Being asked to go against Paul Skenes in your major league debut is a tough ask for a pitcher. The Pirates might be a lousy team most of the time, but every fifth day, they have a good chance at victory behind one of the best young pitchers in baseball. On Sunday, Skenes was as good as advertised, limiting the Phillies to one run in eight innings. Fortunately, for the Phillies, rookie starter Mick Abel was just as good, pitching six shutout innings, lifting them to a 1-0 win.
Abel’s mettle was tested almost immediately. The Pirates singled twice in the first inning, forcing him to work out of his first ever major league jam.