This was Skubal’s second All-Star appearance and first as a starter, after the 2024 AL Cy Young Award winner made an appearance in the 2024 All-Star Game at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas.
Skubal pitched the second inning of that game, pitching a clean inning by getting Milwaukee Brewers outfielder Christian Yelich to ground out, Philadelphia Phillies third baseman Alec Bohm to fly out to center field and Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Teoscar Hernández to fly out to right field.
It didn’t go his way in Tuesday’s game, giving up three hits — two softly hit — and two runs in the first three batters, before recovering to get the next three out.
Here’s the log of Skubal’s first-inning performance in the MLB 2025 All-Star Game:
Tarik Skubal stats in 2025 All-Star Game
- Innings: 1
- Runs: 2
- Hits: 3
- Strikeouts: 2
- Pitches: 19 (16 strikes)
First batter: Dodgers DH Shohei Ohtani
Skubal started the reigning NL MVP Shohei Ohtani with a 99 mph fastball, which the slugger fouled off. While mic’d up, Skubal revealed he would try to get Ohtani to swing through an 0-2 changeup, but Ohtani eventually poked a 1-2 outside corner slider to center field for a leadoff single.
Second batter: Braves LF Ronald Acuña Jr.
Skubal got Braves outfielder Ronald Acuña down to an 0-2 count, but Acuña made contact on a 1-2 pitch and sent a slow roller down to Gleyber Torres at second base. The ball was hit so softly, however, and Torres playing for the double play Acuña reached first base on an infield single without a throw, putting the first two runners on base.
Third batter: Diamondbacks 2B Ketel Marte
Diamondbacks second baseman Ketel Marte sent an opposite field double down the right field line, which scored both Ohtani from second and Acuña from first to give the NL an early 2-0 lead over the AL.
Fourth batter: Dodgers 1B Freddie Freeman
On his 13th pitch of the game, Skubal recorded his first out when he got Dodgers first baseman Freddie Freeman to ground out to third baseman Junior Caminero. Skubal, relieved, said into the mic he wasn’t sure if he would ever get an out.
Fifth batter: Padres 3B Manny Machado
There was a bit of a scary moment with Padres third baseman Manny Machado up to bat as Machado fouled Skubal’s first pitch into the umpire’s mask. Machado immediately checked in before resuming.
Skubal then struck out Machado on a 1-2 changeup that clipped the bottom of the strike zone, though the pitch was initially called a ball. Since the All-Star Game is using an automatic ball/strike system (ABS), a review from the booth was called that reversed the initial call, giving Skubal his first strikeout and second out. Skubal laughed when the call was overturned.
Sixth batter: Dodgers C Will Smith
Three pitches later, he struck out Dodgers catcher Will Smith to end the inning on a 100 mph fastball, letting out a “Yeah!”
Skubal’s final stat line: One inning pitched, three hits, two earned runs and two strikeouts.