It’s been almost a half-century since a Pittsburgh pitcher started the All-Star game and Paul Skenes will do it tonight

Paul Skenes is set to start the All-Star game , the first time since 1995 that a rookie pitcher has that honor.

It’s been even longer since a Pittsburgh player has been in that spotlight.

The last pitcher from the Pirates to start the All-Star game was Jerry Reuss in 1975, in the middle of a decade when Pittsburgh won two World Series. That’s the second-longest active drought without a pitcher starting the All-Star game. The Chicago Cubs have not had one since Claude Passeau in 1946. (The Miami Marlins have never had the starting pitcher for the National League, but they’ve only been playing since 1993.)

The longest drought in the American League belongs to the Baltimore Orioles, who have not had the All-Star starter since Steve Stone in 1980. But that’s about to change as well after Corbin Burnes was named this year’s AL starter Monday.

This stellar beginning to Skenes’ career — in 11 starts, he’s 6-0 with a 1.90 ERA — has made his outings must-see TV and brought a bit of buzz to Pittsburgh. The Pirates are 48-48, which puts them in the mix for a wild card. Skenes and outfielder Bryan Reynolds are both All-Stars. The team hasn’t had more than two in a season since 2015, when Andrew McCutchen and Gerrit Cole were both in Pittsburgh.

Now McCutchen is back with the Pirates as his career winds down, and with Skenes, Reynolds and 6-foot-7 shortstop Oneil Cruz, Pittsburgh has a chance to turn some heads the rest of the way.

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