It’s the penultimate weekend of regular season baseball, with the Royals kicking off their final road series of the year, and what a journey it’s been for both clubs. Tonight’s pitching matchup features Randy Dobnak, sporting a sharp 2.73 ERA, facing off against Paul Skenes, who’s got a 3.78 ERA. On paper, that looks like a clean win for KC, but anyone who’s been watching knows that numbers don’t always tell the whole story.
Dobnak’s Unstoppable Run Continues
Randy Dobnak, that hirsute 31-year-old, has been nothing short of unbelievable this season. We’re talking Dobnak Time, folks, and it’s still running strong after a full 13 games and 11 starts! Think about that: that’s already a third of a season where he’s just consistently delivered. It seriously looks like his incredible run won’t stop before the season wraps up entirely. This kind of consistent performance bodes incredibly well for Dobnak’s future, no question. Even if the Royals decide, for some inexplicable reason, not to bring him back in 2027, it’s clear he’s done enough to grab a big league deal somewhere. No more worrying about upward mobility clauses just to get on a 40-man roster, this dude is making a name for himself.
Skenes’ “Lackluster” Season Still Turning Heads
Then there’s Paul Skenes, who’s apparently having the worst season of his young career. Yeah, you heard that right, his worst season. But here’s the kicker: he’s still projected to be worth nearly 5 fWAR. Seriously? Most players would kill for a “bad” season like that! It just shows you the kind of talent we’re dealing with. He’s stacked up a couple of solid starts recently, which is great, but let’s not forget he got absolutely shelled by the “lowly” San Francisco Giants just before that. The Giants, a team that’s supposedly got little to no offensive capabilities, hammered him. So, despite the strong numbers, maybe the Royals actually have a genuine shot against him tonight. This game is also a big one for Skenes because it’s his first ever appearance against the Royals. They’ve somehow managed to dance around him for the past two seasons, but the time has finally come for them to face him.
Lineup Shakes and What’s Ahead
On the lineup front for tonight’s game, Jac Caglianone, who hasn’t registered a hit since coming back from his most recent arm injury, is getting the day off. Good move to rest him. Maikel Garcia, on the other hand, is back in there for his second straight day. John Rave and Nick Loftin will be holding down the corners. Honestly, the Pirates only have about three hitters that truly get on my radar, and a couple of those names I barely even recognize. But you know how baseball goes, just because the big bats aren’t all there, it doesn’t mean tonight’s game will be an easy ride for anyone. This game is a significant one as we head into the very end of the regular season. For the Royals, it marks the close of their road schedule, capping off what’s been described as a “long, disappointing journey.” Every pitch from here on out carries a bit more weight as teams wind down. Will Dobnak keep his incredible run going, or will Skenes prove why his “worst season” is still better than most? The final road series is always a gut check, and we’ll be watching to see how it plays out tonight.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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