The Cincinnati Reds have taken on the Pittsburgh Pirates in a pair of 3-game series so far in the 2025 regular season, taking 4 of 6 games in the process.

What they’ve not yet been tasked with pulling off, however, is making contact with any of Paul Skenes’ offerings.

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The frontrunner for the National League Cy Young Award is having another brilliant campaign, currently flexing a 208 ERA+, NL-best 2.41 FIP, and MLB-best 6.1 H/9 through 138 IP. For whatever reason, though, the Reds lucked out of having him as a scheduled starter in both of their earlier series.

That changes on Thursday at PNC Park in Pittsburgh, however. Skenes will start for the home Pirates opposite Brady Singer, who’s on a 2-start heater of his own (13.1 IP, ER, 18/2 K/BB against the Tampa Bay Rays and Atlanta Braves, respectively). Hopefully Singer can keep the Pirates at bay (get it) long enough for the Reds to chase Skenes and punish Pittsburgh’s bullpen.

Skenes, by the way, just won NL Pitcher of the Month for July, presumably edging out Cincinnati’s Nick Lodolo for the award (who was absolutely excellent – 33.1 IP, 7 ER, 1.89 ERA, 38/4 K/BB). For the record, Skenes tossed 27.0 IP and allowed just 2 ER (0.67 ERA) with an equally ridiculous 36/3 K/BB.

The Pirates, after all, were just major sellers at last week’s trade deadline. They dealt lefty reliever Caleb Ferguson to Seattle and closer David Bednar to the New York Yankees to dent their relief corps, and we’re all well aware of their deal with the Reds that sent Ke’Bryan Hayes the other way.

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Pittsburgh currently sits in the basement of the National League Central at 49-66 on the season, 21.5 games back of the ridiculously hot Milwaukee Brewers in the division. Cincinnati, meanwhile, enters the series at 60-55, 10.5 games back in the Central and 3 games out of the final NL Wild Card spot.

First pitch for Thursday’s series opener is set for 6:40 PM ET, and while there will be regional coverage on FanDuel Sports Network, the game will also be on MLB Network. Friday’s contest between these two will be the Friday game of the week on Apple TV+, unfortunately.