Tigers' banner 2025 season continues with Tarik Skubal All-Star Game news

As we touched on Friday, with New York Yankees starting pitcher Max Fried being replaced on the American League All-Star roster, the stars were aligning for Tarik Skubal to officially be named the starter for the American League for the All-Star game on Tuesday.

In previous years, the decision was revealed on the Monday before the game, but MLB decided to jump the gun: the starting pitchers for the Midsummer Classic were revealed on Saturday night.

It'll be Skubal facing off against Pittsburgh Pirates phenom Paul Skenes in what's one of the best starter matchups in recent memory.

Tarik Skubal vs. Paul Skenes might be the All-Star Game’s biggest moment

With Fried backing out, there was no worry that Aaron Boone would snub Skubal in favor of one of his pitchers with the Yankees. There is no question that the American League has a pitching staff full of stars, but Skubal was the obvious choice. As the Tigers have been the best team in baseball for most of the season, Skubal has made the case for being the best pitcher in baseball.

In 19 starts prior to the All-Star break, Skubal has a 2.23 ERA and 153 strikeouts in 121 innings pitched. Just like the Tigers have already wrapped up the American League Central this season, it would seem that Skubal is already a lock to win the American League Cy Young Award.

Skubal is the first Tigers pitcher to start for the American League in the All-Star Game since Max Scherzer did so in 2016. Prior to Scherzer, Kenny Rogers (2006) was the only other Tigers pitcher to earn the honors during the 21st century.

Of course, Skubal's counterpart in the National League has been equally as dominant. In 20 starts this season, Skenes has a 2.01 ERA and 131 strikeouts in 121 innings pitched. Like Skubal, Skenes has a strong chance of winning the National League Cy Young Award, which is impressive in its own right, considering the Pirates are one of the worst teams in the National League this season.

A Skubal-Skenes matchup will be appointment television once the All-Star Game gets underway on Tuesday night, and it's a milestone that will mark that the Tigers have arrived on the national scene.

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