Paul Skenes Offers Advice To Division Rival Rookie After First Encounter

Paul Skenes may have witnessed the ascension of a new National League Central ace.

Skenes looked uncharacteristically fallible when allowing four runs in a season-low four innings Wednesday. However, Jacob Misiorowski pitched up to his end of a highly anticipated pitching matchup. In his third career MLB start, the 6-foot-7 newcomer compiled eight strikeouts in five scoreless innings of a 4-2 Milwaukee Brewers win over the Pittsburgh Pirates.

Few can relate to Misiorowski’s current rise more than Skenes, who met the immense hype as last season’s NL Rookie of the Year winner. After the game, Skenes offered Misiorowski advice on how to handle the added attention heading his way.

“You’ve got to protect yourself, for lack of a better term,” Skenes told reporters, as seen on SportsNet Pittsburgh’s post-game coverage. “Obviously, with the media, but I assume if he goes and walks around Milwaukee now, there’s going to be more people that recognize him and all that. If he does what he’s supposed to do and everybody thinks he can do, that’s not going away any time soon. So get used to it, and find ways to find peace and that kind of thing.”

It’s not often Skenes’ opponent throws harder, but Misiorowski fired his fastball at an average velocity of 99.5 mph and reached 100 on 19 pitches. He’s allowed just three hits in 16 innings with the Brewers.

Skenes is impressed with Misiorowski and is eager for a rematch. Like many other fans, the NL Cy Young Award candidate must hope their paths cross again when the Pirates face the Brewers for their final three-game series of the season in August.

“He did a great job,” Skenes said. “I didn’t watch a ton of it, but what I saw was pretty electric. I want the best for him, and looking forward to pitching against him again this year. It’ll be fun.”

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