Paul Skenes aims to help Pirates rebound vs. Guardians

Pittsburgh Pirates ace Paul Skenes will pitch on four days' rest for the first time in his major league career on Saturday afternoon when he faces the visiting Cleveland Guardians for the first time.

Skenes (2-1, 2.96 ERA) will try to put the Pirates' rotation back on track after a string of four consecutive starts of six or more innings by Pittsburgh starters was snapped in Friday's 10-7 loss to the Guardians. Pittsburgh starter Carmen Mlodzinski pitched four innings in that game, giving up five runs.

In addition to Mlodzinski's struggles, the Pirates' bullpen allowed five runs in five innings. Before Friday, the bullen had held opponents to a .170 batting average over the previous eight contests.

Despite the defeat, Pittsburgh hopes it can carry some offensive momentum from an effort in which the team had a season-high three home runs and six extra-base hits.

"We had good at-bats tonight," manager Derek Shelton said. "We had good swings, and I thought our approach was really solid."

Skenes will start for the third time this season following a Pirates' loss. The right-hander is 2-0 on such occasions.

Skenes allowed two runs (one earned) on three hits and struck out six with no walks in six innings of the Pirates' 10-3 win over the Washington Nationals on Monday.

In that game, Skenes made history as he and Henry Davis formed the Pirates' battery, marking the first time in major league history that a former No. 1 overall pick pitched to a former No. 1 overall selection.

With Endy Rodriguez on the injured list, it's possible Skenes probably will pitch with Davis behind the plate on Saturday.

Skenes will oppose Cleveland right-hander Ben Lively (0-2, 4.87 ERA) as the Guardians try to string together back-to-back victories for the first time since winning five in a row from April 8-12.

The results haven't been great for Lively, the Guardians' Opening Day starter, but he is coming off his longest start after pitching six innings in a 4-2 loss to the Kansas City Royals last Sunday. Lively allowed four runs on seven hits and two walks while striking out five.

Lively is 0-2 with a 6.00 ERA in four career appearances (three starts) against the Pirates.

Lively hasn't received much run support lately from Cleveland's lineup, as it has produced no more than two runs in each of his past three starts.

The Guardians hope that might change on Saturday despite the challenge of facing one of this year's top Cy Young Award candidates.

Cleveland manager Stephen Vogt made a change to the lineup on Friday that ignited six-time All-Star Jose Ramirez's bat. Ramirez moved from the No. 2 spot to third behind leadoff hitter Steven Kwan and Lane Thomas. Ramirez went 2-for-4 with a double, a walk and scored twice as the Guardians recorded season highs of 10 runs and 14 hits.

"We're still trying to find what will help this group," Vogt said. "It's about as much putting Jose back in the No. 3 spot as it is putting Lane Thomas at the top of the order. It gives us a little more speed in front of Jose. I just think it makes our lineup a little longer."