Skenes day! Pirates look to stay hot vs. surging Nationals

The young Pirates and Nationals are among baseball’s most surprising stories early in 2026. Pittsburgh (9-6) leads the contender-heavy NL Central, while Washington (7-8) just wrapped an impressive three-game road sweep of the Brewers.

The Bucs and Nats do battle in Pittsburgh to begin this week, and what better way to kick off an intriguing four-game series than with Paul Skenes on the bump? Skenes (2-1, 5.25 ERA) matches up with Nationals Opening Day starter Cade Cavalli (0-0, 2.51 ERA).

Monday’s first pitch is scheduled for 6:40 p.m. ET.

To little surprise, Skenes has bounced right back from a nightmarish Opening Day start against the Mets in which he recorded just two outs and allowed five earned runs. The reigning NL Cy Young winner has allowed just one earned run in each of his past two outings -- five innings against the Reds and 6 1/3 against the Padres. That has come with 11 strikeouts and four walks in those 11 1/3 innings.

Skenes will attempt to help the Pirates bounce back from Sunday’s walk-off loss to the Cubs, though Pittsburgh quieted the Wrigley Field faithful with wins in the first two games of the series.

The right-hander will be charged with quieting a Nationals offense that has scored the fourth-most runs in the Majors this season, thanks in part to towering slugger James Wood (.500 average with four homers over a seven-game hit streak) and shortstop CJ Abrams (1.177 OPS in his last 10 games).

Cavalli was strong in 4 2/3 against the Cardinals his last time out. He gave up two runs (one earned) while scattering four hits. The 27-year-old righty has allowed two or fewer runs in each of his starts, though his control could be a question with at least two walks issued in all three starts.