MLB · 3 months ago

MLB All-Star Game: Top 8 Starting Pitcher Candidates & Prediction

SportsGrid Contributor Just Baseball

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The Prediction: Skubal vs. Wheeler
So, who gets the final nod? If the stats hold, look for Tarik Skubal to headline for the AL — he’s simply been too dominant, too consistent. In the NL, the guess here is Zack Wheeler edges Paul Skenes by a hair thanks to his experience, control, and strikeout edge.

One thing is certain: whoever takes the mound, hitters better be ready for fireworks.

For all your MLB deep dives, check out our friends at Just Baseball.
Tarik Skubal — AL’s Ace to Beat
When the conversation starts about who should toe the rubber for the AL in the All-Star Game, it has to start in Michigan. Tarik Skubal — last year’s runaway Cy Young winner — has only gotten sharper.

He’s pacing the Junior Circuit with a sparkling 2.02 ERA, a minuscule 0.81 WHIP, and an 11.5 K/9 through 18 starts. At 10-2, Skubal is on track to repeat as the Detroit Tigers’ unquestioned staff leader — and likely the AL’s Opening Day arm come mid-July.

Thanks to Just Baseball for the stats, analysis, and insights for this slideshow article.
Paul Skenes — NL’s Young Fireballer
The Pittsburgh Pirates' Paul Skenes has carried his Rookie of the Year momentum right into a stellar sophomore campaign. He’s an NL leader in ERA (1.94), hits per nine (5.8), home runs per nine (0.4), and bWAR (4.5).

If the Pirates’ offense showed up more when he pitched, his win total would match his brilliance — but even at 9-9 in his starts, Skenes is every bit a serious candidate to start.
Max Fried — Bronx Boost
Max Fried hasn’t missed a beat in his first season with the New York Yankees. The lefty ace has made an instant impact in pinstripes, going 10-2 with a 2.13 ERA and 0.939 WHIP over 18 starts.

Having Aaron Boone managing the AL squad doesn’t hurt Fried’s cause either — that Bronx bias might give him a slight edge if Skubal stumbles before the break.

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Zack Wheeler — Veteran Favorite
Zack Wheeler continues to prove that age is just a number. At 35, the Phillies’ ace remains one of the Senior Circuit’s best arms: an NL-leading nine wins, a 0.84 WHIP, and 148 strikeouts to pair with a 4.4 bWAR.

The battle between Skenes’ youthful heat and Wheeler’s steady dominance might be the tightest call of this All-Star cycle.

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Jacob deGrom — Still Electric
After a run of tough injuries, Jacob deGrom has been the stabilizer the Texas Rangers needed in 2025. He’s stayed healthy enough to make 17 starts, carving hitters to the tune of a 2.13 ERA and holding them to a minuscule .190 average.

If voters weigh track record and star power alongside results, deGrom could easily be handed the ball once again on a big stage.
Logan Webb — Innings Machine
The San Francisco Giants' ace, Logan Webb, is once again leading by sheer volume. The 2023 Cy Young runner-up is on pace to top the NL in innings for a third consecutive season and has been rock-solid with a 2.62 ERA and 133 punchouts in 19 starts.

Reliable and battle-tested, Webb is a dark horse pick for the Midsummer Classic nod.
Hunter Brown — Quietly Elite
Under the radar but statistically supreme — that’s Hunter Brown’s brand this season in Houston. The Astros righty currently owns the lowest ERA in all of baseball at 1.82 across 17 starts.

If the voting leans purely on run prevention, Brown’s profile could push him ahead of bigger names for the start.
Garrett Crochet — Punching Out Everyone
The Boston Red Sox Garrett Crochet is making his case with a swing-and-miss arsenal. Boston's southpaw has piled up a league-leading 151 strikeouts so far while posting a strong 2.39 ERA and 1.09 WHIP through 19 starts.

If strikeout dominance matters most, Crochet has as good a shot as anyone to be the AL’s frontman when the stars shine.
The Prediction: Skubal vs. Wheeler
So, who gets the final nod? If the stats hold, look for Tarik Skubal to headline for the AL — he’s simply been too dominant, too consistent. In the NL, the guess here is Zack Wheeler edges Paul Skenes by a hair thanks to his experience, control, and strikeout edge.

One thing is certain: whoever takes the mound, hitters better be ready for fireworks.

For all your MLB deep dives, check out our friends at Just Baseball.
Tarik Skubal — AL’s Ace to Beat
When the conversation starts about who should toe the rubber for the AL in the All-Star Game, it has to start in Michigan. Tarik Skubal — last year’s runaway Cy Young winner — has only gotten sharper.

He’s pacing the Junior Circuit with a sparkling 2.02 ERA, a minuscule 0.81 WHIP, and an 11.5 K/9 through 18 starts. At 10-2, Skubal is on track to repeat as the Detroit Tigers’ unquestioned staff leader — and likely the AL’s Opening Day arm come mid-July.

Thanks to Just Baseball for the stats, analysis, and insights for this slideshow article.

MLB All-Star Game: Top 8 Starting Pitcher Candidates & Prediction

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