Skenes faces Blue Jays today as both look to build more momentum

The Blue Jays haven't been able to really get going yet in 2026, but they still have their eyes on another postseason appearance after going all the way to Game 7 of the World Series last season.

But with June rapidly approaching, the time to make a run toward becoming the team they thought they'd be is ever-dwindling. And it won't get any easier when they face Pirates ace and defending NL Cy Young winner Paul Skenes today at 3 p.m. ET.

Skenes, again a Cy Young contender with an excellent season so far, leads all qualified MLB starters with a 0.71 WHIP, with opponents hitting just .161 against him, the second-best mark in baseball. Meanwhile, his 63 strikeouts ranked eighth-most in the NL entering Friday.

Though he's coming off a five-run outing and loss against the Phillies last Sunday, that's definitely not how he's performed for most of the season. Before that start, Skenes had not allowed more than one run in seven of his previous eight starts. That included four starts in which he allowed no runs.

He has one career start against the Blue Jays, which came in Pittsburgh on Aug. 18 of last season. Skenes pitched six innings and allowed five hits and two runs while striking out eight, taking a no-decision in a 5-2 Pirates win. Of the five hits Skenes surrendered, all but one were singles. The lone extra-base hit was a double by Addison Barger.

That could present a challenge for the Blue Jays, whose .676 OPS entering Friday ranked last in the AL. The Pirates, on the other hand, had a .726 OPS entering Friday, which was the fifth-best mark in the NL as they continue to impress in a surprisingly strong NL Central.

Both teams are in the thick of the Wild Card race in their respective leagues as we approach Memorial Day, the traditional point at which teams can realistically take stock of themselves. And each has reason for optimism.

The Blue Jays just split a four-game series against the division rival Yankees at Yankee Stadium, giving them a small bit of momentum as they head into the unofficial start of summer looking to finally hit their groove. Plus, superstar Vladimir Guerrero Jr. hasn't really gotten going yet, meaning a major offensive boost could come at any time.

The Pirates, also winners of two straight, have righted their ship and are back above .500 after a four-game skid earlier in the week. They hope to continue getting strong production from the likes of Brandon Lowe and Spencer Horwitz, while looking for Oneil Cruz to continue to build on the offensive improvements he's made this season.

Will Skenes give the Pirates another push forward with a strong outing, or will the Blue Jays solve the righty and officially begin a climb up the AL East standings? Whatever happens Saturday, it should make for good baseball drama.