Two of the better ERAs in the National League share a mound Sunday at 12:15 PM ET, with Meyer (6-0, 2.85) and Skenes (6-5, 2.84) separated by a hundredth of a run. The records tell two very different stories about the support behind them.
Meyer is the only qualified starter in baseball without a loss, and he just pushed his season-opening unbeaten streak to 14 starts — a franchise record dating back to Livan Hernandez in 1997. Skenes, meanwhile, hasn't picked up a win since May 12 and is 6-6 in his own starts because the Pirates lineup keeps no-showing behind him.
Miami came in riding a 6-game heater, took the opener 8-3, then watched the bats go quiet in a 3-2 loss Saturday that snapped the streak. The Marlins have still won 4 of 5. Pittsburgh has alternated wins and losses for a week and is hanging on at 36-35 mostly because Skenes and the rotation keep games close.
Availability is the real story on the Pirates side. Oneil Cruz is on the 10-day IL with a hand issue, Joey Bart (foot) is finally on a rehab assignment at Single-A Bradenton, and shortstop Konnor Griffin is still throwing flat-ground at 75 percent. That's a lot of lineup punch missing against a guy who's allowed 2 earned runs or fewer in basically every start.
- Day-To-DayThomas White SP — White was diagnosed with a left shoulder capsular sprain Friday and is expected to miss the rest of the season, Isaac Azout of FishOnFirst.com reports.
- Day-To-DayKemp Alderman RF — Triple-A Jacksonville placed Alderman on the 7-day injured list Tuesday due to a left wrist injury, Michael Germanese of Roundtable.io reports.
- 15-Day-ILJosh Ekness RP — Marlins manager Clayton McCullough said Monday that Ekness is expected to miss approximately six weeks due to a right calf strain, Kyle Sielaff of Marlins.tv reports.
- 15-Day-ILJanson Junk SP — The Marlins placed Junk on the 15-day injured list Sunday due to right shin bone inflammation, Christina De Nicola of MLB.com reports.
- 15-Day-ILEury Perez SP — The Marlins placed Perez on the 15-day injured list Friday, retroactive to Thursday, due to a right gracilis strain.
- 60-Day-ILGriffin Conine LF — Conine (hamstring) appears to be a week or two away from beginning a rehab assignment, Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald reports.
- 60-Day-ILAndrew Nardi RP — The Marlins transferred Nardi (ribcage) from the 15-day injured list to the 60-day IL on Monday.
- 60-Day-ILRobby Snelling SP — Snelling underwent internal brace surgery Friday to repair a torn UCL in his left elbow.
- Day-To-DayAnthony Solometo SP — Solometo underwent left shoulder labrum surgery and is expected to be sidelined until at least April 2027, Mark Chiarelli of Baseball America reports.
- Day-To-DayMitch Jebb LF
- 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-ILOneil Cruz CF — Cruz (hand) is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Dodgers.
- 10-Day-ILKonnor Griffin SS — Griffin (elbow) did some flat-ground throwing from out to 90 feet Wednesday at about 75 percent intensity, Colin Beazley of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.
- 10-Day-ILJoey Bart C — Bart (foot) will begin a rehab assignment Wednesday at Single-A Bradenton, Colin Beazley of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.
The Marlins aren't exactly whole either — they're down 5 arms from the pitching staff including Eury Perez, Janson Junk, and top prospect Thomas White, whose shoulder capsular sprain is expected to cost him the rest of the season. But the bullpen has been the one carrying the late innings during this run, and McCullough has gotten away with mixing and matching.
First pitch is 12:15 PM ET. The total has moved hard — opened around 7.5 and is now sitting at 6.5 with the Over juiced to -135. That's the market telling you exactly what it thinks of these two arms.