Should Tarik Skubal start All-Star Game? A.J. Hinch calls AL's Bruce Bochy to make case
The Detroit Tigers want left-hander Tarik Skubal to start Tuesday in the 2024 MLB All-Star Game at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas. He will be available to pitch on three days rest.
The American League starter is expected to announced Monday by AL manager Bruce Bochy. Four pitchers — Skubal, Corbin Burnes, Garrett Crochet and Tanner Houck — appear to be the favorites to get the coveted nod.
Tigers manager A.J. Hinch called Bochy, who manages the Texas Rangers, before Friday's game to make a case for Skubal to be the AL starter.
"I just gave him my thoughts on Tarik's year," Hinch said. "He didn't need my advice, but I wanted him to know about our player. He's got a tough call to make. ... Given that he didn't pitch in Texas, I just wanted Boch to hear my perspective and sell our player as someone who is well deserving."
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If Bochy paid attention, Skubal shoved six innings of two-run ball with eight strikeouts in Friday's 4-3 loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers at Comerica Park.
Skubal has a 2.41 ERA with 21 walks and 140 strikeouts across 116 innings in 19 starts. The 27-year-old is making his first All-Star appearance in his fifth MLB season, but he has been the best pitcher in baseball since July 2023.
"All of it," Skubal said, when asked about what he's looking forward to about the All-Star Game. "The experience, the game, the derby, I think all that stuff is pretty fun. But I'm excited to meet and talk shop with everybody there. I think that's the special part about it. You get 30 different players from all over the place, and you get to talk shop. It'll be fun."
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In 2024, Skubal ranks second in ERA among AL pitchers. Crochet ranks 10th with a 3.02 ERA, but Burnes ranks third with a 2.43 ERA and Houck ranks fifth with a 2.54 ERA.
Skubal also ranks eighth in innings pitched (116), third in strikeout rate (30.8%), sixth in walk rate (4.6%), first in WHIP (0.879), and third in opponent batting average (.189).
But Crochet is worth 3.9 fWAR, which leads all AL pitchers. Skubal, meanwhile, ranks second at 3.5 fWAR, with Houck tied for third at 3.4 fWAR and Burnes tied for seventh at 2.6 fWAR. Cole Ragans (3.4 fWAR) and Seth Lugo (2.7 fWAR) are the other options to start, but they're probably on the outside looking in.
Skubal is the favorite to win the AL Cy Young Award.
He deserves to start the All-Star Game.
"I've known Boch a long time," Hinch said. "I used to work with his brother (Joe Bochy) in San Diego, and I've always had a good relationship with him, so it's an open conversation anyway, but for Tarik's benefit, I wanted to lob a phone call to see if it can nudge him in our direction."
Pitching plan after All-Star break
The Tigers return from the All-Star break with 12 games in a row, beginning Friday. They play three games against the Toronto Blue Jays at Rogers Centre, then four games against the Cleveland Guardians at Progressive Field.
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Coming out of the break, the Tigers will stick with their current four-man rotation of Skubal, right-hander Jack Flaherty, right-hander Reese Olson and right-hander Keider Montero.
Here's the pitching plan:
Friday, July 19: Reese Olson or Jack Flaherty.
Saturday, July 20: Reese Olson or Jack Flaherty.
Sunday, July 21: Keider Montero.
Monday, July 22: Tarik Skubal.
Tuesday, July 23: Bullpen-only game.
If Flaherty starts Saturday's game, he will be lined up to pitch at 1:10 p.m. July 30, which is approximately five hours before the 6 p.m. trade deadline.
The Tigers plan to trade Flaherty.
Contact Evan Petzold at epetzold@freepress.com or follow him @EvanPetzold.
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This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Tigers' A.J. Hinch fights for Tarik Skubal to start All-Star Game
