Madden Monday: Starting Pirates' Paul Skenes would give the All-Star Game 'a bit more meaning this year'

The Major League Baseball All-Star selection process got it right. Pittsburgh Pirates rookie Paul Skenes has been named to the National League team.

Now NL manager Torey Lovullo needs to do the right thing as well and name Skenes the starter.

That’s just my opinion, but the numbers make a good case, too. Last year’s No. 1 overall draft choice may not have been in the majors for the full season. Since making his debut on May 11, though, Skenes ranks third in MLB in ERA (2.12) and in strikeouts (78). Plus, he is fifth in strikeouts per 9.0 innings (11.83) and is 5-0 in his first 10 starts.

Not to mention, he hasn’t left a game with his team trailing yet this season.

During this week’s “Madden Monday” podcast, Mark Madden of 105.9 The X and TribLIVE didn’t necessarily build a case for Skenes to start based on merit. But he said the entertainment factor is what matters.

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“The All-Star games have stopped being about getting best-on-best. That ceased a long time ago, (but) it’s about entertainment value. It’s about big names. (Skenes) is also a member of the ‘best-on-best club,’ if you want to go old school,” Madden said. “He should be in the All-Star game. If he started, that’d be great.”

And when it comes to “best-on-best,” how great would it be to see Skenes versus Aaron Judge? The New York Yankees slugger was voted into the American League starting lineup. The outfielder leads the AL in home runs (32) and RBIs (83) and is fourth in batting average (.308).

Just look at all the traction MLB got out of Skenes battling NL All-Star Shohei Ohtani when the Los Angeles Dodgers came to town earlier this season.

Paul Skenes ???? Shohei Ohtani: The best thing @notthefakeSVP saw today ⚾ pic.twitter.com/nourTWpJmL

— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) June 6, 2024

Skenes against Judge on a national stage in the MLB All-Star Game would be even bigger.

“Of all the potential matchups you could see in that game, Skenes versus Judge, that would be numero uno,” Madden emphasized.

Theoretically, Skenes doesn’t have to start to make that happen. Lovullo could wait until the AL gets through the lineup once before bringing Skenes out of the bullpen.

But why not start him? He’s the next big thing in baseball. And, as Madden pointed out, if Skenes does start in the name of drawing eyeballs to the game, that’d be a throwback to how the All-Star game used to operate instead of relying on the oversized rosters to make sure everybody gets in the contest.

“I miss the days when the starters played three innings, at least, often more, and the starting pitcher went three innings,” Madden added. “It’s all a part of devaluing something and trying to give it meaning at the same time. Starting Skenes would give it a bit more meaning this year.”

Also, in the podcast, Madden and I talk about Bryan Reynolds making the All-Star game as well, Mitch Keller being left off the roster, and the Pirates’ spotty play over the weekend against the Mets. Then we dive into some offseason moves by the Penguins, and we discuss the Steelers’ quarterback situation.