Paul Skenes’s Helpful Tip to Shota Imanaga Ironically Came Back to Bite Pirates

Pittsburgh Pirates ace Paul Skenes lent a helping hand to fellow rookie and Chicago Cubs lefthander Shota Imanaga before a game between the two clubs in August.

But the advice ironically came back to bite the Pirates. Skenes, speaking to reporters at the All-MLB Awards show in Las Vegas, told the amusing story of how he helped Imanaga with a particular pitch grip only to watch in horror as the Cubs pitcher carved up the Pirates lineup a week later.

“I regret this one a little bit,” Skenes said. “Shota came up to me when we were in Pittsburgh and he asked me how I held my fastball. And not my sinker. And so I was like, ‘Yeah, here you go dude, like, whatever, check it out.’ “

This is wild …

Shota Imanaga asked Paul Skenes to show him his fastball grip.

Imanaga no-hit the Pirates his next outing against them 😮 pic.twitter.com/pRhnWjIdZH

— MLB (@MLB) November 15, 2024

“And then he no-hit us his next outing,” Skenes said with a laugh.

Indeed, just a week later, Imanaga pitched seven no-hit innings vs. the Pirates at Wrigley Field, handing the no-no over to the Cubs bullpen, which finished the job.

Skenes said he wasn’t sure if Imanaga was using the grip he showed him for his fastball. But the Cubs pitcher, speaking through his interpreter Edwin Stanberry at the awards event, acknowledged that the tip had given him a competitive boost.

“Maybe looking back … The reason I had a good game was maybe that talk we had,” Imanaga said.

It’s likely that Skenes will think twice before offering an opposing pitcher any tips moving forward.

Related Posts

Cubs Devastating Cade Horton Injury Update: GM Carter Hawkins Drops Bombshell After MRI — Rotation Future in Jeopardy!

Getty Chіcаgo Cubѕ іnjured аce Cаde Horton got аn uрdаte from the club’ѕ generаl mаnаger Mondаy. Chіcаgo Cubѕ аce rіght-hаnder Cаde Horton wаѕ ѕcheduled for аn MRі…

Rаngerѕ Fаnѕ Alreаdy Loѕіng Fаіth In Three Plаyerѕ

іMаGe: іmаgn іmаgeѕ The Texаѕ Rаngerѕ’ home oрenіng ѕerіeѕ аgаіnѕt the Cіncіnnаtі Redѕ wаѕ а tough ріll to ѕwаllow, endіng іn а ѕweeр thаt droррed them below…

Red Sox Fans on High Alert: Latest Triston Casas Injury Update Just Dropped — And It’s Worse Than Expected

Boѕton Red ѕox іnfіelder Trіѕton Cаѕаѕ recently endured аn іnjury ѕetbаck. The lаteѕt uрdаte іѕ not much better. Red ѕox mаnаger аlex Corа рrovіded аn uрdаte on…

CARDINALS IN FREE FALL: Manager Drops Brutal Admission After Ugly Bullpen Meltdown in Embarrassing Loss to Nationals

Sam Navarro-Imagn Images The St. Louis Cardinals were defeated 9-6 by the Washington Nationals on Monday. Starting pitcher Andre Pallante turned in a respectable performance, allowing two…

ASTROS IN CRISIS: Devastating Josh Hader Injury Update Just Dropped in Latest Houston Injury News — This Changes EVERYTHING!

The Houѕton аѕtroѕ receіved encourаgіng іnjury uрdаteѕ Tueѕdаy, аѕ рrogreѕѕ from Joѕh Hаder, Bennett ѕouѕа, аnd Nаte рeаrѕon ѕіgnаled рotentіаl reіnforcementѕ for а ріtchіng ѕtаff nаvіgаtіng eаrly-ѕeаѕon…

🚨 BOMBSHELL: EMPTY SEATS EMBARRASSMENT, STEVE COHEN CALLS OUT METS FANS AFTER FREE TICKETS — frustration spills over as the owner fires a blunt message that’s now stirring heated reactions across the fanbase. What was meant to spark energy has instead exposed a deeper disconnect… and the fallout is just getting started..ll 👇👇👇

The New York Mets found themselves at the center of an unexpected controversy, as a well-intentioned gesture toward fans turned into a revealing moment about attendance, loyalty,…