PITTSBURGH – Paul Skenes and Shota Imanaga didn’t reconnect till Wednesday this week. Given how their final on-field dialog went final yr, that was in all probability for the perfect.
A yr in the past, the 2 pitchers met up at PNC Park to speak store. Imanaga was curious how Skenes threw his four-seam fastball, and the Pirates’ stud confirmed him the grip. Imanaga went on to start out a mixed no-hitter his subsequent day trip towards the Pirates.
“I bought to look at what I say round him,” Skenes joked Tuesday. “He’s attempting to get higher.”
On Wednesday (the day after Imanaga made his begin on this collection), the Pirates’ and Cubs’ star pitchers talked store once more, with broadcast groups capturing Imanaga demonstrating a pitch to Skenes. The 2 broke into Main League baseball final yr (Skenes was the Nationwide League Rookie of the Yr, whereas Imanaga completed fourth within the vote) and are positioned to sq. off for years to come back. There’ll in all probability be extra conversations between the 2 in that point, to the potential chagrin of their crew’s hitters.
“He’s only a incredible pitcher, and together with his potential, simply historic,” Imanaga mentioned by way of interpreter Edwin Stanberry. “I feel simply with the ability to play baseball on the similar time he’s, that’s an enormous honor. He will not be giving me any extra recommendation, however I nonetheless would wish to speak to him.”
Skenes is a scholar of the sport and a pitch tinkerer. He’s attempting to choose up one thing from these conversations, too, however attempting to be like Imanaga on the mound in all probability wouldn’t have the perfect outcomes.
“I don’t know, I discover I’m fairly good at doing what I do,” Skenes mentioned. “I’m not nearly as good at understanding what different folks do, if that is sensible. Taking a look at a low-release, high-slot lefty who throws 90 to 93-94 [mph] with a splitter that’s simply concerning the precise reverse of my repertoire. I’ll take what I can.”
Alas for Skenes, he couldn’t return the favor to Imanaga and the Cubs on Thursday. After a bout of early wildness, the Cubs finally began to barrel him up within the fifth inning, launching a trio of homers to chop his day brief at 5 innings. Chicago went on to win, 8-3.
“Fifth inning, it simply regarded like he was tiring a bit of bit,” mentioned bench coach Don Kelly, who was serving as supervisor as Derek Shelton attended his son’s school commencement. “Pitches have been elevated, velo got here down a tick and simply bought out of whack a bit of bit there.”
Skenes felt he was “a bit of all over” throughout his pregame bullpen, and that continued into the sport. He leaned closely on his four-seamer, sweeper and “splinker,” however they didn’t generate the whiffs they usually do. The Cubs swung the bat 28 instances towards these three pitches, however whiffed simply 4 instances.
“Execution wasn’t there,” Skenes mentioned. “Type of spraying the ball. Received away with it there for some time and clearly it confirmed up a bit of bit within the fifth, however it’s what it’s.”
Thursday was not Skenes’ sharpest outing, and whereas he has already matched his loss whole from a yr in the past, it’s arduous to place an excessive amount of of that onus on him and his 2.74 ERA.
And if issues actually do go sideways, he does have a fellow NL Central pitcher he’s going to bump elbows with a pair extra instances this season who may need an concept or two.
“It’s a cool relationship to have,” Skenes mentioned. “Clearly being in the identical division, I see him rather a lot. Trying ahead to him doing his factor.”
