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Paul Skenes won’t be the only standout rookie taking the mound for the Pittsburgh Pirates in their upcoming series against the Chicago Cubs. Before Skenes pitches in the series finale on Wednesday, fellow hard-throwing rookie Jared Jones will return to the rotation for Tuesday’s game against Chicago.
Jones (5-6, 3.56 ERA) has been sidelined since July 3, after leaving his start against the St. Louis Cardinals with a lat strain that landed him on the 15-day injured list.
The 23-year-old right-hander recently completed three rehab starts with Triple-A Indianapolis, where he impressed with a 10-strikeout, five-scoreless-inning performance on August 20.
Eager to get back on the big league mound, Jones acknowledged that his pitch count might be limited as he works back into the rotation. Pirates manager Derek Shelton emphasized the importance of Jones finishing the season healthy, highlighting the significance of his return for both the team and the player.
Jones will be tasked with cooling off a Chicago offense that erupted for a season-high performance in their 18-8 victory on Monday, where the Cubs recorded season highs in runs (18), hits (21), and stolen bases (8)—the latter being their highest in a game since 1913.
Miguel Amaya led the charge with a career-high four hits, continuing his recent resurgence at the plate after a slow start to the season. The Cubs’ second-year catcher, who was batting .186 before a brief benching in early July, has since simplified his swing and flourished. Since returning on July 7, Amaya has hit .352 with five home runs and 20 RBIs, helping the Cubs to a 25-17 record and keeping them within 5 1/2 games of the final National League wild-card spot.
Dansby Swanson, who hit a grand slam in Monday’s win, praised Amaya’s adjustment and growing confidence. Speedy center fielder Pete Crow-Armstrong has also been hot, batting .311 since July 27. Alongside Amaya, Crow-Armstrong forms a potent duo at the bottom of the Cubs’ lineup, as the pair combined for seven hits, five RBIs, four runs, and three stolen bases on Monday.
Another strong performance from Chicago’s lineup on Tuesday could push the Cubs above .500 for the first time since late May. They’ll send Justin Steele (4-5, 3.07 ERA) to the mound, coming off a 10-strikeout, no-walk, seven-inning outing against the Detroit Tigers. Steele has struggled against Pittsburgh in the past, with a 1-3 record and 6.44 ERA in eight appearances against them, including an 0-1 mark with a 9.33 ERA in two starts this year.
As for Jones, he faced the Cubs twice in May, allowing six total runs (five earned) over two six-inning starts, splitting the decisions with one win and one loss.