Tarik Skubal and Paul Skenes will square off first in the MLB All-Star Game on Tuesday.
The two were named starting pitchers for the matchup on Saturday, setting up a great battle to kick off the contest at Truist Park in Atlanta.
Both Skubal and Skenes are back for their second All-Star appearances this season. Skenes opened the game for the National League last season, too, and pitched a scoreless inning in the loss to the American League.
Skenes holds a league-best 2.01 ERA so far this season, his second in the league. He has a 4-8 record in 20 starts with 131 strikeouts. The Pirates are 38-58 on the season heading into Sunday’s matchup with the Minnesota Twins. They’ve lost eight straight.
Skubal holds a 2.23 ERA with 153 strikeouts this season, which is second in the league behind only Boston Red Sox starter Garrett Crochet. Skubal holds a 10-3 record, which is also second-best in the league. The Tigers have lost three straight heading into Sunday’s contest against the Seattle Mariners, their final game before the break. They hold a 59-37 record, which is the best in MLB.
The American League has won 10 of the past 11 All-Star Games dating to 2013, including last year’s 5-3 victory in Texas. Arizona Diamondbacks ace Corbin Burnes, then with the Orioles, got the start over Skubal last season for the American League.
The Home Run Derby is set for Monday night in Atlanta, and the All-Star Game will be Tuesday night to wrap up the weekend.
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