BRADENTON, Fla. — Paul Skenes is going to start for the Pittsburgh Pirates on opening day. Pretty easy call for manager Derek Shelton. Skenes is coming off a dominant performance in his first season in the majors. The 22-year-old right-hander went 11-3 with a 1.96 ERA in 23 starts for Pittsburgh in 2024, winning the NL Rookie of the Year award.

The Pittsburgh Pirates have named pitcher Paul Skenes as the team's Opening Day starter, the Pirates announced on Saturday. In a video posted to social media, Pirates manager Derek Shelton tells Skenes he will pitch against the Miami Marlins on March 27.

Skenes, the top pick in the 2023 draft, made his debut for the Pirates last May and quickly became one of baseball’s biggest stars. The reigning National League Rookie of the Year becomes the eighth pitcher to make an opening day start for the Pirates in the last nine years, according to our partners Pittsburgh Baseball Now.