Top Notch Pitching Matchup Lead To Two Plays

Pirates vs. Braves, 4:10 ET

There have only been a few days this season outside of the first couple of weeks of the year that have been really exciting, can't-miss style pitching matchups. Today, we get another of those style matchups between the Pirates and the Braves as the best arms in their rotations take the ball. On one side, we have Paul Skenes, arguably a top-10 pitcher right now and probably the first overall pitcher selected if we did a fantasy draft of MLB teams (maybe Ohtani, but he doesn't count). And, on the other side, we have Max Fried, a stud pitcher in his own right. This should be good! 

The Pirates are still middling along just as they have for most of the season. While the expectations for this campaign weren't overly high, it is nice to see them around .500 and having a bit of potential after many years of irrelevance. The biggest question I have for this franchise is when will the team start investing in their players? They could lock up Skenes to a megadeal now (they won't, and he probably wouldn't) but more importantly, are they going to start shelling out money to try and add to the club? Realistically they have a chance to make the playoffs this season if they can get some offensive help and maybe another arm or two for the rotation and bullpen. That's a lot to add, but you have the best opportunity you've had in quite some time and now is a good time to send a message to today's starter that you're invested in his career, and more importantly, winning. Skenes takes the ball in what is arguably his biggest challenge so far as a starter in the Majors. Sure, this is not a Braves lineup that was mashing bombs or even having Ronald Acuna in it like last year, but they are still very potent. If you want a fair comparison, I'd say the Dodgers when Skenes faced them. He went five innings, allowing three earned runs and six hits, including two homers. Skenes has just 46.1 innings thrown this season, but has only allowed 11 earned runs and has 61 strikeouts. Most impressive about him is that he's only allowed eight walks. Here is what you're probably going to get out of him: six innings, six hits, one or two earned runs, and those will likely be from homers, and then seven or eight strikeouts. Every five days. Yeesh. 

Apr 23, 2024; Cumberland, Georgia, USA; Atlanta Braves pitcher Max Fried (54) pitches against the Miami Marlins during the first inning  at Truist Park. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports

The Braves are, in my estimation, going to win the first spot for the Wild Card. I think they won't be able to catch the Phillies unless Philadelphia has some sort of injury. Atlanta is still poised to make a run for the division, I just don't think it will happen. Still, recognition should be given to them considering they've found a way to sustain their winning even without Acuna and Spencer Strider. The team is still hitting the ball well, and findings ways to win games. They aren't on the historic pace from last season, but they are a good club that you can't afford to make mistakes against. Today's starter, Max Fried, has been one of the more reliable starters in baseball when healthy. He has very good stuff, but can have some outings that make you question just how good he really is. In his past two starts, he has been sharp, going 11.1 innings and allowing just two earned runs. This hasn't been the best season he's ever had, but he has a solid ERA (3.00) and a strong WHIP (1.07), both numbers many pitchers would kill for. Against the Pirates, he has fairly extensive experience and has held them to just a .221 batting average. Only two of the 17 hits against him have gone for extra bases. 

There is only one way to look at this game and it is the under. It might be a bit juicy for the first five innings, but in this case, it is probably worth it. I'll also take the Pirates to win through five innings. In reality, between these two pitchers, I think Skenes is the one less likely to be hit hard. Back both of the plays through five innings and let's hope for a 1-0 Pirates score after five innings. 

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