2024 MLB All-Star Game: Corbin Burnes vs. Paul Skenes

The Midsummer Classic has arrived, and a pair of Yankees find themselves in well-deserved slots in the starting lineup. Juan Soto and Aaron Judge have carried the Yankee offense all year, and now will bat third and fourth respectively for the Junior Circuit in manager Bruce Bochy’s lineup. They’re the first AL hitters to back-to-back in those spots since Roger Maris and Mickey Mantle. With rookie sensation Paul Skenes getting the start for the NL, the prospect of having him face arguably the two most cerebral hitters in the sport is exactly what the All-Star Game should be all about.

Skenes will reportedly only pitch one inning, as MLB and the Pirates juggle the need to protect his arm against the value of showcasing one of the brightest young talents currently playing. I wish he were allowed to go two like All-Star starting pitchers once did — and I can’t imagine the risk of one more inning pitched drastically changes his health outlook — but I don’t get to make these calls.

Clay Holmes rounds out the trio of Yankee selections for this game, although based on his last few weeks the AL might be best to save him for a low-leverage spot. The nominal closer owns a 4.91 ERA and 1.36 WHIP since the start of June and may have been better suited to take the four days off, but maybe some exhibition work can help him out.

The National League meanwhile features perennial All-Stars Shohei Ohtani and Bryce Harper hitting second and cleanup, and last night’s Home Run Derby winner Teoscar Hernández in the eight-spot. It’ll be a challenge for AL starter Corbin Burnes, tapped for the job yesterday. This will actually be the first career All-Star start for Burnes, as Max Scherzer got the NL nod in 2021, when Burnes won his Cy Young.

We have an 8:05pm first pitch, so enjoy it Yankee fans.

How to watch

Location: Globe Life Field — Arlington, TX

First pitch: 8:05 pm ET

TV broadcast: FOX

Radio broadcast: ESPN Radio

Online stream: MLB.tv

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