Thursday’s “First Call” has encouraging words about Pittsburgh Steelers rookie Eli Heidenreich. Paul Skenes looks to stop a short personal slide for the Pirates. Ian Happ helped the Chicago Cubs end an extended team-wide tumble at PNC Park.

Gerrit Cole continues to look fantastic in his return. Jordan Staal is fending off Father Time, and Robert Morris hockey announces its 2026-27 captains.

Good start

Eli Heidenreich was always going to get a little bit more hype than the average seventh-round pick.

The pomp and circumstance of being a Mt. Lebanon kid drafted out of Navy in front of the Pittsburgh fanbase laid the foundation for that.

But according to his position coach, Heidenreich has been more than just a good story.

“He’s been awesome for us,” running backs coach Ramon Chinyoung Sr. said Wednesday.

“He’s been in my room every day. He is a ‘Swiss Navy knife.’ I told him to patent that. Great kid, does a great job of just meshing with the guys and relationships, but also taking the time to learn the scheme, identifying where he fits.”

The fact that Heidenreich is spending time in Chinyoung’s RB room is noteworthy because of that Swiss Army/Navy knife reference. While listed as a running back coming out of Navy, it’s believed Heidenreich may play more slot receiver than anything else.

So, still getting that much time in the RB room is interesting to point out.

Uncharted territory

Pirates All-Star Paul Skenes is about to try something different Thursday night at PNC Park.

He’s going to attempt to snap out of a slump.

Last year’s Cy Young winner has lost his last two starts, allowing five earned runs in five innings against Philadelphia on May 17 and yielding four earned runs in five innings in Toronto on Saturday.

This is the first time Skenes has had to pitch after giving up three earned runs or more in consecutive starts. He’ll do so against the Chicago Cubs, who stomped the Pirates 10-4 on Wednesday night.

That result snapped a three-game Pirates win streak and a 10-game Cubs losing streak. Ian Happ homered along the way for the Cubs.

The Mt. Lebanon High School grad now has 20 home runs and 85 career RBIs against his hometown team.

Skenes is 2-2 against the Cubs with a 2.94 ERA over his first three MLB seasons. In seven starts against the Cubs, he’s totaled 43 strikeouts and 17 walks.

2nd verse better than the 1st

For as good as Gerrit Cole was in his long-awaited return from Tommy John surgery, the New York Yankees ace was even better in his second start.

The former Pirates All-Star racked up 10 strikeouts and no walks over 6⅔ innings of shutout baseball Wednesday night. He got the win as the Yanks blanked Kansas City 7-0.

Cole only allowed four hits along the way. He totaled 79 pitches before getting pulled.

That effort was a strong sequel following his 2026 debut Friday night against Tampa. The 2023 Cy Young winner allowed only two hits over six scoreless innings during that game, walking three and striking out two batters en route to a no-decision in a 4-2 Yankees loss.

Cole’s next start should be at home against Cleveland on Thursday. New York’s win, coupled with Tampa Bay’s 11-2 loss in Baltimore, means the Yankees (34-22) are now just 1.5 games back of the Rays (34-19) in the American League East.

Hurricane force gusts

The Carolina Hurricanes blew through Montreal and now have the Canadiens on the brink of elimination in the Eastern Conference final.

After a 3-2 overtime win in Canada on Monday, Carolina pounced on Montreal on Wednesday night with three goals over a three-minute span in the first period en route to a 4-0 shutout.

Former Penguins Stanley Cup Champion Jordan Staal scored one of those goals to help the Hurricanes claim a 3-1 series lead.

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That was Staal’s second of the postseason. The 37-year-old center has now played 174 career playoff games and has scored 40 goals.

One other hockey note, Robert Morris University has named its team captains for the 2026-27 season.

Center Patrick Johnson will wear the “C.” Winger Jackson Reineke and defensemen Dominic Elliott and John Babcock will serve as alternate captains.