Full Count: Why does Paul Skenes want to chat with Tigers ace Tarik Skubal at All-Star Game?

Forgive Paul Skenes for being presumptive when he wasn’t worried about missing Aaron Judge in the opening homestand because he expected to face the New York Yankees slugger in the All-Star Game.

The Pittsburgh Pirates right-hander gave the same treatment toward missing a meeting with 2024 American League Cy Young Award winner Tarik Skubal in a doubleheader at Detroit last month.

It’s not that Skenes is avoiding the marquee matchups but rather that he’s looking forward to facing baseball’s best in the biggest showcase.

Safe to say, Skenes expects to be an All-Star.

“It sucks because you don’t find out that you’re an All-Star until a week before,” Skenes told TribLive. “So I’m never going to make plans over the All-Star break because if I do what I’m supposed to do? I’ll be there. I’m not going to shy away from that. It’s just how it is.”

Despite a 4-7 record, Skenes has impressive first-half numbers. He leads the NL in ERA (2.03) and batting average-against (.182), ranks second in WHIP (0.92) and innings pitched (111), is tied for fourth with 12 quality starts and tied for sixth with 115 strikeouts. With a seven-pitch repertoire, he is able to dominate even when one of his put-away pitches isn’t sharp.

“He’s an elite competitor, as we’ve talked about, with the way he prepares, the way he thinks, his mindset when he goes out there,” Pirates manager Don Kelly said. “He’s just so focused on every single pitch and every detail, even between starts with the way he works out. The way he gets after it is so focused and detail-oriented. That’s what he carries into his starts, as well.”

So after starting for the National League last year only 10 starts into his major league career, Skenes is hopeful that he will get the nod again in the Midsummer Classic on July 15 at Truist Park in Atlanta. The primary competition for Skenes is Philadelphia Phillies righty Zach Wheeler, who is 8-3 with a 2.27 ERA, 0.91 WHIP and 136 strikeouts against 25 walks in 107 innings over 17 starts.

“I’d love to,” Skenes said. “I haven’t really paid attention to who else could be. My goal is that I want to throw in the All-Star Game. I have a pretty good feeling that I’ll be there. If I’m going, I want to throw in it. Dave Roberts is the manager this year, so it’s his decision. It’s out of my control. I’ve just got to pitch well.”

Skenes was the talk of baseball at this time last year because of his triple-digit four-seam fastball and unhittable splinker. He didn’t debut until May 11 and was 5-0 with a 2.12 ERA and 78 strikeouts through his first 10 starts. What matters most to Skenes is that he’s not only pitching well but feeling even better given the increased workload this season.

“It’s about learning as we go,” Skenes said. “I’ve never done this before. I’ve never been at 110 or whatever innings before the All-Star break. Over the course of three months, I’ve never thrown 110 innings in my life. But, from what I learned last year and from what I learned over the offseason and what I did in the offseason (compared) to what I did last year, it’s telling me that I’m doing it right because I feel good.”

As much as Skenes thinks it “would be cool” to face Skubal and Judge in the All-Star Game, he has ulterior motives. If there’s a better pitcher in baseball than Skenes, it just might be Skubal. Since the start of August, Skubal is 16-3 with a 2.26 ERA, 0.87 WHIP and 212 strikeouts against 25 walks over 171 innings in 27 starts.

“I would agree with it,” Skenes said. “He does it differently. He does it at a very high level. I don’t know his stats off the top of my head, but as far as presence on the mound. … I don’t see the media coverage a ton but all that stuff, there’s something that comes with,he’s a guy, he’s a dude. … He’s Tarik Skubal. That’s how I see him. That’s how guys in the clubhouse and around the league, I think, see him. It’s cool. It’s an honor to be in that conversation.”

What Skenes wants more than to face Skubal is to have a conversation with the Detroit Tigers left-hander. For one, Skenes is a pitching savant who wants to pick Skubal’s brain.

“It would be cool. More than anything, I want to get him off to the side and ask him how he does what he does, basically,” Skenes said, with a laugh. “I’ve talked with him a little bit, but to see him do it again, at an even higher level than he did last year arguably, it’s pretty dang cool.”

More importantly, Skenes wants to plant a seed with Skubal.

Skenes committed to play for Team USA in the World Baseball Classic next spring, and convincing Skubal to join him is top priority. Judge is the captain, but Skenes might become his biggest recruiter.

“Yeah, I need you to tweet that Skubal needs to be in there because I want to play with him,” Skenes said. “I want to pitch with him.”

For a pitcher who was the No. 1 overall pick of the 2023 MLB Draft, started the All-Star Game, won NL Rookie of the Year and finished third in NL Cy Young voting, it’s worth remembering that the 23-year-old Skenes attended the U.S. Air Force Academy for two years and considers playing for his country the biggest of his honors.

And he wants USA’s best to join him, including Pirates All-Star teammates Mitch Keller, David Bednar and Bryan Reynolds.

“Obviously, I haven’t done it yet, but I’m looking forward to that,” Skenes said. “I’m going to gear my offseason around that. I’m excited about that. Hopefully, Skubal and Wheeler and (Garrett) Crochet and (Cole) Ragans and all those guys join. I haven’t done much (recruiting) yet, but the All-Star Game will be a pretty good spot to do that, right?

“So I really hope I go. Honestly, I’m hoping they ask me a little bit, if that makes sense. Hopefully, they’re already thinking about it. I’ve heard they are, but, obviously, nothing public has been announced in terms of other pitchers who are going to be there. If they don’t ask me about it, I’ll do some recruiting there. But I’m really excited about that.”