A pair of Cy Young candidates are set to get the ball in Tuesday's MLB All-Star Game.
Tarik Skubal and Paul Skenes have been named their respective leagues' starting pitchers, MLB announced Saturday.
It will be the second straight Midsummer Classic start for Skenes, who took the ball for the National League in 2024, just 11 games into his MLB career.
The eventual NL Rookie of the Year winner has followed up his special debut campaign with even more excellence for the Pittsburgh Pirates in 2025.
Through 121 innings this season, Skenes owns a 2.01 ERA — the lowest mark among qualified pitchers in baseball. By earning a second straight all-star start, the 23-year-old becomes the youngest player to start MLB's mid-season showcase in back-to-back years.
Skenes ranks top-five among NL starters in strikeouts, innings pitched, batting average against, WHIP and home runs allowed.
In last year's All-Star Game, Skenes delivered a scoreless inning, only allowing Juan Soto to reach on a walk. He retired Steven Kwan, Gunnar Henderson and Aaron Judge.
Skubal, the reigning American League Cy Young winner, will also be making his return to the All-Star Game after being a first-timer in 2024.
The 28-year-old won the AL's top pitcher honours after winning the pitching Triple Crown last season with 18 wins, 228 strikeouts and a 2.39 ERA.
Like Skenes, the Tigers' ace is once again performing among baseball's best starters.
Skubal owns a 2.23 ERA, 153 strikeouts and 10 wins through 19 starts and 121 innings in 2025.
In last year's game, the six-foot-three southpaw worked a 1-2-3 inning out of the bullpen, setting down Christian Yelich, Alec Bohm and Teoscar Hernández in order.
