Blue Jays chase superstar pitcher Paul Skenes en route to win over visiting Pittsburgh Pirates

Note the unusual 12:15 p.m. start time for Sunday's series finale

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Published May 23, 2026  •  Last updated 15 minutes ago  •  4 minute read

George Springer of the Toronto Blue Jays high-fives teammates after hitting a home run in the first inning of an MLB game against the Pittsburgh Pirates at the Rogers Centre on May 23, 2026 in Toronto. Photo by Tara Walton /Getty Images

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Three pitches into the bottom of the first inning, and the Blue Jays took a 1-0 lead when George Springer took Paul Skenes deep into left field, by far the ideal way to start a game knowing the opposition’s starter is among baseball’s best.

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In some corners, Skenes ranks as the pre-eminent starting pitcher in the business.

For Skenes, it was his first start at Rogers Centre where fans didn’t seem to appreciate the occasion.

As the club celebrates its 50th anniversary, most fans seem more fixated on that day’s giveaway.

Saturday was dubbed Cricket Day at the Park.

No crickets were heard when Springer’s dinger elicited an eruption from the faithful as the veteran went deep for the fifth time this season, belting the 65th leadoff homer of his career, placing Springer second behind the legendary Rickey Henderson (81) for the most in MLB history.

Talk about beginning a game with a bang!

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For someone who casts such an imposing presence, the Jays relished the moment as evidence by Springer’s at-bat, the ultimate tone setter.

A tweak to the Jays’ batting order saw Vladimir Guerrero Jr. back in the No. 3 hole with the ever-emerging Yohendrick Pinango batting cleanup.

The day’s catalyst was Springer, as the Jays would win the game, 5-2, as Toronto’s win streak increased to four in a row, a season high. The club is in position to record a series sweep for the first time since opening weekend when the Athletics were in town.

The following are three takeaways on a day that featured Pirates manager Don Kelly getting tossed after blowing his lid on a blown check-swing call on Jesus Sanchez; the actual ejection occurred when he vehemently objected to a check-swing call on Lenyn Sosa; it was a day that saw Tyler Heineman go yard for the first time this season.

Paul Skenes of the Pittsburgh Pirates pitches against the Toronto Blue Jays during an MLB game at the Rogers Centre on May 23, 2026 in Toronto. Photo by Tara Walton /Getty Images

SKINNY ON SKENES

The electric right-hander needed 22 pitches to get out of the first inning when Skenes gave up six total bases.

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Besides the Springer homer, Skenes yielded a double to Pinango.

Eleven pitches would be enough in the second, when Skenes gave up a single to Andres Gimenez.

Skenes had his first clean inning in the third, when he retired the top of the Jays’ order, capped off by an inning-ending pop out in foul territory off the bat of Vlad Jr.

In the fourth, Jesus Sanchez hit a double on a sequence that required video review.

Another double was recorded, this time by Springer, with two outs in the fifth.

Through five, Skenes’ pitch count stood at 81, while giving up five hits and recording two strikeouts, one each by Springer and Tyler Heineman.

The sixth proved to be Skenes’ undoing, when the Jays chased him after scoring three runs.

THE CORBIN-ATOR

Patrick Corbin does not have the same cachet as Skenes, but the wily veteran has turned into a reliable option for the Jays, who signed the left-hander out of desperation at a time when Toronto’s starters were dropping much like the club’s record.

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Nothing is set in stone when it comes to Corbin’s long-term viability with the franchise, but when he’s on the mound, good things often happen.

It would be a stretch to call Saturday’s game a pitchers’ duel, but runs were scarce for the better part of the day.

The Pirates scored their first run in the top of the sixth with two outs to tie the game 1-1.

When all was said and done, Corbin outpitched Skenes, a description no one, including the most delusional fan of the Blue Jays, would have dared utter.

In his ninth start of the season, Corbin’s six-inning outing was his longest.

Not bad for someone who was signed to a $1-million contract, an investment the Jays have clearly made the most of, knowing future gains remain on the table.

SWINGING WITH SANCHEZ

Much like the potential dilemma facing the Jays with Pinango, a similar predicament awaits involving Jesus Sanchez.

Keep in mind the club’s injured players, all of whom played key roles last season, will be back at some point. Roster moves will have to be made.

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Sanchez is a hit-and-miss hitter, but when he’s raking, the guy is a tough out.

On Saturday, he had two doubles, scored a run, and knocked in a run as Sanchez emerged as a key catalyst in Toronto’s win, one day after the Jays managed five hits in a 6-2 victory that wasn’t decided until late on a night the Pirates committed three errors.

In the opening two games of the series, the Jays did not commit a single error until reliever Yariel Rodriguez somehow decided to throw to second base in the eighth on an ill-advised attempted pickoff with the Jays leading by four runs.

The error led to a Pirates run, which was unearned.

UP NEXT

Note the unusual 12:15 p.m. start time for Sunday’s series finale, the price one pays when sports leagues continue to sell out to streaming services willing to dole out big bucks in an attempt to attract more eyeballs; it’s the way of the sports world, which will only get worse; be that as it may, the Jays will have Dylan Cease on the mound, while the visiting Buccos are scheduled to have Mitch Keller on the bump in a battle of right-handers.

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