Red Sox Breathe Sigh of Relief As Pirates Swap Out Paul Skenes for Lake Bachar

The Boston Red Sox are poised to capitalize on a strategic move by the Pittsburgh Pirates, as they swap out their top pitcher, Paul Skenes, with reliever Lake Bachar for the series finale. This unexpected twist has given the Red Sox a significant advantage in their bid to secure a series win and strengthen their position in the crowded American League playoff race.

Pittsburgh manager Don Kelly revealed after Saturday's 4-0 loss that Skenes' scheduled start had been pushed back to Wednesday against the Detroit Tigers. Kelly attributed the decision to provide additional rest, not due to any injury. For the Red Sox, this news is a welcome respite, as facing Skenes in a decisive game would have posed a daunting task for their lineup. Skenes, the reigning National League Cy Young Award winner, has not been the untouchable force he was during his first two major league seasons. His ERA has climbed to a career-high 3.88 through 25 starts, and the Pirates have struggled in his latest appearances, going 3-13 over his last 16 starts.

Despite Skenes' recent struggles, his underlying numbers suggest that the Red Sox still caught a major break. He owns a 3.29 Fielding Independent Pitching (FIP) during this 16-start stretch, a significant improvement over his 5.00 ERA. Additionally, Skenes remains a force to be reckoned with due to his power arsenal, with his average four-seam fastball velocity still reaching 96.8 mph, albeit down from 98.2 mph in 2025. Boston's lineup will have to contend with Bachar, who has fared decently this season, boasting a 1-2 record and a 3.97 ERA across 65 2/3 innings. However, considering Bachar's recent workload, it's unlikely that he'll provide the length the Pirates initially expected from Skenes, which could prompt them to adopt a bullpen game strategy.

The Red Sox, on the other hand, are poised to capitalize on this advantageous situation. They've gained momentum following Sonny Gray's seven scoreless innings on Saturday, capped off by Wilyer Abreu's three extra-base hits. The victory improved their record to 66-57 and marked their 13th shutout of the season. Looking ahead, Boston will need to produce offense against Bachar and the Pittsburgh bullpen, while also potentially navigating the absence of Masataka Yoshida, who suffered a left hamstring strain on Saturday. Nonetheless, avoiding Skenes presents a more favorable scenario for the Red Sox, particularly with Patrick Sandoval slated to start for Boston opposite Bachar. Sandoval has been particularly effective away from Fenway Park, boasting a 2.93 ERA across three road starts.

Boston began the weekend scrambling to recover from a five-game losing streak. A victory on Sunday would give them their second win in three games, a road series victory, and desperately needed momentum heading into the next stretch of their schedule. By dodging Skenes, the Red Sox have made this objective significantly more attainable.

The Red Sox and Pirates will complete their three-game series on Sunday at 1:35 p.m. ET. NESN will carry the game, and Red Sox fans eagerly await the outcome, knowing that every small advantage counts in the tightly contested American League playoff chase.

Rodney Knuppel is a freelance writer for The Sporting News. When not watching, listening, or writing about sports, Rodney enjoys following the travels of his three kids, who are all active in their own sports and activities. A huge St. Louis Cardinals fan, Rodney also enjoys St. Louis Blues hockey and is a big Kansas Jayhawks basketball fan.