MLB Home Run Derby: Paul Skenes, NL aim to snap AL's dominance in All-Star Game

Just to participate in the Major League Baseball All-Star Game would be a career -- and maybe even lifetime -- achievement for many professional baseball players.

Paul Skenes continues to make history as he prepares to start the Major League Baseball (MLB) All-Star Game for the second consecutive year. At just 23, the Pittsburgh Pirates phenom becomes only the fifth player ever to start the Midsummer Classic in each of his first two seasons, joining legends like Joe DiMaggio and Ichiro Suzuki.

Despite a 4-8 record, Skenes’ league-best 2.01 ERA made him an easy choice for National League manager Dave Roberts.


"It's a huge honor," Skenes said. "To be on the same field as these amazing players is an awesome experience."


The National League lineup features three Dodgers: designated hitter Shohei Ohtani, first baseman Freddie Freeman, and catcher Will Smith. They're joined by Cubs outfielders Kyle Tucker and Pete Crow-Armstrong, Braves star Ronald Acuna Jr., Diamondbacks' Ketel Marte, Padres' Manny Machado, and Mets shortstop Francisco Lindor. Freeman, now a nine-time All-Star, returns to his old home in Atlanta, where he spent 12 seasons.

Opposing Skenes is American League starter Tarik Skubal, the Detroit Tigers' ace and reigning AL Cy Young winner. After a rough rookie campaign in 2020, Skubal now anchors the best team in baseball (59-38). He reflected on his journey, saying, "I don't want to take anything in this game for granted."

The AL lineup begins with Detroit teammates Gleyber Torres and Riley Greene. Yankees slugger Aaron Judge and Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh follow, with Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Ryan O'Hearn, Junior Caminero, Javier Baez, and rookie Jacob Wilson completing the batting order.

Yankees skipper Aaron Boone, the only current manager to have both played and managed in the All-Star Game, expressed his pride in returning to the midsummer stage: "It meant the world to me."

The showdown promises excitement, with the AL looking to maintain its dominance, having won 10 of the last 11 All-Star Games.