Elaine Thompson/Associated Press
New York Yankees slugger Aaron Judge is eagerly anticipating the opportunity to face rookie National League starting pitcher Paul Skenes in the upcoming All-Star Game, describing his pitching as “electric stuff. Judge, who leads the majors with 34 home runs at the break, expressed his enthusiasm for Skenes’ impressive abilities.
All-Star Game Lineup
Judge is batting fourth for the American League, while Skenes, named NL starter last week, is expected to pitch a limited amount of innings. National League manager Torey Lovullo mentioned that Skenes is “unlikely” to pitch more than one inning due to the abundance of available pitchers.
Judge’s Praise for Skenes
Despite this, Judge remains hopeful for a chance to face Paul Skenes, describing his pitching as “electric stuff.” He elaborated on Skenes’ skills, noting that the Pittsburgh Pirates rookie is not only known for his velocity but also for his ability to command multiple pitches and deliver them accurately in any count.
“I’ve watched a couple of his games the last couple weeks since he got called up. It’s special stuff, electric stuff,” Judge said. “You can talk about the velocity on his pitches, but the guy is a pitcher. He can work all three, four, five of his pitches, throw it any part of the zone, any count. He’s a complete pitcher. It’s going to be fun.”
Skenes’ Reaction
Skenes, on his part, shared that it would be “cool” to face Judge, showing mutual respect and admiration between the rookie pitcher and the seasoned slugger. The anticipation surrounding this potential matchup highlights the excitement and competitive spirit of the All-Star Game.
Manager’s Strategy
Even if Skenes performs exceptionally well in the first inning, Lovullo hinted that he would likely turn to the bullpen for the subsequent innings. With 11-12 pitchers to get through, the challenge lies in giving each pitcher their moment on the mound.
