Paul Skenes owns a nearly 14% swinging strike rate and last year, eight of these nine hitters owned a strikeout rate above 20%. This year, the lineup has cut that number down to just five batters over that 20% mark, but I am not fully buying those numbers. Looking at some of the right handed competition this team has faced, they have allowed sub-par strikeout arms to hit the 5+ strikeout level consistently, so I'll take Skenes to be just one or two strikeouts better than some of the recent righties this team has faced. Moreover, the Pirates need a win here after losing four in a row and six of their last eight, so an extra few batters could be huge.

FanDuel. Jumping on this Paul Skenes line now, even though the Pirates are in the middle of Game 1. I like how the double header is setting up, with lefty Andrew Heaney struggling and the Pirates likely to deploy the bullpen more than they’d like. Skenes missed on this line last game, but had been over in his five previous starts. The Tigers are a middle of the pack strikeout team, but do struggle versus power pitching (29% K%). They’ll also likely go lefty heavy, which is Skenes better split, and the more strikeout prone Jake Rogers will start behind the dish.

The Pittsburgh Pirates will play in a double header at Detroit Thursday. The Tigers still have the second most home wins in the American League, but have been more vulnerable as of late. Over their last fourteen home games they are 8-6. Take the Pirates who have won four out of the last five starts with Paul Skenes on the mound.