Jeff Passan makes a pitch for Paul Skenes to start MLB All-Star Game

Jeff Passan of ESPN has an idea on how to help “grow the game” as Rob Manfred always likes to talk about. His idea? Make Paul Skenes the starter of the All-Star Game.

The No. 1 pick of the 2023 MLB Draft was called up to the Pittsburgh Pirates to make his major league debut on June 11th against the Chicago Cubs. So far, that first game has been his roughest start. Since that game, Skenes is 5-0 with a 1.59 ERA.

His overall stats are 5-0 with a 2.12 ERA in 59.1 innings. Skenes has not pitched enough innings to qualify for the best ERA in the league, but if he had, he would have the lowest ERA in the MLB. Remember, he is just a rookie. He has been breaking records already in only the second month of his career.

He has 78 strikeouts and 12 walks this year and after last night’s win over the Mets, Skenes became the only pitcher in MLB history to strike out 70+ hitters through his first nine career starts while allowing less than 14 runs.

Passan makes a great point, if you want people to watch this All-Star Game, start Skenes against Gunnar Henderson, Aaron Judge, and Juan Soto in the first inning. It would be electric.

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