In the penultimate game of the 2024 regular season, the Pittsburgh Pirates face off against the New York Yankees, the reigning AL East Division Champions. This matchup marks the second game in a three-game series, with the Pirates eager to finish strong after a challenging season that has left them out of playoff contention. Meanwhile, the Yankees, fresh off clinching the AL East title against the Orioles, are strategically preparing their pitching rotation for the upcoming ALDS. Scheduled for 1:05 PM EST, the game features a thrilling pitching duel between the Pirates’ rookie sensation Paul Skenes (11-3, 1.99 ERA) and the Yankees’ Luis Gil (15-6, 3.27 ERA).
Pittsburgh’s Bright Future with Skenes
The Pittsburgh Pirates, while missing the playoffs again in 2024, have a promising foundation for future success. With a talented roster that includes standout rookie pitchers like Paul Skenes and Jared Jones, the team is focused on making significant improvements in the offseason. In the series opener against the Yankees, Brian Reynolds showcased his power by hitting two home runs, leading the Pirates to a 4-2 victory.
The Pirates are counting on the strong right-handed arm of Paul Skenes, who has exceeded expectations as the former #1 overall draft pick. With a record of 11-3 and an impressive ERA of 1.99 over 22 starts, Skenes has established himself as a potential ace. He has recorded 15 quality starts, striking out 167 batters in 131 innings while allowing only 94 hits. As the season winds down, the Pirates have limited his pitching workload, keeping him under five innings in three of his last five outings.
Key Injuries: 3B Ke’Byan Hayes, RP Kyle Nicolas, and RP Ben Heller are sidelined.
Yankees Set to Fine-Tune with Gil
The New York Yankees celebrated their second AL East title in three seasons with a recent victory over the Orioles. Now, as they prepare for the playoffs, the Yankees are focused on securing home-field advantage, looking to outperform the Cleveland Guardians in their final regular-season series. Despite a setback in the series opener against the Pirates, where they lost 4-2, the Yankees remain determined to finish the season on a high note.
On Saturday, Luis Gil will take the mound for the Yankees. The young righty has had a career year, recording 15 wins, 146 innings pitched, and 166 strikeouts across 28 starts. As the Yankees manage his innings leading into the playoffs, they plan to keep him fresh while ensuring he gains momentum for the postseason. Manager Aaron Boone has yet to reveal the complete rotation for the ALDS, keeping fans and analysts guessing.
Key Injuries: RP Mark Leiter Jr., RP Jake Cousins, and SP Nestor Cortes are out.
Betting Insights for Pirates vs. Yankees
Given Skenes’ impressive performance, it is reasonable to expect the Pirates to limit his innings in this final start of the season. Five innings may be a target for this rising star, who is in contention for NL Rookie of the Year. Similarly, the Yankees are likely to take a conservative approach with Gil, aiming to keep him prepared for the playoffs. This dynamic may favor the Yankees, who boast a more robust bullpen compared to the Pirates.
As the Yankees continue to fight for the top seed, they are expected to field most of their regular players on Saturday. With their magic number standing at two for securing home-field advantage, the urgency to win this game is heightened. Additionally, Aaron Judge is poised to make an impact, sitting just two home runs shy of reaching the impressive milestone of 60 home runs this season.
