Paul Skenes is a numbers nerd who treats data as the map to his best performances. He reads velocity, drop and movement off the ribbon boards after every pitch to learn what’s working and what isn’t, yet he publicly shrugs at his win-loss tally. The Pirates’ ace streams six innings of solid work against Toronto, punching out eight while yielding five hits, leaving with a no-decision as Pittsburgh finally grabs the lead late. The night shines a light on the enduring debate: is pitcher wins a meaningful stat at all?

While Skenes dominates (2.16 ERA, elite innings and strikeouts), Pittsburgh’s offense struggles, ranking near the bottom in most major categories. That gap between talent and results fuels the fantasy story: imagine a pitcher who can produce quality starts and strikeouts but can’t always snag wins in a win-starved lineup. The piece also celebrates bullpen milestones—Evan Sisk earns his first big-league win after seven years in the minors, backed by Kyle Nicolas and Dennis Santana as the final outs. Off the field, Skenes stays the consummate professional—sleep routines, diet on the road and a relentless focus on routine—because that discipline could sustain him for years.

Paul Skenes blunted the AL’s best club over six innings, fanning eight while allowing only two runs as the Pirates pulled away 5-2. Pittsburgh benefited from three Toronto errors and Brendon Little’s wild pitch, flipping a tight game in the seventh when Henry Davis doubled to start the rally and Spencer Horwitz added two hits for insurance.

Vladimir Guerrero Jr. plated a run with a fielder’s choice and Bo Bichette delivered a run-scoring single in the third, but Guerrero exited with left hamstring tightness after a long split, tempering Toronto’s push. The benches briefly cleared when Tommy Pham jawed with Tyler Heineman after a walk. Dennis Santana earned the save; Evan Sisk the victory as Pittsburgh snapped a rough stretch. Up next, Scherzer faces Keller in a marquee duel.

Paul Skenes delivered six scoreless innings with eight strikeouts as Pittsburgh blanked Cincinnati 7-0, dropping his ERA to 1.94 atop the NL. The rookie’s dominance, paired with a lineup that produced two-hit efforts from Reynolds, Triolo, and Davis, plus a homer by Reynolds and Peralta, fueled the win. Triolo’s first-inning RBI spree capped a multi-hit day for the Pirates trio. The performance reinforces Skenes as a frontline fantasy asset, especially with his season-long 162 Ks and sub-2.00 ERA.

Next up for Skenes is a likely start in Milwaukee or Chicago, as Pittsburgh eyes a three-game swing with the Brewers or Cubs. For fantasy managers, the line remains unchanged: elite ratios, heavy strikeouts, and innings already logged position him as a must-start. Reynolds, Davis, and Triolo each posted multi-hit outings, while Peralta joined the homer parade, underscoring a favorable offensive environment around Skenes in the near term.

Pittsburgh Pirates center fielder Oneil Cruz showcased his remarkable arm strength, delivering a throw clocked at 105.2 mph to assist in tagging out Seattle's J.P. Crawford at the plate during a recent game. This impressive feat marks the second-fastest recorded throw resulting in an outfield assist since the inception of Statcast in 2015, just shy of Aaron Hicks' record of 105.5 mph. Cruz's throw was pivotal during the first inning following a well-placed single from Jorge Polanco.

Using his towering 6-foot-7 frame, Cruz executed a precise one-hop throw to catcher Henry Davis, who successfully applied the tag. This performance adds to Cruz's growing reputation as a Statcast sensation, having previously recorded the hardest-hit ball since tracking began with a 122.9 mph home run.

On July 2, 2025, the St. Louis Cardinals (47-40) face the Pittsburgh Pirates (37-50) in a pivotal matchup at PNC Park. After a narrow 1-0 victory, secured by a sacrifice fly from Henry Davis in their latest game, the Pirates look to complete a sweep over the Cardinals, who are on a two-game losing streak. Pittsburgh has been on a scoring spree, amassing 38 runs during a five-game winning streak and 55 runs across a 7-2 run, putting them in strong form. In contrast, the Cardinals aim to bounce back from their recent losses, despite a solid 10-5 record in their last 15 games.

The starting pitchers for the game are Sonny Gray (Cardinals), boasting an impressive 8-2 record and a 3.36 ERA, against Mitch Keller (Pirates), who struggles with a 2-10 record but a respectable 3.90 ERA. Gray's last performance was stellar, throwing a complete game shutout with 11 strikeouts. Oddsmakers favor the Cardinals at -140 on the moneyline and predict a close game with an over/under set at 8 runs. Expert predictions suggest a play on the Cardinals to win and lean toward the over on total runs. Follow along as the action unfolds!