MLB.com Predicts Paul Skenes To Earn All-MLB First Team Honor

Paul Skenes has already earned himself the honor of starting the MLB All-Star Game. That seems to only be the beginning for the star pitcher.

The Pittsburgh Pirates have watched their season shift from a hopeful team to a potential playoff squad with the emergence of their 22-year-old All-Star. The statistics speak for themselves — a 1.90 ERA, 89 strikeouts, 0.92 WHIP, and a 6-0 record over 66 1/3 innings.

Through those performances, Skenes has put himself squarely in the conversation for potential awards this season — whether it be the NL Cy Young, Rookie of the Year, or an All-MLB honor. Every award is on the table as Skenes tries to lead the Pirates to their first playoff berth since 2015.

MLB.com’s Brian Murphy believes that the latter is indeed in his future this season, predicting him to be one of the five pitchers to earn the honor of All-MLB First Team at season’s end.

“In his first two-plus months as a Major Leaguer, Skenes has logged a 1.90 ERA with 89 strikeouts over 66 1/3 innings, walked only 13 batters, posted a perfect 6-0 record, thrown 75 pitches at least 100 mph and started the All-Star Game,” Murphy wrote in his All-MLB Team predictions. “Is that all?”

No one can argue with Murphy’s reasoning. The 22-year-old has been special this season. As long as he can avoid too much negative regression, an All-MLB First Team will be in his future. Between the difficulty of the splinker and pumping 100 mph on a nightly basis, he’s going to keep dominating.

Skenes will make his first start since the All-Star Break on Tuesday night, as he takes the mound against the St. Louis Cardinals at PNC Park with first pitch set for 6:40 p.m. EST.

More MLB: ESPN Name Paul Skenes Among Top Athletes Of Next Generation