Pirates' Paul Skenes Makes MLB History With Consecutive All-Star Starts

Paul Skenes and Tarik Skubal have been named the starting pitchers for the 2025 MLB All-Star Game, setting up a highly anticipated duel. Skenes, a 23-year-old right-hander for the Pittsburgh Pirates, is the youngest pitcher to start back-to-back All-Star Games and leads MLB with a 2.01 ERA and 131 strikeouts in 121 innings, despite a frustrating 4-8 record largely due to poor run support from his team. Skubal, the reigning AL Cy Young winner with the Detroit Tigers, has been dominant this season with a 2.23 ERA, a 0.83 WHIP, and an impressive strikeout-to-walk ratio, solidifying his status as one of baseball's best young pitchers. Skenes broke multiple rookie records last year, including being the first rookie since 1905 with an ERA+ over 200 and the fewest starts by a rookie before an All-Star nod, highlighting his exceptional talent. However, his current win-loss record contrasts sharply with his dominant ERA, marking one of the most notable disparities in recent MLB history. Both pitchers were selected amid several top candidates withdrawing for workload reasons, underscoring their elite status and the significance of their matchup at Truist Park.