The Pittsburgh Pirates were shut out for the third consecutive game in a 1-0 loss to the Seattle Mariners on Sunday afternoon.

Paul Skenes struck out 10 batters in 5.0 innings but was lifted after 78 pitches, and reliever Carmen Mlodzinski promptly yielded a home run in the sixth.

The Pirates (38-53) will look to break the slump as they open a series with the Kansas City Royals (43-48) at Kaufman Stadium on Monday night.

First pitch is set for 7:40 p.m. ET, and the game will be broadcast on SportsNet Pittsburgh and 93.7 The Fan.

Weather

A chance for storms earlier in the day but partly cloudy skies and temperatures in the mid 80s. Winds SSE at 4-6 mph.

LHP Andrew Heaney (4-7, 4.16 ERA) Will Start For the Pirates

Heaney tossed 6.2 shutout innings and struck out seven in the Pirates’ 7-0 win over the St. Louis Cardinals last Monday.

It was a good bounce-back start for the veteran left-hander, who had allowed 14 runs in eight innings over his last two starts entering his most recent.

Heaney’s win in his last start snapped a personal four-game winning streak and was his first victory since May 21.

In five career starts against the Royals, Heaney is a perfect 3-0 with a 1.88 ERA.

LHP Noah Cameron (2-4, 2.56 ERA) Will Start For the Royals

Cameron last pitched against the Mariners last Wednesday and struck out five in 4.2-scoreless innings.

The rookie left-hander is off to a strong start in his big-league career. He’s allowed one run or fewer in seven of his 10 starts and has only allowed more than two runs twice.

Among rookies to log 50-plus innings this season, Cameron ranks first in ERA, batting average against (.186) and WHIP (1.01).

This will be his first time facing Pittsburgh.

Royals Hitters vs. Heaney

Mark Canha: 7 for 22, three doubles, two home runs, five RBI, three walks, six strikeouts
Salvador Perez: 1 for 10, three strikeouts
Bobby Witt Jr: 2 for 4, one walk, one strikeout

Pirates Hitters vs. Cameron

Tidbits

The last time Pittsburgh was shut out in all three games of a series was the Alleghenys in 1888.
Oneil Cruz threw the second-hardest thrown ball for an outfield assist in the Statcast era at 105.2 mph in Sunday’s loss.
Despite posting a 1.72 ERA, Paul Skenes has just one win over his last 13 starts. His last win came on May 28 against the Arizona Diamondbacks.

Links

Pirates Minor League Report: Curtis Leads Perfecto, Yorke Heats Up

Paul Skenes Takes Another No-Decision After Quick Hook; Pirates Shut Out Again

Perrotto: What Could Pirates Get in Mitch Keller Trade?

MLB Draft Prospect Profile: Billy Carlson Has Similarities to Pirates ’24 First-Rounder

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