Washington hosts Pittsburgh in an early rubber match at Nationals Park, with Washington reshuffling the lineup as Dylan Crews sits. Robert Hassell moves to right, Jacob Young to center, Daylen Lile in left, and James Wood shifts to DH while Riley Adams handles catching and Nasim Nunez stays at second. Cade Cavalli starts for the Nats. Pittsburgh counters with a lefty-friendly lineup featuring Oneil Cruz, Ji Hwan Bae, Spencer Horwitz, Joey Bart catching, and Mike Burrows on the mound. The Nats seek a September spark against aPirates club facing similar odds, hoping to prove they can beat teams in this tier.

The tactical shifts create fantasy intrigue: expect Hassell and Young to climb the batting order, Lile and Wood to contribute from spots that boost run potential, and Cavalli to deliver mixed results against a left-handed heavy Pirates lineup. For Pittsburgh, left-handed combinations against Cavalli will test Washington’s defense and opportunistic baserunning. This game is a chance for both teams to showcase resilience in a tight early-season schedule.

Dodgers wasted scoring chances in a 3-0 loss to the Pirates. Emmet Sheehan battled in a long first inning and watched Bryan Reynolds launch a homer after a 12-pitch duel, setting the tone early. L.A. stranded 10 and went 0-for-7 with runners in scoring position, while Pittsburgh padded the lead with a sixth-inning RBI double off Ben Casparius. Shohei Ohtani produced two hits and extra-base power, but the offense otherwise stagnated behind a rebound from Andrew McCutchen and Reynolds. L.A. still holds a 2.5-game cushion on San Diego; the series wraps with Blake Snell vs. Paul Skenes, a notable setup for fantasy managers.

Two of MLB’s brightest stars anchor the 2025 season as the All-Star Game in Atlanta approaches, with Paul Skenes and Tarik Skubal set to start. Skenes, the 2024 NL Rookie of the Year, and Skubal, last season’s AL Cy Young winner, embody a new wave of dominance that blends precision, pace, and relentless attack. Spun from modest beginnings, both have carved paths to historic eras, and their teams ride their performances into pennant races and playoff chatter.

Their mound presence alters the rhythm of games. Skubal presses hitters early, leads with strike-foot discipline, and consumes counts with surgical efficiency, often flipping patience into power. Skenes counters with a diverse seven-pitch arsenal that flummoxes the toughest lineups and keeps hitters guessing well after the first strike. Teammates describe a charged atmosphere on their starts—Comerica Park and the opposing dugout feel the shift in energy as they take the mound.

The contrast between them fuels debates among fantasy lovers: Skubal’s aggression and full-throttle strike-first mentality maximize innings and strikeout upside, while Skenes’ cerebral, numbers-driven approach creates a foundation for long, consistent outings. Their routines — from routine bullpen sessions to meticulous pregame plans — demonstrate a professional maturity beyond their years, reinforcing why they’re frontrunners for season-long hardware and elite fantasy value.

In a sport built on narratives, Skenes and Skubal are writing a shared one: elite excellence arriving from unconventional starts, thriving in high-leverage moments, and bending the game to their will as they push toward more Cy Young chatter and All-Star glory. Health permitting, the next chapters should be as compelling as the first.