When is Paul Skenes pitching next? All you need to know about Pirates ace's upcoming start
One of the most hyped pitching prospects of all time, Paul Skenes has not only proven he was worth the attention but has also shattered expectations in his rookie season. At just 22 years old, Skenes has entered the conversation for best pitcher in baseball, thanks to his blazing fastball and elite array of off-speed pitches.
The Pittsburgh Pirates ace entered the 2025 season as one of the favorites to win the National League Cy Young Award. Even though he has had a bit of a slow start by his standards, he has still managed to post a 2-2 record with a 2.87 ERA and 30 strikeouts over 31.1 innings of work.
For those looking to catch the 2024 NL Rookie of the Year in action, they won’t have to wait long. While his next start could still be subject to change due to unforeseen circumstances, as of now, Paul Skenes is slated to take the mound on Friday, April 25, against the LA Dodgers.
A difficult matchup for any pitcher, the Dodgers boast one of the most potent lineups in Major League Baseball. With stars such as Shohei Ohtani, Freddie Freeman, Mookie Betts and Teoscar Hernandez, Skenes will undoubtedly have his work cut out for him.
The Pittsburgh Pirates will need to improve their inconsistent lineup to maximize Paul Skenes
The Pittsburgh Pirates haven’t reached the postseason since 2015, and given the current state of their lineup, that streak may continue if they can't improve offensively.
Pittsburgh currently ranks in the bottom half of Major League Baseball in nearly every major statistical category, including home runs (25th), runs scored (24th), team batting average (26th) and OPS (26th).
No matter how well Paul Skenes performs, if the Pirates can’t score runs, it could result in another wasted season for the generational starting pitcher.
Pittsburgh has been in a rebuilding phase for several years, but if the organization wants to keep Skenes long term, it will need to prove it can build a winning culture. Otherwise, Skenes could explore his options elsewhere.