Pittsburgh Pirates ace Paul Skenes is putting together a Cy Young-worthy season everywhere but in the win-loss column.

The Pittsburgh Pirates are back in town and will be opening a week-long homestand tonight with the Toronto Blue Jays and the Colorado Rockies coming to PNC Park. For some time now, it's been clear that the Pirates won't be making the playoffs this season, but there are still nights when 30,000 fans show up at PNC Park.

The Toronto Blue Jays entered Monday night’s series opener against the Pittsburgh Pirates firmly atop the AL East with a 73-52 record.

Its a Paul Skenes Monday as the Pittsburgh Pirates (52-73) host Kevin Gausman and the Toronto Blue Jays (73-52) in the first of a three-game series at PNC Park.

The high-flying Blue Jays play the passive Pirates in Pittsburgh. Toronto’s Kevin “win one, lose one” Gausman’s career record is 110-111. Paul Skenes hasn’t given up an earned run at home in 31 innings. The Jays are 31-31 on the road. The Bucs are 34-29 at home.

Toronto Blue Jays star Vladimir Guerrero Jr .’s power numbers are down from their peak in 2021, but he remains one of baseball’s top players. The 26-year-old entered Monday’s bout with the Pittsburgh Pirates tied for seventh in MLB with a .300 batting average and eighth with a .898 OPS.

The Pittsburgh Pirates are still struggling. They are 52-73 and well out of postseason contention. They appeared to have a window with strong starting pitching

Shortstop/outfielder Konnor Griffin, who the Pirates selected within the top 10 of the 2024 draft, will end his season at the Double-A level.

They’re the last words you want to hear if you’re a Blue Jays fan. “Now pinch-hitting for Vladimir Guerrero Jr. …”