First pitch is 6:40 PM ET at PNC Park, with Skenes (6-5, 2.83) drawing Eric Lauer (2-5, 5.74) in the series opener. On paper this is the Dodgers' worst starter against the National League's best young arm. The market doesn't see it that way — Pinnacle has this as a coin flip, Dodgers -107, Pirates -103.
The reason it's that tight: Skenes has been bleeding runs lately. He's given up 13 earned in his last 20 innings across 4 starts, all Pirates losses, and Pittsburgh has won just 6 of his 13 starts this year. His last outing against Houston was a 109-pitch, 4.2-inning slog where he punched out 7 but couldn't finish the 5th. The stuff is still the stuff. The results just aren't matching.
Lauer, meanwhile, is the patch-job the Dodgers grabbed because their rotation is held together with athletic tape. Tyler Glasnow and Blake Snell are both on the 60-day IL, Bobby Miller and Gavin Stone aren't close, and Lauer's job is to eat innings and not torch the bullpen. His last start was 4.2 of 2-run ball in Arizona — fine, not good. Against a Pirates lineup that may be without Oneil Cruz (hand cut from Saturday), fine might be enough.
- Day-To-DayWill Smith C — Smith (neck) is not in the Dodgers' starting lineup against the Angels on Sunday, Bill Plunkett of The Orange County Register reports.
- 10-Day-ILTeoscar Hernandez LF — Hernandez (hamstring) said Saturday that he expects to return from the injured list in about a month, Jack Harris of the California Post reports.
- 10-Day-ILEnrique Hernandez 1B — Hernandez is expected to be out for 6-to-8 weeks after sustaining a "significant tear" of his left oblique during Tuesday's 15-6 win over the Rockies, Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic reports.
- 15-Day-ILBrock Stewart RP — Stewart (foot) threw to live hitters Saturday, Bill Plunkett of The Orange County Register reports.
- 60-Day-ILTyler Glasnow SP — The Dodgers transferred Glasnow (back) to the 60-day injured list Saturday.
- 60-Day-ILBlake Snell SP — Snell (elbow) began playing catch Friday, Sonja Chen of MLB.com reports.
- 60-Day-ILEvan Phillips RP — Phillips (elbow) began a rehab assignment with Triple-A Oklahoma City on Thursday, yielding one hit and one walk over two-thirds of a scoreless frame.
- 60-Day-ILBobby Miller SP — Miller (shoulder/back) will resume throwing off the mound this week, Cody Snavely of DodgersBeat.com reports.
- Day-To-DayOneil Cruz CF — Cruz suffered a cut on his hand during Saturday's game against Atlanta and is being considered day-to-day, Jeff Hathhorn of 93.7 The Fan reports.
- Day-To-DayBrandon Lowe 2B — Lowe (knee) isn't starting for the Pirates against Atlanta on Sunday.
- Day-To-DayAnthony Solometo SP — Solometo is sidelined at Double-A Altoona with recurring left shoulder discomfort, Jose Negron of DK Pittsburgh Sports reports.
- Day-To-DayOddanier Mosqueda RP — Mosqueda will not throw for a couple weeks due to left forearm inflammation, Kevin Gorman of TribLive.com reports.
- Day-To-DayMike Clevinger RP — Clevinger is expected to be sidelined for around six weeks after being diagnosed with an MCL sprain in his right knee, Jason Mackey of MLB.com reports.
- Day-To-DaySean Sullivan SP — Pirates director of sports medicine Todd Tomczyk said Wednesday that Sullivan is battling right elbow soreness, Andrew Destin of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.
- 10-Day-ILKonnor Griffin SS — Pirates general manager Ben Cherington relayed Sunday that Griffin is looking at a "more relaxed timeline" in his recovery from a flexor strain in his right elbow, Jason Mackey of MLB.com reports.
- 10-Day-ILJoey Bart C — Bart (foot) has been cleared to resume weight room activity and play light catch, Colin Beazley of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.
The Pirates come in cold — losers of 4 of 5 with the Braves taking 3 straight by a combined 5 runs. They keep losing close games, which is its own kind of frustrating. The Dodgers are 42-24 but just got run off the field 13-5 by the Angels on Sunday, so don't pretend the road team is humming either. Will Smith (neck) was out of the lineup Sunday and his status is worth watching.
The total sits at 7.5 with the over juiced to -125, which tells you the books think Skenes won't carry into the 7th and Lauer is Lauer. If Cruz can't go, Pittsburgh's lineup gets a lot easier to navigate even for a guy with a 5.74 ERA. Give me Skenes to look like Skenes for 6 innings and the Pirates to lose anyway 4-3 — that's just how this stretch has gone.