If Pirates have one All-Star, it must be this player

With quality starting pitching but an inconsistent offense and bullpen, the Pittsburgh Pirates are 31-34 and last in the NL Central.

Despite the mediocre record, the Pirates have multiple players who warrant All-Star Game consideration, including three of their five starting pitchers.

Rookies Jared Jones (4-5, 3.27 ERA), Paul Skenes (3-0, 3.00 ERA) and veteran Mitch Keller (8-3, 3.16 ERA) have pitched well, and even No. 4 starter Bailey Falter (3-3, 3.69 ERA) has performed above expectations. 

In the bullpen, Colin Holderman (0.83 ERA) has been one of the best relievers in the big leagues, so he certainly has a case for the All-Star Game, too.

But if the Pirates end up with only one player selected to the All-Star Game in Arlington, Texas — each team must have one representative — Skenes should be the guy if he continues his current pace.

The No. 1 credential that makes an All-Star an All-Star is what he does on the field. Unless you’re Derek Jeter or Reggie Jackson, Hall of Famers who, at a certain point, achieved All-Star emeritus status in the eyes of many, you must produce to be voted in. 

Skenes, who will start Tuesday against the St. Louis Cardinals, is producing. 

Through five MLB starts, Skenes has not allowed more than three earned runs in a game and totaled 38 strikeouts to just six walks. His ERA+ — which measures a pitcher’s ERA compared to the league average, which is set at 100 — is 138, a good figure.

There are many factors that separate Skenes from Pittsburgh’s other starting pitches. He’s taller, throws harder and was the No. 1 overall pick in the 2023 MLB Draft. All those factors combine to make up the No. 1 difference: marketability. 

There aren’t many Pirates who average fans outside of Pittsburgh know. Five-time All-Star Andrew McCutchen (.238, eight HR, 20 RBI) qualifies, but “Cutch” is 37, and while he still leads off for the Pirates, he’s no longer an All-Star-caliber player. 

Although he’s just a rookie, Skenes is already familiar to the average baseball fan. Many got to know him last season, when he was the top pitcher for LSU’s College World Series championship team. 

Imagine the buzz in Arlington if Skenes, as he did recently against the Los Angeles Dodgers’ Shohei Ohtani, were to duel with Baltimore Orioles star Gunnar Henderson (20 HR) and New York Yankees slugger Aaron Judge (24 HR).