Courtesy: Sportskeeda
PITTSBURGH, PA (PTTP) – The New York Yankees and the Pittsburgh Pirates, two iconic baseball franchises, meet once again for the Pirates’ home opener April 4-6th. Two legendary players, Paul Skenes and Andrew McCutchen, are positively shaping their presence between this old rivalry.
Before he became the Pirates’ ace, Paul Skenes was already making history at the collegiate level. At LSU, he led the Tigers to a national championship. In the College World Series, he struck out 12 batters in a single game and finished the year with 209 strikeouts, the most in Division I baseball.
In his first season with the Pirates in 2024, Skenes was named National League Rookie of the Year, led the Pirates’ rotation, and made his first All-Star appearance, where he got the best of Yankees captain Aaron Judge. After a dominant first season, Skenes was given the honor of starting Opening Day for the Pirates in 2025.
And while Skenes represents the Pirates’ future, Andrew McCutchen embodies its past and present. The former MVP, five-time All-Star, and the heart of Pittsburgh baseball, McCutchen’s return to the Pirates brought back memories of their playoff runs in the early 2010s.
In the Pirates’ home opener, McCutchen launched his first home run of the 2025 season, and last season, McCutchen drove in 20 home runs, 62 RBIs, and posted an on-base percentage of over .350. McCutchen previously played for the San Francisco Giants, the Philadelphia Phillies, and the New York Yankees themselves, before returning to the Pirates in 2023. After his return, McCutchen continues what could be his final season in black and gold, while his leadership strives to shape the next generation of Pirates stars.
Baseball’s past, present, and future collide this weekend in Pittsburgh, beginning on Friday, April 4th, and concluding the series on Sunday, April 6th for an exhilarating matchup, all at PNC Park.