Pittsburgh Pirates rookie sensation Paul Skenes followed up his impressive first start with a historically dominant second start. Now, he'll look to build on it as the season goes along.
Perhaps what was most impressive about Skenes' effort in his second start was that it came against the Chicago Cubs, the very same team he squared off against in his debut.
In his debut, Skenes turned in a respectable effort, striking out seven over four innings pitched while being charged with three runs and allowing eight baserunners.
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NL Rookie of the Year? How Far Can Paul Skenes Go in 2024
Having just seen him, it would have been reasonable to expect the Cubs to potentially do even better against Skenes in the second go-around, as repeat matchups tend to favor hitters.
Instead, Skenes dropped a gem to Pittsburgh's broadcasting crew in an interview before the game: "Go ahead and adjust, good luck," he said.
It's the type of confidence you don't usually hear from pitchers in the big leagues, and it's the fact that he went out and backed it up that has people so excited about what Skenes can be long term.
The Cubs had no chance against the righty on that day, as he struck out the first seven batters he faced on his way to six innings of 11-strikeout, no-hit ball.
Now, Skenes gets another opportunity on Thursday to continue this fascinating start to his rookie season when the Giants roll into Pittsburgh.
San Francisco's offense has not been overly potent to start the year, and the potential for shadows due to it being a day game could set him up for another big day.
The question then becomes whether Skenes has a chance to compete for the National League Rookie of the Year.
He's currently third in the betting odds, as Chicago starter Shota Imanaga's massively impressive start has him positioned as the clear favorite. If he falters at all though, it's easy to see Skenes working his way right into the race for the top spot.
Combine that with Jared Jones, who currently sits fourth in those same odds, and it's easy to see why Pirates fans should be excited about the future of their rotation.
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