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Yahoo
8 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Detroit Tigers ace Tarik Skubal nominated for ESPY award
The Detroit Tigers are still in the middle of their MLB season, but their ace Tarik Skubal may be taking home some midseason hardware, anyway. Skubal is one of four MLB players nominated in the "Best MLB Player" category at the 2025 ESPY Awards, ESPN's annual awards show. First baseman Freddie Freeman and designated hitter Shohei Ohtani of the Los Angeles Dodgers and outfielder Aaron Judge of the New York Yankees join Skubal as nominees. Skubal was the unanimous choice for the 2024 American League Cy Young Award as he went 18-4 with a 2.39 ERA in 192 innings pitched. He became the first AL player with a pitching triple crown (leading the league in wins, ERA and strikeouts) in a 162-game season since Justin Verlander did it for the Tigers in 2011. The lefty ace is on track for an arguably even better season in 2025, now at 10-3 with a 2.23 ERA and 153 strikeouts in 121 innings. He is the favorite to win the 2025 AL Cy Young Award, which would make him just the second Tigers pitcher ever to win multiple Cy Young Awards (Denny McLain, 1968-69). However, he likely has a slim chance of winning the ESPY award. By FanGraph's version of wins above replacement (fWAR), Aaron Judge had the fourth-best season of the last 25 years (11.3 fWAR) in 2024, between three Barry Bonds seasons (2001-02, 2004). Ohtani also had a historic 2024 season, becoming the first player ever to hit at least 50 home runs and steal at least 50 bases in a season. He also became the first full-time designated hitter to win an MVP award as the two-way star spent the season recovering from a repair of the UCL in his throwing arm. ANALYSIS: Detroit Tigers have second-best World Series odds, according to Vegas While Freeman did not have as productive of a season as Skubal in 2024 (3.9 fWAR compared to Skubal's 5.9), he produced arguably the year's most iconic moment with a walk-off grand slam in the bottom of the 10th inning of Game 1 of the World Series against the Yankees. He hit four home runs and 12 RBIs in five games and was named the World Series MVP. In other words, it would be a major upset if Skubal won the award. Still, it's been an action-packed week for the lefty, as he started for the AL in the 2025 MLB All-Star Game on Tuesday, July 15, one that the National League won in a first-of-its-kind home run derby walk-off after the game finished in a 6-6 tie after nine innings. The ESPYS will take place at the Dolby Theater in Los Angeles, airing at 8 p.m. ET on ABC. Celebrate 125 seasons of the Detroit Tigers with our new book! You can reach Christian at cromo@ This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Detroit Tigers ace Tarik Skubal nominated for ESPY award
New York Times
13 hours ago
- Sport
- New York Times
Blue Jays second-half storylines to watch: What will surge mean for deadline?
The Toronto Blue Jays are right where they want to be — first place, clear buyers and coming out of the All-Star break in the thick of a postseason race. It's exactly where the 2024 team wasn't. A 10-game winning streak helped the Jays overcome a down year and defy preseason expectations. But the post-break stretch will define the team's true ceiling. With questions surrounding Toronto's trade deadline plans, core sluggers and ailing pitching staff, here are three Blue Jays second-half storylines to watch. Advertisement The last time the Blue Jays made the playoffs, two of the club's starting pitchers earned Cy Young votes. Toronto's rotation had the third-best ERA in 2023 and provided the fifth-most innings from any starting staff. The 2025 Jays couldn't be more different. Eric Lauer is the only regular Blue Jays starter with an ERA or FIP under 3.75 at the All-Star break. The team's starters logged the seventh-fewest innings in the first half, and now Toronto's bullpen is leaking, too. Yimí García, Nick Sandlin and Ryan Burr all hit the injured list in the last two weeks. Toronto's back of the bullpen still contains solid leverage options, and the veteran rotation gives the offence a chance to win. But, overall, Toronto's team ERA (4.16) ranks 22nd. The 2023 Texas Rangers are the only franchise in the last 15 years to win the World Series with a below-average team ERA. There is hope for Chris Bassitt, Kevin Gausman and Max Scherzer. The trio's expected ERAs all sit at least one-quarter run below their actual, signalling potential post-break improvement. Rehabbing hurlers like Alek Manoah and Ricky Tiedemann could become late-season options for Toronto, while Sandlin and García are expected to return to the bullpen in the second half. But more injuries or significant second-half slides could push Toronto's pitching from a manageable concern to a costly catastrophe. There is no doubt general manager Ross Atkins will add to this Blue Jays roster at the July 31 MLB trade deadline. The Jays sit atop