Nationals Try to Skenes-Proof Themselves at PNC, 6:40 PM

The Washington Nationals, with their rotation in tatters—three Opening Day-caliber arms already MIA—are handing the ball to Cade Cavalli, who's been a sneaky stingy starter (2.51 ERA) but has a penchant for gift-wrapping base runners (1.47 WHIP). He'll need that magic to escape PNC Park, where the Pirates' staff has been cooking up a 3.02 ERA and suppressing opponent batting averages to a paltry .217—a stat line that screams "ordered from a secret menu."

Paul Skenes, Pittsburgh's rookie sensation, counters for the Bucs with a 5.25 ERA that's still getting cozy with last week's Primanti's coleslaw stains. But his 12 Ks in 12 IP say the stuff is still nasty, just occasionally misdirected. The Nationals, with the league's second-highest team batting average (.269), will try to exploit Skenes' occasional wildness—if Cavalli can survive the Pirates' lineup and the Nats' bullpen doesn't turn the Allegheny into a launchpad. Make your pick or roast the relievers in real time on StreakChat.