Saturday may not matter when it comes to the postseason for the Yankees.
But it will have some significance — it will be their first look at Pirates phenom Paul Skenes.
“He’s been one of the big stories of this season,” manager Aaron Boone said Friday before the two teams opened a three-game series in The Bronx to close the regular season. “There’s no question he’s had a massive impact, starting the All-Star Game, and putting together a great season.”
The 22-year-old Skenes is a front-runner to win the NL Rookie of the Year as one of the league’s most dominant pitchers, along with Padres outfielder Jackson Merrill.
The fireballing, 6-foot-6 right-hander has a celebrity girlfriend (LSU gymnast and social media superstar Livvy Dunne) and an absurdly dominant arsenal.
Heavily hyped before even making his big league debut May 11, Skenes has surpassed even the highest of expectations.
He became the fifth rookie to start the All-Star Game in July and will enter his final start of the season 11-3 with a 1.99 ERA, 0.96 WHIP and 167 strikeouts (a Pirates rookie record) in 131 innings pitched.
This will be his New York City debut.
The first overall pick in the 2023 draft, Skenes faced the Mets on July 5 in Pittsburgh, and limited them to two earned runs over seven innings of four-hit ball in a victory.
Skenes is the first pitcher in the modern era to have an ERA below 2.20 with 150 strikeouts in his first 21 appearances.
“He’s a beast, and the things that he’s doing right now at his age are freaking insane. I just want to see what he can do in a full season,” said Pirates infielder Isiah Kiner-Falefa, who spent two seasons with the Yankees. “I’m excited to play with him next year and to see him keep growing. He opened our window by himself. It’s pretty cool.
“His work ethic [stands out]. He doesn’t act like he’s a rookie. He doesn’t act entitled. He acts like he’s just a normal guy that’s humble, who always wants to get better and he holds a room. For a young guy at his age — he won a national title, he’s the first-overall pick, this is his first year in [the major leagues] — so you would think he would walk around with a big head. He’s the opposite.
“He goes about his business like a true veteran. It’s refreshing to see.”
