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Blue Jays Gameday (May 23): Paul Skenes starts for Pirates as Toronto seeks series victory
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Photo credit: © John E. Sokolowski-Imagn Images
Ryley Delaney
May 23, 2026, 14:00 EDTUpdated: May 23, 2026, 15:15 EDT
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The Toronto Blue Jays are looking for their sixth series victory in their last 10.
Most of those series victories have come in April, as the Jays have just two series wins since the start of May. They took two of three against the Los Angeles Angels, then kicked off their most recent road trip by also taking two of three against the Detroit Tigers.
Well, they have another chance to win a series on Saturday after defeating the Pittsburgh Pirates by a score of 6-2 on Friday. It won’t be easy though.
Starting for the Pirates is Paul Skenes, arguably the best pitcher in baseball. The righty posted a sub-2.00 ERA in both 2024 and 2025, winning the National League’s Rookie of the Year in 2024 and MVP in 2025. This season, the 2023 first overall pick has a 2.62 ERA and 2.64 FIP in 55 innings pitched.
He’s given up 16 earned runs all season, five of which came in his last start, and another five in his first start of the season. Sandwiched between those two starts are eight starts with just six earned runs given up. The Jays have faced Skenes before, back on August 18th, 2025. He went six innings, giving up two earned runs, a walk, and striking out eight over six innings of work.
Starting for the Blue Jays is Patrick Corbin, a real pitcher’s duel. There was a span of five starts where the veteran left-handed pitcher had a 2.77 ERA over 26 innings, but he’s given up six earned runs in eight and one-third innings over his last two starts.
George Springer leads off for the Blue Jays, followed by Daulton Varsho and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. Left-handed hitter Yohendrick Piñango bats clean up, followed by another left-handed hitter, Jesús Sánchez. Ernie Clement bats sixth, Andrés Giménez bats seventh, Lenyn Sosa bats eighth, and Tyler Heineman bats ninth.
The Blue Jays have to find a way to win this game against a Cy Young contender. If they do win, they’ll earn their first four-game win streak of the season.
Location:  Toronto
First Pitch: 3:07 PM ET
Watch/Listen: Sportsnet, SN590

Starting Pitchers

Toronto Blue Jays – Patrick Corbin: 1-1 record, 4.23 ERA, 38.1 IP, 25 SO, 12 BB
Pittsburgh Pirates – Paul Skenes: 6-3 record, 2.62 ERA, 55 IP, 63 SO, 8 BB

Lineups:

Blue Jays:
  1. George Springer – DH
  2. Daulton Varsho – CF
  3. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. – 1B
  4. Yohendrick Piñango – LF
  5. Jesús Sánchez – RF
  6. Ernie Clement – 3B
  7. Andrés Giménez – SS
  8. Lenyn Sosa – 2B
  9. Tyler Heineman – C
Pirates:
  1. Nick Gonzales – 2B
  2. Konnor Griffin – SS
  3. Bryan Reynolds – LF
  4. Marcell Ozuna – DH
  5. Spencer Horwitz – 1B
  6. Jhostynxon Garcia – CF
  7. Jared Triolo – 3B
  8. Esmerlyn Valdez – RF
  9. Henry Davis – C
Ryley Delaney is a Nation Network writer for Blue Jays Nation, Oilersnation, and FlamesNation. She can be followed on Twitter @Ryley__Delaney.
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