) has been enduring a rough patch of his own — by his standards — heading into his matchup opposite Dodgers lefty Eric Lauer (2-5, 5.74).
Since posting back-to-back outings of eight scoreless innings while allowing only two hits to open the month of May, Skenes has not lasted more than 5 1/3 innings in any of his past four starts. He has gone 0-3 with a 5.85 ERA during this stretch despite recording 26 strikeouts versus six walks.
Skenes is 3-1 with a 2.70 ERA in four career starts against the Dodgers, including two starts last season when he went 2-0 and did not give up a run in 12 1/3 innings.
“If there’s anything different at all (with Skenes this season), we did have the World Baseball Classic,” Pirates general manager Ben Cherington said on his weekly radio show in Pittsburgh. “It would be natural and understandable to have an adjustment from (participating in) that.
“He’s so conscientious, he has such a good plan, and he’s just so good at what he does. He’s gonna figure that out.”
The Dodgers’ bullpen has been more reliable this season, even without injured closer Edwin Diaz. Los Angeles ranks second in the National League with a 1.18 WHIP and third in batting average against (.215) entering Monday’s MLB action.
But Dodgers relievers had a rough day on Sunday when tasked with covering 7 1/3 innings after a quick exit by starter Emmet Sheehan in an eventual 13-5 loss to the Los Angeles Angels.
Manager Dave Roberts deployed six relievers who combined to allow 11 runs, including six by right-hander Jonathan Hernandez.
Still, the Dodgers have won four of their past six, 11 of their past 15 and entered Monday with a 7 1/2-game lead in the National League West over the Arizona Diamondbacks.
“Obviously, the bullpen had to take the toll, the brunt of it, but with the off day (Monday), I felt like we could reset,” Roberts said.
Lauer, who is 3-2 with a 2.61 ERA in 10 appearances (nine starts) against the Pirates, will make his third start for the Dodgers since he was acquired from the Toronto Blue Jays on May 17 for cash considerations.
Lauer is 1-0 with a 2.53 ERA in two starts for Los Angeles with five strikeouts and two walks in 10 2/3 innings. In his most recent outing, on the road against the Diamondbacks last Tuesday, Lauer gave up two runs on five hits and exited after 4 2/3 innings and 70 pitches.
The Pirates were glad to see second baseman Brandon Lowe deliver a pinch-hit double in the ninth inning Sunday just one day after fouling a pitch off his knee.
Dodgers catcher Will Smith could be ready to return Tuesday after missing the past two games with neck stiffness. Backup catcher Dalton Rushing went 4-for-4 with a home run and three RBIs on Sunday.
–Field Level Media
