In some of the least surprising news of spring training, the Pittsburgh Pirates recently announced that NL Cy Young award winner Paul Skenes will start the team’s Opening Day game on Thursday against the New York Mets.

Pirates fans now know which three starting pitchers their team’s offense will be facing during the upcoming three-game set against the Mets.

New York manager Carlos Mendoza revealed his group’s starters for the Mets’ first six contests of the campaign on Saturday.

“First 6 Mets games: 1. Peralta. 2. Peterson. 3. McLean. 4. Holmes. 5. Senga. 6. Peralta. … Manaea will be part of a piggyback situation but Mendoza won’t say which game,” MLB insider Joel Sherman posted on Bluesky.

 

First 6 Mets games: 1. Peralta. 2. Peterson. 3. McLean. 4. Holmes. 5. Senga. 6. Peralta. … Manaea will be part of a piggyback situation but Mendoza won’t say which game.

— Joel Sherman (@joelsherman.bsky.social) March 21, 2026 at 10:18 AM

Expectations are high in Pittsburgh this year as the Pirates will look to make the playoffs for the first time in 11 years.

With Skenes leading the rotation and top prospect Konnor Griffin potentially making the Opening Day roster at shortstop, some are even predicting that Pittsburgh could win the NL Central for the first time since 1992.

Though manager Don Kelly hasn’t revealed the team’s full starting rotation yet, baseball fans know Skenes will be matched up against two-time All-Star Freddy Peralta on Thursday.

The Mets will follow with 2025 All-Star left-hander David Peterson on Saturday (after Friday’s off day) and throw promising rookie right-hander Nolan McLean on Sunday.

Among the candidates to start Saturday’s and Sunday’s contest for Kelly include rookie Bubba Chandler, 2023 All-Star Mitch Keller and second-year pro Braxton Ashcraft.

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