Fri Apr 18 21:50:00 UTC 2025: ## Guardians Face Ortiz’s Homecoming and Skenes’ Dominance in Pittsburgh Series
**Pittsburgh, PA** – The Cleveland Guardians face a tough weekend series against the Pittsburgh Pirates, featuring two compelling pitching matchups. Friday night sees the return of Luis Ortiz, who will face his former team for the first time since being traded. Ortiz, coming off his best start of the season (10 strikeouts, 1 run allowed in 5 2/3 innings), is expected to be highly motivated in his homecoming to PNC Park.
The real headline, however, is Saturday’s game featuring Pirates’ rookie phenom Paul Skenes. The number one overall pick in the 2023 draft, Skenes has quickly become a baseball sensation, already earning an All-Star start and finishing third in Cy Young voting. This will be Cleveland’s first chance to face the highly touted pitcher, who boasts a 2-1 record and a 2.96 ERA in four starts. His off-field celebrity status, coupled with his on-field dominance, makes him a particularly intriguing opponent.
The series promises an exciting clash of pitching talent and storylines, offering fans a compelling interleague matchup.
First Piper 