When the lights shine bright at Truist Park for the 95th MLB All-Star Game, one man will stand on the mound for the American League, carrying the hopes of a resurgent franchise on his left arm. That man will be Tarik Skubal, the Detroit Tigers’ ace and the reigning AL Cy Young Award winner. Getting the starting nod from manager Aaron Boone isn’t just another honor; it’s a piece of history.
This will be more than an exhibition. The undisputed best pitcher in the American League is set to face a terrifying National League lineup, kicking off a duel with Pittsburgh Pirates phenom Paul Skenes. The matchup crackles with electricity—a showdown between two of baseball’s hardest throwers. But for those who have followed his story, this moment will be about so much more than velocity. It will be the culmination of a journey through career-threatening injury, relentless reinvention, and the quiet character that has made him the heartbeat of a first-place team. This start isn’t just a nice story; it’s inevitable.
Let’s be clear, this isn’t a sentimental pick. The numbers are simply staggering. Through 19 starts this season, Skubal has been a work of art, posting a 10-3 record with a sterling 2.23 ERA and 153 strikeouts. His ability to keep runners off the bases is historic; his 0.826 WHIP is the best in all of Major League Baseball. What that means is he’s barely letting anyone on base, and his control is otherworldly. His strikeout-to-walk ratio is a jaw-dropping 9.56, meaning for every walk he issues, he strikes out nearly ten batters. That’s just unfair.
What’s truly mind-boggling is that this is an improvement on his unanimous Cy Young season in 2024. He won the pitching Triple Crown last year, leading the league in wins, ERA, and strikeouts, and has somehow gotten better in almost every category. His ERA has dropped, his WHIP has tightened, and his command has taken a monumental leap. This isn’t a pitcher resting on his laurels; it’s an athlete pushing the boundaries of his own greatness. Advanced metrics back it all up, showing his success is no fluke. He has ascended from being the league’s best pitcher to occupying a class of his own.
Of course, this gleaming success story almost never happened. His journey to the top is a story of resilience, because it was nearly derailed before it truly began. Back in August 2022, the Tigers’ rebuilding plan took a massive hit when Skubal went down with what was announced as a torn flexor tendon in his left elbow. He needed surgery, an injury that cast serious doubt on his future. He spent nearly a full year in a grueling rehab process, a test of his grit and determination.
But that time away from the game became a blessing in disguise. It was a period of reinvention. Skubal and the Tigers’ analytics department deconstructed and rebuilt his entire pitching arsenal. The biggest change was his changeup. After trying and failing to find a consistent off-speed pitch for years, the team’s pitching lab helped him develop a “seam-shifted wake” changeup. It’s a complex name for a simple, devastating result: the pitch uses the seams of the ball to create deceptive, unpredictable movement. It became his signature weapon, a pitch with a 50% whiff rate that has baffled hitters since his return. He also added a ton of velocity, with his fastball jumping from the mid-90s to consistently sitting at 97-98 mph, making him the hardest-throwing lefty starter in the game. He completely flipped his approach, going from a fastball-heavy pitcher to one who now uses that wicked changeup as his primary offering. The injury, in a strange twist of fate, was the catalyst that forged an unassailable ace.
While his stuff is electric, his character is defined by a quiet humility. The most powerful validation of his status came not from his manager, but from a rival. New York Yankees ace Max Fried, another top candidate for the start, called Skubal directly. “He asked me if I wanted to start,” Skubal recounted. Skubal initially deferred, thinking Fried should start in his old home city of Atlanta. But Fried insisted, telling him, “I think you deserve it.” For Skubal, that gesture of respect from a peer was deeply meaningful. He will carry that same respect for his own teammates onto the field. With the Tigers owning the best record in baseball and sending six players to the All-Star Game, Skubal is the clear leader.
Here’s the thing, folks: As he takes the mound in Atlanta tomorrow night the weight of the moment will be clear. His goal, he has said, is simple: “Hopefully, I only face three.” The first inning will be a showcase.
First up will be Shohei Ohtani. Skubal will likely unleash the changeup that has become his signature weapon. Next will be Atlanta’s own Ronald Acuña Jr., who will likely face Skubal’s perfectly located 98-mph fastball. The final batter of the inning will be Ketel Marte, who will have to contend with Skubal’s entire arsenal. If all goes according to plan Skubal’s stated goal, it will be three up, three down. A perfect inning to open the Midsummer Classic.
With that.. His All-Star start will not be a celebration, but a confirmation. It will be a national announcement of what many already know: Tarik Skubal is at the absolute apex of his career. But this won’t be the end of his story. For the ace of baseball’s best team, the night in Atlanta will be just a dress rehearsal for the bright lights of October.
If you cannot play with them, then root for them!