BALTIMORE — The Red Sox will face National League Cy Young award frontrunner Paul Skenes on Friday.

Skenes, the first overall pick in the 2023 MLB Draft, has a 2.02 ERA in 50 career starts. The 23-year-old Pirates righty leads the league this season in multiple categories: ERA (2.07), FIP (2.40), ERA+ (205) and fewest home runs per nine innings (0.5).

His fastball averages 98.1 mph and he has held opponents to a .206 batting average against it. Opponents are batting .143 against his sweeper and .096 against his changeup. He also throws a splinker, a hybrid between a cutter and sinker.

“He’s a great pitcher,” manager Alex Cora said. “Up there with the (Zack) Wheelers of the world. They’re playing well, too. They have a good pitching staff, obviously led by him. And it’s just a good one

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