Paul Skenes is a numbers nerd. Well, most of the time anyway. The Pittsburgh Pirates ace will make it a point to glance up at the ribbon boards that instantaneously spew out the data following each pitch — velocity,

PITTSBURGH — Pittsburgh Pirates right-handed starting pitcher Paul Skenes will take the mound once again in 2025, taking on an unfamiliar opponent. Skenes will start the series opener vs. the Toronto Blue Jays at PNC Park on Aug.

Skenes last pitched on Tuesday against the Milwaukee Brewers in one of his poorest starts of the year, lasting just four innings while giving up four earned runs in the Pirates’ 14-0 loss. Granted, the Brewers swept the Pirates as part of their 14-game losing streak that was just broken on Sunday against the Cincinnati Reds.