Tarik Skubal Starts the All-Star Game With Tigers and Baseball History at His Back

When the 29‑year‑old Tarik Skubal toes the rubber tonight for the American League in Atlanta, he’ll become an even bigger part of Detroit Tigers’ history. He will become the ninth different Detroit Tigers pitcher. It will be the 12th time overall that a Tigers pitcher started the Midsummer Classic. He will be he first since Max Scherzer in 2013, during his Cy Young-winning season.

That puts Skubal in elite company.

 Previous Tigers starters include Hall of Famers Hal Newhouser, Jim Bunning (three times), Jack Morris, gritty gunslinger Mark Fidrych, former phenom Denny McLain, Kenny Rogers, and Justin Verlander.

 After capturing the AL Cy Young Award and pitching the Triple Crown last season, Skubal has been even more dominant in 2025. Across 19 starts, he’s crafted a 10–3 record with a sublime 2.23 ERA, an industry-low 0.83 WHIP, and a jaw-dropping 153 strikeouts in 121 innings, placing him among the AL’s statistical leaders.

According to Elias Sports Bureau, Skubal is just the 14th pitcher (16th such occasion) to start an All-Star Game in the season following a Cy Young win. 

The left-hander is the first since Scherzer’s back-to-back starts in 2017–18 and, notably, the first American League Cy Young winner to do it since Verlander in 2012, also as a Tiger ..

He’ll share the spotlight with Paul Skenes, last year’s National League starter, crafting a preview of the game's top arms.

Skubal will etch his name in Tigers lore forever when he steps on the mound at Truist Park. He is continuing a journey of dominance that began with last year’s Cy Young and has only ascended in 2025.