the American League East, closer to a first-round bye than a Wild Card spot. It's buying time. But there are multiple paths to upgrading Toronto's roster. With injury concerns around Scherzer's thumb, churn in the bullpen and the uncertain status of Anthony Santander's hip, Andrés Giménez's ankle and Daulton Varsho's hamstring, Atkins could bring in floor-raising depth. The Jays could easily patch holes with guys like starter Tomoyuki Sugano, reliever Dennis Santana and infielder Amed Rosario and call it a deadline. Advertisement But there's a chance to raise the ceiling of this team, turning a surprise division leader into a real October threat. Those moves will cost more, draining a Blue Jays farm in the middle of a strong season, but there's room on this roster for a rotation leader, fire-breathing reliever and serious power threat. Likely, Atkins' deadline moves include a combination of depth and studs. But the magnitude of Toronto's additions will remain the juiciest storyline surrounding this team in the next two weeks. Expectations have grown at Rogers Centre, but the July 31 buys will dictate how high they get. Bichette owns the fourth-most hits in MLB at the break. Guerrero is Toronto's most valuable player by Baseball Reference WAR and rocks a career-high 13.5 percent walk rate. Neither is in the midst of a bad offensive season. But the Blue Jays' pair of sluggers earned MVP votes in three of the last four campaigns. For a long time, they've been the offence's driving force. While the 2025 Jays are enjoying their best hitting season in four years, Bichette and Guerrero are underperforming their career OPS averages by 9 percent. Both are on pace for 20 homers, which would mark career lows. Toronto's slugging success comes on the back of unexpected contributions — Addison Barger's breakout, George Springer's resurgence and guys like Nathan Lukes and Ernie Clement. Neither Bichette, a pending free agent, nor Guerrero, after inking a $500 million extension, have rattled off the scorching hot streak they're known for. In July and August last year, Guerrero hit over .360 with 14 homers and an OPS over 1.100. September is often Bichette's top month, as he owns a lifetime .323 average and .890 OPS in the final 30 days. If Toronto's lineup depth falters, pressure on Bichette and Guerrero will rise in the second half. If the batting order maintains, hot streaks from the core pair could turn a division race into a late-season blowout. Either way, Bichette and Guerrero will be at the centre of the Jays' second-half hopes.
Yahoo
a day ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Cardinals First-Round Pick Compared to Reigning Cy Young Winner Tarik Skubal
Cardinals First-Round Pick Compared to Reigning Cy Young Winner Tarik Skubal originally appeared on Athlon Sports. On Sunday, the St. Louis Cardinals selected LHP Liam Doyle with the fifth overall selection of the MLB Draft. Doyle is a 21-year-old fireballing lefty out of the University of Tennessee. A first-team All-American and Perfect Game's Pitcher of the Year, Doyle has recently received some noteworthy MLB player comparisons. Advertisement Tarik Skubal is arguably the best pitcher in all of baseball right now. In addition to starting tonight's All-Star Game for the American League, he is also the reigning AL Cy Young Award winner. Skubal is 10-3 with a 2.23 ERA and 0.83 WHIP in 2025. He is currently the betting favorite to repeat as AL Cy Young winner. There are many reasons for Cardinals fans to be excited about their first-round draft selection. Maybe the most eye-popping of those reasons, though, is that before the draft on Sunday, Bleacher Report's Tim Kelly compared Liam Doyle to Tigers' ace Tarik Skubal. Cardinals select LHP Liam Doyle with the fifth overall pick in the 2025 MLB Davis-Imagn Images 'When you watch Doyle pitch, both his delivery and outward swagger give you Tarik Skubal vibes,' Kelly wrote. Advertisement 'Beyond just the optics, Doyle, per MLB Pipeline, his fastball 'operates in the mid-90s and peaks at 100 mph,' which is also true of Skubal. Doyle is still refining his slider, but that's one of the pitches that has made Skubal successful as well.' 'It's not a perfect comp, but if Doyle winds up anything like Skubal—who might repeat as the AL Cy Young Award winner in 2025—he might be the best pick in this class.' In addition to Skubal, Doyle has also been compared to 2021 AL Cy Young Winner Robbie Ray and soon-to-be Cardinals Hall of Famer Al Hrabosky. The Hrabosky comparison came from Tennessee Baseball Head Coach Tony Vitello, who is a St. Louis native. Many of the comparisons come as a result of Doyle's high fastball usage and effectiveness, along with his high strikeout numbers. Doyle recorded 164 strikeouts for Tennessee in 2025, which ranked second in all of Division 1 baseball, only behind Kade Anderson, who was picked third overall by the Mariners. This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 15, 2025, where it first appeared.
