Tarik Skubal has been far and away the best pitcher in the American League during the 2025 MLB season. But that doesn’t guarantee that he’ll be the starter for his team for the upcoming All-Star Game, as team manager Aaron Boone has a tough decision to make before Tuesday’s first pitch.
Will Skubal Or Fried Start The 2025 MLB All-Star Game?
There is a good chance that the Detroit Tigers enter the All-Star Break with the best record in baseball, and they have their ace pitcher to thank for some of their success.
Skubal has made 18 appearances so far this season, and has posted a 10-2 record. His ERA sits at just 2.02, easily the best mark in the AL, and he is also the league leader in WHIP as well as strikeouts per nine innings. The lefty is coming off of his first and only Cy Young Award win last season, and is the current favorite to repeat in that category in 2025.
Will Aaron Boone pick Tarik Skubal to start the All-Star Game?
A.J. Hinch: "I talked to Booney, and he’s grinding through that decision. There’s two things in play. One is, Max Fried’s on his team. The second is, Fried going back to Atlanta where he enjoyed a ton of success." pic.twitter.com/DOCVrzPswH
— 97.1 The Ticket: (@971theticketxyt) July 9, 2025
But will Boone turn to someone else to take the mound for the start of the 2025 MLB All-Star Game? Just behind Skubal in many of the statistical categories is Max Fried, who is in his first year with the New York Yankees. He has the most wins of any pitcher in baseball with 11, and is currently sporting the third-best ERA in the American League.
Despite Fried’s solid numbers, it appears that Skubal should be the obvious choice to be the AL’s starter on Tuesday night. But there are a couple of factors that could make the decision a tough one.
Tarik Skubal continues to lead the charge in https://t.co/Z3s2EpgF39’s AL Cy Young poll 💪 pic.twitter.com/vJdEi4Pnj3
— MLB (@MLB) July 9, 2025
Aaron Boone, the one who will be making the final decision, is Fried’s manager on the Yankees. The game will also be played in Atlanta, where Fried spent the first eight seasons of his MLB career, so it will be a homecoming of sorts for the player who made two All-Star appearances as a member of the Braves.
When weighing those factors alongside the raw numbers, it can be easy to see why Boone may have some trouble making his final decision.
The 2025 MLB All-Star Game is set to take place on Tuesday, July 15th. First pitch is scheduled for 8PM eastern time.
