As if All-Star Week doesn't promise enough firsts, we're getting you started a little early this year. Four Japanese-born pitchers got the start for their respective teams today: Shinnosuke Ogasawara for the Nationals,

Prior to Skenes, the youngest pitcher to start back-to-back All-Star Games was the Philadelphia Phillies’ Robin Roberts, who started in 1950 and ‘51 at ages 23 and 24, according to STATS Perform. And while Skenes’ record is only 4-8, that is largely a product of his average run support, which is the third worst in the majors.

Paul Skenes get the nod for the second year in a row, while reigning Cy Young winner Tarik Skubal gets the ball for the AL.

The reigning AL Cy Young winner and the best young pitcher in baseball will be on the mound for the 2025 MLB All-Star Game next Tuesday at Truist Park in Atlanta. Detroit Tigers lefty Tarik Skubal and Pittsburgh Pirates righty Paul Skenes have been named the All-Star Game starting pitchers.

Reigning NL Rookie of the Year and NL Cy Young award favorite Paul Skenes will start for the National League. The Pittsburgh Pirates ace leads MLB with a 2.01 ERA with four wins and eight losses. He's pitched 121 innings so far this season, and posted 131 strikeouts, with 82 hits, 27 earned runs and six home runs hit on him.

As the season has gone on, Morton’s curveball has gotten closer to the 82.3 mph velocity it was back in his strong 2023 campaign. He has also reduced the horizontal movement and gotten it closer to the 14.3 inches that he had back in the same 2023 season.