The Opener: Skenes, Woo, Iglesias

As the 2024 regular season continues, here are three things we’ll be keeping an eye on around the baseball world headed into the weekend:

1. Skenes to debut:

Less than a year after he was selected first overall in the 2023 draft, Pirates right-hander Paul Skenes is set to be promoted to the big leagues this weekend. Skenes, who will celebrate his 22nd birthday later this month, has carved up Triple-A hitters to the tune of a microscopic 0.99 ERA across seven starts at the level with an incredible 42.9% strikeout rate in 27 1/3 innings of work. The young fireballer will make his MLB debut at PNC Park in Pittsburgh on Saturday, where he’ll take on Cubs ace Justin Steele (0.96 ERA in two starts this season). First pitch is scheduled for 4:05pm local time Saturday afternoon.

2. Woo to be activated:

Mariners manager Scott Servais offered some exciting news to reporters (including Ryan Divish of the Seattle Times) yesterday afternoon when he revealed that youngster Bryan Woo will be activated off the injured list today to take the ball against the A’s in Seattle this evening. Woo, 24, has missed the entire 2024 season to this point due to elbow inflammation but made 18 starts with the Mariners in his rookie season last year. In 87 2/3 innings of work, Woo posted a respectable 4.21 ERA and 4.36 FIP with a solid 25.1% strikeout rate. Woo’s start will begin at 6:40pm local time this evening, when he’ll pitch opposite Oakland right-hander Paul Blackburn.

3. Iglesias approaching milestone:

Braves closer Raisel Iglesias currently has 199 career saves, leaving him just one away from becoming the 54th player in MLB history to reach the 200 saves milestone. After joining Atlanta at the trade deadline in 2022 in a deal with the Angels, the right-hander has posted a sterling 1.96 ERA in 96 1/3 innings of work with the Braves while striking out 27.8% of batters faced. Even by those lofty standards, the right-hander is off to an impressive start this season; in 14 1/3 innings of work, the 34-year-old veteran has posted a 1.88 ERA with a 2.60 FIP, though he’s managed just ten strikeouts in that time. Iglesias could get the opportunity to reach the milestone this weekend in Queens, where the Braves will be visiting the Mets for a three-game set.