Fox Sports
a day ago
- Sport
- Fox Sports
2025 MLB All-Star Game: Building Our All-Time American League Dream Team
Jeter. A-Rod. The Great Bambino. The New York Yankees are well-represented in FOX Sports American League Dream Team. How could they not be as the all-time leaders in World Series titles? But while the Yankees are a big part of the AL's history, they aren't the only powerhouse that produced Hall of Fame baseball players. Here's the full list: Manager: Connie Mack Connie Mack is a rarity on this list, in more ways than one. A player, then a manager who doubled as an executive, but also as a manager with a career record of under .500. Part of that is an issue of volume, however: Mack ran the A's for 50 seasons, from their 1901 inception through 1950. He managed them for 7,466 games: a .484 win percentage only counts for so much when it's attached to eight World Series appearances and five World Series championships. No other A's manager has 1,000 wins — Mack boasts 3,582 of them. Catcher: Yogi Berra Berra is among the figures who epitomize Yankees baseball. One of the best all-around catchers in MLB history, Berra was a three-time AL MVP, an 18-time All-Star and part of a whopping 10 World Series teams with the Yankees: 1947, 1949, 1950, 1951, 1952, 1953, 1956, 1958, 1961 and 1962. Berra is fifth in Yankees history with both 358 home runs and 1,430 RBIs, sixth with a 59.7 WAR and eighth with both 2,148 hits and 1,174 runs scored. He later managed the Yankees in 1964 and again from 1984-85. Reliever/closer: Mariano Rivera Rivera was called "The Sandman" and came out to Metallica's "Enter Sandman" for a reason: He put teams to sleep. Spending his entire career in the Bronx (1995-2013), Rivera went on to be the best closer in MLB history, recording a record 652 saves and posting an ERA above three just once after becoming a full-time reliever in 1996 (he posted a 3.15 ERA in 2007). Rivera was part of five Yankees championship teams (1996, 1998, 1999, 2000 and 2009) and primarily found success with his cut fastball. Starting pitcher: Cy Young The Red Sox can lay claim to three of the greatest pitchers in MLB history. Roger Clemens and Pedro Martinez combined for 10 Cy Young awards, but that honor is named after Boston's first ace. Cy Young's greatest run came in Beantown: a franchise-record 192 wins over eight years, 2.00 ERA and 275 complete games, while leading them to the first World Series championship in 1903. Young was the top player on the team by wins above replacement in seven of his eight seasons in town, and is MLB's all-time leader in both pitcher WAR and traditional wins. 1B: Lou Gehrig Lou Gehrig raked: plain and simple. A two-time AL MVP, Gehrig drove in 150-plus runs in a single season an absurd seven times and was an indispensable part of seven Yankees' championship teams (1927, 1928, 1932, 1936, 1937 and 1938), highlighted by a .731 career postseason slugging percentage. Gehrig is first in Yankees history with 163 triples, second with a .340 batting average, 2,721 hits and a 113.7 WAR and third with both 493 home runs and 1,888 runs scored. One of the best left-handed hitters of all time, Gehrig formed the most formidable one-two offensive punch baseball has ever witnessed with another player on this list. 3B: Alex Rodriguez The Yankees acquired a superstar shortstop to play third base in 2004 because of the next player we'll discuss, but Rodriguez transitioned just fine. Rodriguez was an overwhelming force from the right side of the plate. In 2007, he led MLB with 54 home runs and would be a featured part of the Yankees' 2009 World Series championship, hitting six home runs and posting a combined .365/.500/.808 slash line in the postseason. Across his 12 seasons playing in the Bronx (2004-16, excluding 2014), Rodriguez stands sixth in Yankees history with 351 home runs, seventh with a .523 slugging percentage and 10th with both 1,012 runs scored and a 53.8 WAR. 2B: Rod Carew How many other Twins second baseman were named dropped by the Beastie Boys? Exactly. To Carew's credit, he was more than just a name that rhymed, as he was about as sure of a shot as you could get for a base hit: in 12 seasons with the Twins, he second baseman won eight batting titles, and led all of MLB in average in four of those seasons. For his career in Minnesota, Carew batted .334, and produced a 137 OPS+, third-best among Twins, while his .393 on-base is tied for first — those weren't empty batting averages by any means. SS: Derek Jeter Jeter spent his entire career with the Yankees (1995-2014) and became the most popular athlete in the history of New York sports. A five-time Silver Slugger, five-time Gold Glover and 14-time All-Star, Jeter is one of the best pure contact hitters the sport has ever seen, founded the signature jump-throw from shortstop and was the heart and soul of five title teams (1996, 1998, 1999, 2000 and 2009). Jeter posted 200-plus hits in eight seasons and is sixth in MLB history with 3,465 career hits. As for Yankees context, Jeter is first in franchise history with both 3,465 hits and 358 stolen bases, second with 1,923 runs scored, fifth with a 71.3 WAR and eighth with a .310 batting average. Furthermore, he was a career .308 postseason hitter. OF: Mickey Mantle Mickey Mouse opened Disneyland in July 1955, but Mickey Mantle was already up and running by then. When Mantle came to the plate, the opposing manager would yell "back up" to the outfield. A 20-time All-Star, Mantle imposed fear into pitchers from both sides of the plate, leading the AL in home runs in four seasons and totaling 536 home runs across his 18-year career, which ranks 18th in MLB history. Mantle, who won seven World Series with the Yankees (1951, 1952, 1953, 1956, 1958, 1961 and 1962), is second in franchise history with 536 home runs, third with a 110.2 WAR, fourth with both 2,415 hits and 1,509 RBIs and 10th with 153 stolen bases. OF: Babe Ruth "The Babe" stands as arguably the best player to walk on a baseball field, and he spent the majority of his career in the Bronx (1920-34). Ruth led the AL in home runs in 10 of his 15 seasons with the Yankees, with whom he helped win four World Series (1923, 1927, 1928 and 1932). Ruth, who, of course, was primarily a starting pitcher for the Boston Red Sox before landing in New York, is first in Yankees history with 659 home runs, a .349 batting average, a .711 slugging percentage and a 142.8 WAR, second with 1,978 RBIs and third with 2,518 hits. And if that wasn't enough, Ruth blasted 15 home runs in 36 postseason games for the Yankees. When Ruth called his shot in the 1932 World Series, he knew exactly what he was doing. Honorable Mentions: Joe Torre (manager) Casey Stengel (manager) Walter Johnson (starting pitcher) Roger Clemens (starting pitcher) Ivan Rodriguez (catcher) Jeff Bagwell (1B) Eddie Collins (2B) Roberto Alomar (2B) Lou Whitaker (2B) Nellie Fox (2B) Nap Lajoie (2B) George Brett (3B) Wade Boggs (3B) Brooks Robinson (3B) Cal Ripken Jr. (SS) Ty Cobb (OF) Ken Griffey Jr. (DH/OF) Al Kaline (DH/OF) Carl Yastrzemski (DH/OF) Joe DiMaggio (DH/OF) Edgar Martinez (DH) Tris Speaker (OF) Want great stories delivered right to your inbox? 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Fox Sports
a day ago
- Sport
- Fox Sports
What Are The Top 10 Pitching Matchups In MLB All-Star Game History?
