Paul Skenes of the Pittsburgh Pirates and Tarik Skubal of the Detroit Tigers will be the starting pitchers for the National League and American League, respectively, at the 2025 MLB All-Star Game. The event is scheduled for Tuesday, July 15, at Truist Park, promising a highly anticipated pitching duel between two dominant young arms.
Skenes earned the National League starting role from Los Angeles Dodgers’ manager Dave Roberts, who is overseeing the NL team after his club’s 2024 World Series victory. Meanwhile, Skubal was selected as the American League starter by New York Yankees’ manager Aaron Boone, managing the AL squad after leading his team to the 2024 Pennant.
Paul Skenes’ Rise to All-Star Starter in Just Two Seasons
This marks the second year in a row that Paul Skenes begins as the National League’s starting pitcher at the All-Star Game, a notable achievement in only his sophomore MLB season. His rookie-year All-Star start placed him among a select group, as he became just the fifth rookie ever to start the midsummer classic.
In his debut All-Star appearance, Skenes impressed with a 1.90 ERA, 89 strikeouts over 66.1 innings, and he delivered a scoreless inning, allowing no hits while walking a single batter. Over the current 2025 season, he has started 20 games, maintaining a strong 2.01 ERA with 131 strikeouts and a 0.93 WHIP in 121 innings, demonstrating his steady development and consistency.
Tarik Skubal’s Strong Impact and Recent Accolades
Tarik Skubal is also making his second straight All-Star appearance, showcasing his continued prowess on the mound. At the time of his selection, Skubal posted a 2.37 ERA, 0.90 WHIP, and 132 strikeouts in 110 innings. He had an exceptional All-Star debut by pitching a perfect second inning for the American League.
Skubal earned the prestigious pitching Triple Crown in 2024, leading the AL in wins (18), ERA (2.39), and strikeouts (228). This season, his impressive form continues with 121 innings pitched, a 2.23 ERA, 153 strikeouts, and a remarkably low 0.83 WHIP, making him one of the top pitchers in the league once more.
Dominant Pitching Matchup Reflects Their Outstanding Seasons
Both Skenes and Skubal have emerged as the clear choices to begin the All-Star contest for their leagues, despite opportunities for others like Garrett Crochet from the Boston Red Sox and Zack Wheeler of the Philadelphia Phillies. Both Crochet and Wheeler opted not to participate, highlighting the significance of Skenes and Skubal’s selection due to their consistent dominance and durability.
Their matchup is set to be a central storyline of the 2025 MLB All-Star Game, generating excitement for fans eager to see two of the major league’s rising stars face off on one of baseball’s biggest stages.
Details on the 2025 MLB All-Star Game Broadcast
The game will take place at Truist Park, starting at 5 p.m. PT, with coverage on FOX. Joe Davis will serve as the play-by-play announcer, supported by analyst John Smoltz and reporters Ken Rosenthal and Tom Verducci, providing comprehensive commentary and insights throughout the event.
This matchup not only celebrates the achievements of these headline pitchers but also marks a defining moment in their young careers, as they showcase their talents in front of a national audience. The performance of Skenes and Skubal in this game could set the tone for their trajectories in the coming seasons, emphasizing their roles as foundational players in MLB’s future.
Our Reader’s Queries
Q. Did anyone pull the Paul Skenes?
A. The family first connected with Fanatics Collect on January 2. Nineteen days afterwards, Topps revealed that an 11-year-old collector found the Skenes card in one hobby box.
Q. How much is Paul Skenes getting paid?
A. In 2023, he received a $9.2 million signing bonus. For 2024, he agreed to a one-year deal with the Pirates, earning $740,000 before arbitration. In 2025, he is still in pre-arbitration, accepting a yearly pay of $875,000.
Q. What is so special about Paul Skenes?
A. He was the first pitcher in the Modern Era to achieve 150 strikeouts with an ERA below 2.00 in his initial 22 games. Since earned runs became an official statistic in 1913, only Steve Rogers had a lower ERA in his first 22 starts with a 1.95 ERA during 1973-74.
Q. How much is Paul Skenes paid?
A. Paul Skenes moved through the MLB’s minor leagues and debuted in the majors with the Pirates in 2024. In 2023, he received a $9.2 million signing bonus. In 2024, he signed a one-year deal with the Pirates, earning $740,000 before arbitration.