Pirates star Paul Skenes named to National League All-Star Team

Skenes owns a 1.94 ERA through 19 starts and is the lone Pirates representative going to play in Atlanta.

The best pitcher in baseball continues to rack up accomplishments and accolades.

On Sunday, MLB announced Paul Skenes is going back to the All-Star Game for the second consecutive season.

Skenes started the ASG in Texas last year and delivered a scoreless first inning against the likes of Juan Soto and Aaron Judge.

In the midst of another dominant season, Skenes owns a 1.94 ERA and 0.92 WHIP through 19 starts. He struck out 10 batters in five innings of work, controversially being pulled after five innings of scoreless ball against the Seattle Mariners Sunday.

Skenes only threw 78 pitches. Load management drives me crazy in sports. Some athletes are built different. Skenes is one of them. Let the man battle it out. If there’s anyone that owns the right to make his own decision, it’s definitely Skenes.

Skenes remains 4-7, an astonishing stat given his success, and has struck out 125 batters through 116 innings.

Skenes’ 1.56 career ERA on the road is the lowest in MLB history. In his first 42 career starts, his era is 1.95. He’s unlike anything we’ve ever seen before. That’s not hyperbole.

His six to seven pitch mix keeps hitters off balance and sets up his 99-100 mph fastball and wipeout slider and splinker.

It makes it even more frustrating that we’re witnessing history, but nothing to support him.

It’s like building a brand new bridge over troubled waters, but the land is flooded and a great thing is going to waste. That’s the Pirates with Paul Skenes.

Skenes could get the ball again to start for the NL when the stars take the first on July 15 in Atlanta.

Skenes is on a Cy Young track after being named a finalist last season. He’s the Pirates’ lone All Star. Now, all we do is sit back and watch greatest, for as long as we possibly can with Skenes in Pittsburgh.