The MLB All-Star Game has always been one of the tentpole sporting events of the summer, allowing fans to see the top stars of the generation compete on the same diamond for a few hours on one July night. As many legends take the field for the Midsummer Classic, that's naturally created some epic pitching matchups over the years, too. It's pretty common to see Cy Young award winners and future Hall of Famers start the All-Star Game, allowing them to go up against a few of the top hitters of their era for an inning or two. Tarik Skubal (AL) and Paul Skenes (NL) will get the honor of starting the 2025 MLB All-Star Game, with each pitcher making a strong case to win their respective league's Cy Young award. As Skubal and Skenes join a legendary list of pitchers to have started the All-Star Game, let's take a look at the 10 best pitching matchups in the history of the Midsummer Classic. 10 best pitching matchups in MLB All-Star Game history 10. 1961: Whitey Ford vs Warren Spahn The eventual American League Cy Young winner and a previous National League Cy Young winner went head-to-head in the 1961 All-Star Game. Ford, who was the New York Yankees' ace through their championship years in the late 1950s through the early 1960s, led all of baseball in wins (25) and innings pitched (283) that year to go with a 3.21 ERA. Spahn, the 1957 NL Cy Young winner, led the NL in ERA (3.02) and complete games (21) that season. 9. 2021: Shohei Ohtani vs Max Scherzer Ohtani's first All-Star Game was a special one. He got to be the American League's starting pitcher and leadoff hitter, continuing as the team's designated hitter after he was done on the mound. Ohtani posted an impressive 3.18 ERA that season, while the three-time Cy Young-winning Scherzer had an MLB-leading 0.864 WHIP in 2021. He went on to finish third in the NL Cy Young vote. 8. 2009: Roy Halladay vs Tim Lincecum Halladay was one of baseball's best pitchers in the 2000s, while Lincecum was at the peak of his career when the two went head-to-head at the 2009 All-Star Game. Halladay finished top-five in AL Cy Young voting for a fourth straight year in 2009, posting an impressive 2.79 ERA as he also led MLB in complete games. Lincecum won his second straight NL Cy Young that season, leading all of baseball in strikeouts for a third straight year. 7. 1972: Jim Palmer vs Bob Gibson Palmer was just beginning the peak of his career and Gibson was at the end of his when the two pitchers dueled at the 1972 All-Star Game. Palmer, an ace for the Baltimore Orioles, would win his first of three AL Cy Youngs a year later, while the 1972 All-Star Game marked Gibson's final Midsummer Classic. 6. 2017-18: Chris Sale vs Max Scherzer The MLB All-Star Game is drenched with history. The 2018 All-Star Game was a sign of that, with Sale and Scherzer becoming the first pitchers to be named starters in consecutive All-Star Games since the 1939-40 seasons. Sale was in the midst of a streak where he finished top-five in Cy Young voting in six straight years, while Scherzer won his third Cy Young in the previous season. 5. 1999: Pedro Martinez vs Curt Schilling Before they were teammates with the Boston Red Sox in 2004, Martinez and Schilling dueled in the '99 All-Star Game at Fenway Park. Martinez, who was in the midst of arguably the greatest peak for a pitcher in MLB history, had a memorable night. He struck out the first four hitters he faced and five of the six hitters he went up against, with Barry Larkin, Larry Walker, Sammy Sosa, Mark McGwire and Jeff Bagwell being among those who went down by way of the K. Martinez won All-Star Game MVP as a result, while Schilling earned one of his six career All-Star nods that year. 4. 1970: Jim Palmer vs Tom Seaver As we mentioned earlier, Palmer was at the start of his peak for his Hall of Fame career in the early 1970s. Seaver was, too. The New York Mets ace, who was in his fourth season, had already won his first of three NL Cy Young awards the year prior. Palmer pitched a whopping 305 innings in 1970 to go with his 2.71 ERA, and Seaver had an NL-leading 2.82 ERA. 3. 1979: Nolan Ryan vs Steve Carlton The 1979 All-Star Game pitted two of the best pitchers of the 1970s and '80s against each other. Of course, Ryan was arguably one of the best pitchers in MLB history as no one has recorded more strikeouts or pitched more no-hitters than him. Carlton, meanwhile, was a four-time NL Cy Young winner, winning three of those awards in a six-year span between 1977-82. 2. 2001: Roger Clemens vs Randy Johnson Just over three months before their respective teams would face off in the World Series, Clemens and Johnson were the starting pitchers for the 2001 All-Star Game. Clemens won one of his seven Cy Young awards that year, going 20-3 with a 3.51 ERA. Johnson, meanwhile, won NL Cy Young that year, marking his third win in a row as he was named a Cy Young in four straight seasons. Pitching in his former home city, Johnson wasn't able to help the National League win the All-Star Game. However, he helped the Arizona Diamondbacks beat the Yankees in the World Series that year, winning MVP honors as he posted a 1.04 ERA in the series. 1. 1997: Randy Johnson vs Greg Maddux As we touched on in the previous blurb, Johnson was in the midst of his prime in the late 1990s and early 2000s. Maddux, meanwhile, was just coming off a historic stretch entering the 1997 All-Star Game. He won four straight NL Cy Young awards from 1992-95 and led the majors in ERA four times between 1993-98. Both pitchers helped set the tone for a relatively quiet All-Star Game as well, with the American League winning 3-1. HONORABLE MENTION 1962: Jim Bunning vs Don Drysdale 1977: Jim Palmer vs Don Sutton 1986: Roger Clemens vs Dwight Gooden 1991: Jack Morris vs Tom Glavine 2012: Justin Verlander vs Matt Cain Check out all of our Daily Rankers . Want great stories delivered right to your inbox? 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