Six weeks into the season, the Pirates have played only one series against an NL Central rival. That was Milwaukee almost three weeks ago. Tonight, they finally see another division team at PNC Park.
Greg Brown has a preview.
The Pirates will throw two of their golden arms in the first two games of the series. Jared Jones is 2-3 with a 2.63 ERA, averaging 11.41 strikeouts per nine innings with a 10.4 strikeout-to-walk ratio, and is ranked as high as the number two pitching prospect in all of baseball. He will face Cubs right-hander Javier Assad, who has been brilliant so far this year, with a 3-0 record and a 1.66 ERA.
Tomorrow, it’s the debut of the number one pitching prospect in baseball, as Paul Skenes makes his first Major League appearance. It’s the most anticipated debut of a pitcher since Stephen Strasburg debuted in 2009 – against the Pirates – for the Washington Nationals.
There is help on the way for the Pirates offense. Yesterday, the Pirates called up 2020 first round draft pick Nick Gonzalez, who was hitting .358 with 4 home runs and 19 RBIs with Indianapolis. Gonzalez debuted with the Pirates last year and struggled at the plate, hitting .209 with two homers, 13 RBIs, and 36 strikeouts in 115 at-bats.
The Pirates have not yet announced corresponding roster moves to make room for Skenes and Gonzalez.
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