Paul Skenes strikes out Shohei Ohtani, Mookie Betts, averages 100 mph on fastball
Former LSU star Paul Skenes is facing off against one of the best offenses in Major League Baseball on Wednesday as the Pirates are hosting the Dodgers at PNC Park in Pittsburgh.
It’s safe to say that Skenes is off to a strong start as he struck out the first two batters he faced on Wednesday. Those two batters just so happen to be two of the best hitters in the game in Shohei Ohtani and Mookie Betts.
Skenes opened the game by striking out Betts on a slider, before getting Ohtani swinging on a fastball to retire him. You can watch the strikeouts below:
Paul Skenes is off to an excellent start in his MLB career. The former No. 1 overall pick entered Wednesday’s game with a 2-0 record, a 2.45 ERA, a 0.91 WHIP and 30 strikeouts in 22 innings pitched.
Skenes is well on his way to earning another victory as the Pirates lead the Dodgers 7-0 in the third inning.
Paul Skenes reveals pregame meal before every pitching start
Pittsburgh Pirates rookie Paul Skenes revealed his pregame meal before every start recently on The Pat McAfee Show.
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As it turns out, Skenes is a huge fan of chicken alfredo.
“Chicken alfredo before every start,” Skenes said on the show. “I got some crap from some of the guys before my last one because I just had this ginormous plate of chicken alfredo a couple hours before I was gonna pitch. And you know, they’re basically telling me they wouldn’t even make it out to pitch.
“They’ll just be sitting on the toilet before their outing, but that’s just what I do every outing and it helps me keep my energy.”
In seven minor league starts this year, before the call up, Skenes put up a 0.99 ERA. The 22-year-old has been dominant at every level of baseball. ESPN’s Buster Olney recently spoke about what makes him so special.
“It’s the command,” Buster Olney said. “Look in baseball, in 2024, you see a lot of guys who throw 100 miles per hour. Skenes throws 100, 101, 102 miles per hour, but it’s the command. his ability to control all the pitches. The fastball at the top of the zone, dotting it on the inside corner, the outside corner, plus he’s got the nasty breaking ball. Plus he’s got the changeup, he just seems to physically overwhelm hitters. 6-foot-6, just overpowering the guys at the plate.”