Will This be the Paul Skenes Show?
The 2024 Midsummer Classic will be played tonight at Globe Life Field in Arlington, home of the defending World Series Champion Texas Rangers. Marcus Semien is the only starter who plays for the hometown team, and he’ll be batting ninth. The headlining story of the game is the news that NL rookie phenom Paul Skenes of the Pittsburgh Pirates’ meteoric rise has earned him the starting pitcher spot. Skenes is only the fifth rookie in MLB history to start an All-Star Game and the first since Hideo Nomo in 1995.
Skenes will only pitch one inning, setting up marquee matchups against Gunnar Henderson of the Baltimore Orioles and Juan Soto of the New York Yankees. Perhaps the battle fans most look forward to would come against Aaron Judge, should any of the first three batters reach base. 2021 NL Cy Young winner Corbin Burnes, now of the Baltimore Orioles, gets the starting nod for the American League.
Last year, the National League defeated the American League 3-2, snapping the AL’s nine-game win streak. Each league has defined the All-Star Game by its dominant run. Between 1950 and 1987, the NL went 33-8-1. Since 1988, the AL has gone 27-7-1.
There will be a new MVP this year, as last year’s winner, Elías Díaz, was not selected. A first-time MVP seems almost inevitable, as Vladimir Guerrero Jr. of the Toronto Blue Jays is the only former All-Star Game MVP on either roster.
