For the third straight year, the Pittsburgh Pirates’ ace pitcher Paul Skenes has been selected to the National League All-Star team.
Despite his recent struggles Skenes still has All-Star caliber numbers, but there was some surprise that rotation partner Braxton Ashcraft did not receive the nod given the incredible season he’s had. Still though, Skenes is honored to once again be selected. Skenes is in rarified air as he joins Rip Sewell and Elroy Face as the only Pirates’ pitchers to be selected to three-consecutive All-Star teams. He’s also the first Bucco since Andrew McCutchen to be named to three-straight All-Star games.
“It’s always awesome. It’s an awesome recognition,” Skenes said. “The All-Star Game is always fun, so it’s gonna be cool.”
Although this has been mostly a down year for Skenes, he still sits near the top of what has been a stacked group of NL pitchers this season. The reigning Cy-Young Award winner has a 3.62 ERA with 119 strikeouts, which ranks fourth in the NL. He’s also holding opposing batters to a .211 batting average, and still has a very respectable 1.01 WHIP on the season. Even in his worst year as a pro, Skenes is still very worthy of this All-Star nomination. Skenes joins Yu Darvish, Dwight Gooden and Tom Seaver as the only pitchers in MLB history to be named to the All-Star Game in each of their first three seasons.
Manager Don Kelly reaffirmed that Skenes deserves his All-Star nod.
“I know he’s been in a tough stretch right now, but he certainly deserves it,” Kelly said. “He’s one of the best pitchers in the Major Leagues, and he totally deserves to be on that stage. There’s nobody that really wants to face Paul.”
Although Skenes has been named to the All-Star team there’s a good chance that he doesn’t actually participate in the game. He is currently scheduled to pitch against the Atlanta Braves on Tuesday this week and then again on Sunday against the Milwaukee Brewers. Sunday’s contest is two days before the All-Star Game, which would make Skenes ineligible to pitch in the contest. The Pirates have already come out and stated that they do not intend to alter their pitching schedule to give Skenes any kind of rest, so it’s almost a foregone conclusion that he won’t participate.
There has yet to be replacements named for the game, but Skenes has advocated for Ashcraft to get selected.
“That’s not going to change. … I’m throwing on Sunday,” Skenes said. “I would hope that would open up a spot, and hopefully, Braxton takes it.”
The 96th MLB All-Star Game will take place on July 14 at Citizen’s Bank Park in Philadelphia.
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