MLB All-Star Game 2025: Pirates’ Paul Skenes To Start? 2 Pittsburgh Pitchers Snubbed

For the second year in a row, Pittsburgh Pirates ace Paul Skenes is heading to the All-Star Game. And for the second year in a row, the Pirates star could be in line to start the game for the National League.

Skenes leads NL pitchers in ERA (1.94) and he’s tied with Philadelphia Phillies right-hander Zack Wheeler in WAR (4.8). In fact, if Skenes doesn’t get the nod, Wheeler is a good bet to start, as he leads active NL pitchers in strikeouts (148), strikeouts per nine innings (11.5) and WHIP (0.84).

“I think it would be stupid to say no to that. It’s a pretty cool opportunity,” Skenes said Sunday when asked about possibly starting the All-Star Game, according to ESPN’s David Schoenfield. “I didn’t make plans over the All-Star break or anything. So, yeah, I’m super stoked.”

Last year in Arlington, Texas, Skenes was the fifth rookie to start an All-Star Game, toeing the rubber just two months after making his big-league debut. In fact, since breaking into the majors, Skenes has a 1.95 career ERA, which is the best in MLB (minimum 40 starts), according to MLB.com’s Doug Miller. But the 23-year-old is just looking forward to mingling with baseball’s best next week.

“It’s the one time of year that I’m going to be able to share a clubhouse with all those guys,” Skenes said, per Miller. “So we’ll have two days together and I’ll try to learn as much as possible.”

Skenes will get one more chance to state his case for starting the Midsummer Classic when he takes the mound Saturday against the Minnesota Twins.

As of right now, Skenes is the only Pirate selected for the All-Star Game. But a pair of Pittsburgh pitchers could be on the short list if the National League needs to make injury replacements: Mitch Keller and Dennis Santana. Both made The Athletic’s Chad Jennings’ roster of All-Star snubs.

He noted Santana is fifth among relievers in Win Probability Added and that Keller might have made the All-Star team in another year. Santana has a career-best 1.42 ERA this season with five saves in 38 appearances. Keller is tied for the second-most losses this season (10) but sports an impressive 3.64 ERA in 18 starts.

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