Few honors in baseball carry the weight and prestige of starting an MLB All-Star Game. This select role is reserved for players whose performance on the mound exemplifies dominance and consistency over the season. This year's star-studded rosters offer a glimpse into some of the game's premier talents on both sides of the mound.
The Legacy of the Starting Pitcher
To understand the significance of this honor, one need only look at the legends who have graced the All-Star starting mound. Don Drysdale, Lefty Gomez, and Robin Roberts each started five All-Star Games, cementing their status in baseball lore. Not far behind, Jim Palmer, Max Scherzer, and Randy Johnson each started four, further highlighting the exclusive nature of this role.
The 2024 All-Star Game’s Home
This year, eyes will be on Globe Life Field, the home of the 2024 MLB All-Star Game, hosted by the defending champions, the Texas Rangers. The anticipation is palpable, and the matchups promise to be electric. For the American League, the lineup of potential starting pitchers brims with talent and intrigue.
American League Aces
Tyler Anderson, Corbin Burnes, Garrett Crochet, Logan Gilbert, Tanner Houck, Seth Lugo, Cole Ragans, and Tarik Skubal are all in the discussion to start. Notably, Logan Gilbert is scheduled for a Sunday start, keeping fans eager for his performance. The focus, however, shifts strongly to Seth Lugo, who has dominated the league.
Lugo’s journey to this point has been remarkable. Once a reliever with the Mets, he transitioned to a full-time starting role with the Padres last season before signing with the Royals on a two-year deal. His performance has been nothing short of spectacular, leading the league in wins, ERA, and WAR, with the most innings pitched to boot. As one observer put it, "was mostly a reliever for his last five years with the Mets before going to full-time starting duties with the Padres last season. The Royals signed him to a two-year deal last offseason and he's pitched like an ace all year, posting a career year at age 34. That's all kinds of fun."
Alongside Lugo, Crochet, Ragans, and Skubal are leading the strikeout leaderboard, while Burnes, a former Cy Young winner, adds further depth to the roster.
National League Standouts
The National League boasts an equally impressive array of starting pitchers, including Tyler Glasnow, Shota Imanaga, Reynaldo López, Chris Sale, Paul Skenes, Ranger Suárez, Logan Webb, and Zack Wheeler. Logan Webb stands out, having pitched the most innings and ranking seventh in ERA. Meanwhile, Sánchez leads the league in ERA, with Chris Sale just behind him, also leading in wins and WHIP while ranking third in strikeouts.
Tyler Glasnow's prowess shows in his strikeout dominance, but the story of Paul Skenes captures the imagination of fans and analysts alike. Drafted No. 1 overall, he became the first pitcher ever taken first to make the All-Star team the following season. Starting the season cautiously in Triple-A, Skenes has quickly proven his mettle. Over 10 starts, he boasts a 5-0 record, a 2.12 ERA, a 1.01 WHIP, and 78 strikeouts against just 12 walks over 59 1/3 innings, a performance suggesting immense potential despite not qualifying for the ERA title due to workload.
Skenes’ ascension to the All-Star Game brings an added layer of excitement. As one enthusiast remarked, "Think about Skenes facing Altuve, Soto, and Judge and tell me you'd rather someone else start. C'mon. This is dream-type stuff." The possibility of seeing Skenes face up against heavyweights like Jose Altuve, Juan Soto, and Aaron Judge only adds to the allure. "We don't yet know the lineups, but even if Skenes only pitches one inning, he's liable to face something like Jose Altuve, Juan Soto, and Aaron Judge, with Yordan Alvarez looming should anyone reach base," another commentator noted.
Awaiting the First Pitch
The 2024 MLB All-Star Game is shaping up to be a clash of titans, showcasing the very best pitching talents in the league today. As the day approaches, fans and analysts alike will debate and speculate on who will ultimately start for each league, adding to the drama and mystique that surrounds this midsummer classic. Whether it's Lugo’s seasoned dominance or Skenes' fresh brilliance, the stage is set for a memorable showdown under the bright lights of Globe Life Field.