The challenge of trying to bounce back against Paul Skenes

Are you a glass-half-empty or half-full kind of person? That question feels particularly pertinent given the context of today’s game against the Pittsburgh Pirates. On one hand, despite recent losses, you find yourself playing a last-place team, but on the other, you have to go up against the National League’s best pitcher, Paul Skenes.

Los Angeles will send an ace of its own to the mound in Blake Snell. These days, though, you’re likely at a disadvantage regardless of whom you have going up against Skenes, who’s been making a mockery out of MLB hitters ever since his call-up last season.

Perhaps even more positive for the Dodgers than having Snell on the mound is that Skenes, for as great as he is, can’t affect the production of his offense. The Pirates’ lineup is among the worst-perfor