The challenge of trying to bounce back against Paul Skenes

Are you a glass-half-empty or half-full kind of person? That question feels particularly pertinent given the context of today’s game against the Pittsburgh Pirates. On one hand, despite recent losses, you find yourself playing a last-place team, but on the other, you have to go up against the National League’s best pitcher, Paul Skenes.

Los Angeles will send an ace of its own to the mound in Blake Snell. These days, though, you’re likely at a disadvantage regardless of whom you have going up against

Skenes, who’s been making a mockery out of MLB hitters ever since his call-up last season.

Perhaps even more positive for the Dodgers than having Snell on the mound is that Skenes, for as great as he is, can’t affect the production of his offense. The Pirates’ lineup is among the worst-performing ones in the sport, and it’s particularly weak against LHP (.631 team OPS).

Being inarguably the top pitcher in the National League, Skenes has only been able to lead the Pirates to a slightly above .500 record when he takes the ball (15-13). Specifically in games in which he is factored into the decision, Skenes is 9-9 this season. One of those nine wins, though, came at Dodger Stadium, when he shut out Los Angeles for 6.1 innings, helping Pittsburgh to a 3-0 victory.

Other than the highlight of pitching at Dodger Stadium, that outing probably doesn’t even stand out for Skenes himself this season, given he’s held teams to two or fewer runs on 23 different occasions and to no earned runs 11 times.

The Dodgers’ offense will have to battle Skenes without one of its more prolific hitters, missing catcher Will Smith. The NL’s leading OBP bat left Wednesday’s game shortly after being hit in the hand, and while X-rays were negative, it should be a few days before he’s back behind the plate, at least.