Paul Skenes and Tarik Skubal to Open the All-Star Game
Pitchers Paul Skenes of the Pittsburgh Pirates and Tarik Skubal of the Detroit Tigers have been designated as starters for the All-Star Game, which will be held on Tuesday in Atlanta.
Skenes, right-handed pitcher, will represent the National League, while Skubal, left-handed, will do so for the American League.
Dave Roberts, manager of the Los Angeles Dodgers, selected Skenes for the National League. Aaron Boone, manager of the New York Yankees, chose Skubal for the American League.
This will be the second All-Star Game start for 23-year-old Skenes. In last year’s game, where the American League won 5-3 in Arlington, Texas, Skenes pitched a scoreless first inning, with one walk.
The Pirates’ ace has a 4-8 record this season, but leads the league with a 2.01 ERA in 20 starts, with 131 strikeouts in 121 innings. Skenes has had a 1.49 ERA in his last 12 starts.
Skubal, 28, will also make his second consecutive All-Star Game appearance. In last year’s game, he followed American League starter Corbin Burnes with a perfect second inning.
The Tigers’ ace has a 10-3 record with a 2.23 ERA in 19 starts, after winning his first American League Cy Young award last season, where he had an 18-4 record with a 2.39 ERA in 31 starts. Skubal has a 2.05 ERA in his last 14 starts.
The last Tigers pitcher to start an All-Star Game was Max Scherzer in 2013.
