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Paul Skenes named starting pitcher for National League at 2024 All-Star Game
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Paul Skenes has officially been named the starting pitcher for the National League at the 2024 MLB All-Star Game.
The former LSU star is in the midst of a historic rookie season. He’s made just 11 starts so far in his MLB career, but has already established himself as one of the game’s most dominant starting pitchers.
His most recent start saw him toss 7 no-hit innings against the division-leading Milwaukee Brewers on Thursday. It was already the second start of his young career where he has not allowed a hit.
Skenes was informed of the decision while doing an interview on the Dan Patrick Show. National League manager Torey Lovullo “interrupted” the interview to share the good news:
NL All-Star manager Torey Lovullo calls in to tell Paul Skenes he will be the NL starter for the All-Star Game@Paul_Skenes @Pirates @MLB pic.twitter.com/EeAmuuM17l
— Dan Patrick Show (@dpshow) July 12, 2024
Skenes is 6-0 with a 1.90 ERA in 66.1 innings so far this season. He’s also struck out an impressive 89 batters to this point in his major league career.
Skenes made history with this honor. He’s the first rookie pitcher to start the All-Star Game since Hideo Nomo did so in 1995. Nomo was 26 years old when he accomplished that feat with the Dodgers.
Skenes is just the 5th rookie pitcher ever to earn a starting nod in the Mid-Summer Classic. Here’s the complete list:
Paul Skenes will be the 5th rookie pitcher to start the All-Star Game, joining:
7/11/1995: Hideo Nomo
8/9/1981: Fernando Valenzuela
7/13/1976: Mark Fidrych
7/30/1962: Dave Stenhouseh/t @EliasSports https://t.co/XiMjoWMwkf
— Sarah Langs (@SlangsOnSports) July 12, 2024
Skenes has emerged as the runaway favorite for the NL Rookie of the Year Award. He’s currently -600 at ESPN BET to take home that award. The closest competitor is Padres outfielder Jackson Merrill, who is listed at +700.
Skenes has been so dominant that he’s even a contender for the NL Cy Young Award, despite not making his first start until May. ESPN Bet has Skenes at +850 to win the Cy Young, behind only Chris Sale (+155) and Zack Wheeler (+155) in the odds. If either Sale or Wheeler miss time in the second half of the season, Skenes could make a legitimate run at becoming the first rookie pitcher to win a Cy Young Award since Fernando Valenzuela in 1981.
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The 2024 MLB All-Star Game will be held on Tuesday night in Arlington, Texas, at 8 p.m. ET.
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Spenser is a news editor for Saturday Down South and covers college football across all Saturday Football brands.
