PITTSBURGH — The Pittsburgh Pirates return home for a key three-game series against the Toronto Blue Jays, with right-handed pitcher Paul Skenes set to start the opener in 2025. This match marks Skenes’s first career pitching appearance against the Blue Jays since his <a href="https://www.buzzineintl.com/category/baseball/mlb/”>Major League Baseball debut on May 11, 2024.
Scheduled to take the mound at 6:40 p.m. (EST), Skenes will square off against Blue Jays right-hander Kevin Gausman. The series opener holds high stakes as the Pirates aim to solidify their standing at PNC Park after a mixed stretch of performances by Skenes on the road.
Paul Skenes’s Recent Performance and Home Advantage
Skenes is coming off a difficult outing against the Milwaukee Brewers at American Family Field on August 12, where he allowed six hits, including two home runs, and surrendered four earned runs in just four innings. This contributed to the Pirates’ 14-0 loss, representing their largest run deficit loss of the season. This performance marked the second time in 2025 that Skenes allowed four earned runs over four innings against the Brewers at the same venue, previously on June 25.
Earlier in August, Skenes also struggled at Coors Field, giving up four earned runs in five innings pitched during an 8-5 defeat to the Colorado Rockies. Despite his recent difficulties on the road, Skenes’s home record at PNC Park has been notably strong. Since June 7, he has not allowed a run at home and has maintained a scoreless streak of 28.1 innings along with 31.1 innings without an earned run.
In his most recent home start on August 7, Skenes delivered six scoreless innings against the Cincinnati Reds, issuing seven hits but managing to escape multiple jams while striking out eight batters in a 7-0 win. Overall, Skenes holds a 7-9 record over 25 starts with a solid 2.13 ERA across 148 innings, alongside 166 strikeouts and just 36 walks. He maintains a .197 opposing batting average and an excellent 0.96 WHIP this season.
These statistics underline Skenes’s status as one of the top pitchers in baseball in 2025, ranking with the lowest ERA and among the leaders in strikeouts, WHIP, and innings pitched.
Adjustments to the Pirates’ Lineup for the Blue Jays Series
To complement Skenes’s strong home potential, the Pirates made several lineup changes for this series. Henry Davis returns as catcher, marking Skenes’s 22nd consecutive start and batting eighth in the order. Bryan Reynolds shifts back to right field, replacing Ronny Simon, while remaining third in the batting lineup. Andrew McCutchen comes back as designated hitter and bats fifth.
Alexander Canario will play center field despite Kevin Gausman being a right-handed pitcher. Canario has been in a prolonged batting slump, hitless in his last 21 at-bats and since July 7. Jack Suwinski, a left-handed batter, is sidelined for this game.
Spencer Horwitz holds first base but moves up to leadoff for the first time since August 12 against the Brewers. Nick Gonzales stays at second base, climbing one slot to fourth in the batting order, while Jared Triolo continues at shortstop, also moving up to bat sixth. Isiah Kiner-Falefa remains at third base and bats ninth for the eighth straight game. Tommy Pham keeps left field, moving up two spots to bat second, completing the starting lineup.
Pittsburgh Pirates Starting Lineup Versus Toronto Blue Jays
1B Spencer Horwitz
LF Tommy Pham
RF Bryan Reynolds
2B Nick Gonzales
DH Andrew McCutchen
SS Jared Triolo
CF Alexander Canario
C Henry Davis
3B Isiah Kiner-Falefa
The Pirates will look to leverage Skenes’s strong home form combined with their adjusted lineup to challenge the Blue Jays and build momentum in this critical home series. With Skenes aiming to rebound after recent road struggles and the team making strategic lineup shifts, the matchup promises to be a vital test of their 2025 campaign’s progress.