The Braves vs Pirates matchup on Tuesday night at PNC Park has a clear pitching focus: Hurston Waldrep gets the ball for Atlanta, while Paul Skenes starts for Pittsburgh. First pitch is set for Tuesday, July 7, at 6:40 pm EDT.
For the Braves, this is only Waldrep's third appearance of the season and his second start. That alone makes this an important outing for Atlanta, which is coming off two tough losses in a row and needs a steadier night on the mound.
Waldrep has shown flashes in limited work. In his recent outings, he allowed five hits, one home run, three earned runs, one walk and one HBP while striking out four across 5.1 innings. In another appearance, he threw 2.0 innings, gave up seven earned runs, walked four and recorded one at-bat. A third line shows 4.0 innings and four earned runs. The raw results have been uneven, but the Braves are still giving him another chance to hold a rotation spot.
What Skenes brings into the matchup
Skenes, meanwhile, enters the game with more attention on his recent form. The article notes that he has been struggling lately, even though his expected ERA remains strong. His track record is still hard to ignore: he won the Cy Young Award and posted a 1.96 ERA in the previous season referenced here.
There are also signs that help explain why his recent stretch has drawn notice. In 2024, Skenes had an 85.6 percent strand rate and at times averaged 99.3 MPH on his fastball. In the more recent season referenced in the article, his strand rate was 82.4 percent and his ERA was 1.96. The current concern is less about whether he has top-end talent and more about whether he is sustaining the same dominance from one outing to the next.
The matchup also comes at a time when Pittsburgh's offense has picked up. The Pirates have been an offensive force since the start of June and in the last two weeks, which adds another layer to a game that could go beyond a simple starter-vs-starter storyline. If Skenes gives them a normal night and the lineup keeps producing, Pittsburgh will be in a strong position.
For Atlanta, the priority is simpler: get Waldrep through a competitive start and avoid another early deficit. For Pittsburgh, the goal is to let Skenes set the tone while the bats continue their recent run. Either way, Braves vs Pirates should offer a useful look at a young starter trying to settle in and a star pitcher looking to sharpen up again.
