The starting pitching matchup for Tuesday night's All-Star Game presented by Mastercard will feature a pair of heavyweights.
The Pirates’ Paul Skenes and Detroit’s Tarik Skubal, two of the best pitchers in baseball, will be the starters for this year's Midsummer Classic at Atlanta's Truist Park.
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This is the second straight year that Skenes will get the starting nod for the National League. Despite being drafted a little over two years ago and making his MLB debut on May 11, 2024, the 23-year-old Skenes has already blossomed into one of the game's most intimidating hurlers.
“It’s a huge honor, so thank you Doc [NL manager Dave Roberts] for giving that to me,” Skenes said, sitting on stage with Skubal on Monday afternoon. “The All-Star Game is something that I was lucky enough to do last year. I don't imagine the scenario where I would turn down starting the All-Star Game. It's just such a huge honor to be on this stage and play with all these unbelievable players, some of them that I've watched for years. To be able to share a field with them is an awesome experience. It’s great to be back.”
Skenes became the fifth rookie pitcher to start when he took the hill in last year’s All-Star Game in Arlington, tossing a scoreless frame against the American League. Skenes would go on to finish with a 1.96 ERA and 4.3 Wins Above Replacement (FanGraphs) in 133 innings before taking home the NL Rookie of the Year Award. Skenes has essentially been just as good this season, posting a Major League-best 2.01 ERA, 4.1 WAR and 131 strikeouts in 121 innings.
In the case of Skubal, this is yet another accolade for a pitcher who has become one of the best -- if not the best -- in the sport. On the heels of his unanimous Cy Young Award-winning season in 2024 -- when he won the American League’s pitching Triple Crown with a 2.39 ERA, 228 strikeouts and 18 wins -- Skubal has been even better in every meaningful category this season.
“I plan to have a ton of fun,” Skubal said on Monday during All-Star media day. “I'm going to go out and compete. Any time you get to toe the rubber and the guys in the other box are the game's best, it's going to bring out the best in you. I'm excited for the opportunity.”
Through his first 19 starts, Skubal has a 2.23 ERA, 4.7 WAR and a 153-to-16 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 121 innings. Skubal has had some truly electrifying performances this season, including a 13-strikeout "Maddux" on May 25 against the Guardians and a 13-strikeout, one-hit gem on Sunday Night Baseball against the Twins on June 29.
"As a kid, you watch the game and you want to be the first arm out there," said Skubal on Sunday. "So I think that's something I'll keep pretty special for the rest of my career, and I'm glad I've been able to check the box at this point in my career. I don't know how many more games I'll play in, but I'm glad I'll get to start this one."
Skubal, who tossed a scoreless inning in last year’s Midsummer Classic, will become the first Tigers pitcher to start the All-Star Game since Max Scherzer in 2013.