Morning Rundown: Paul Skenes named NL starting pitcher for All-Star game

Skenes to start the All-Star game, Marco Gonzales and David Bednar return from the IL.

Jul 13, 2024

A day after pitching seven no-hit innings while striking out 11 batters, Paul Skenes learned that he will be the starter for the National League in the All-Star game next week.

Skenes has a 6-0 in 11 starts this year, posting a 1.90 ERA with 89 strikeouts in 66.1 innings pitched.

Among pitchers with at least 50 innings pitched, only Reynaldo Lopez of the Atlanta Braves has a better ERA, while Skenes has the best xFIP (2.23) and strikeout rate (34.9%).

Right-handed pitcher Braxton Ashcraft was placed on the injured list Friday, retroactive to July 11.

Ashcraft made three starts with Triple-A Indianapolis before landing on the IL and missing about a week and a half. He returned and threw three innings on July 6 and never pitched again.

It’s been a very good season for Ashcraft, putting himself in position to make his major league debut at some point this year, but he will now have to deal with another injured list stint.

Marco Gonzales returned from the injured list on Friday, pitching five innings of one-run baseball, picking up his first win as a Pirates. Even though he allowed seven hits along the way, he induced six groundouts—two of which ended up as critical double plays.

David Bednar was also activated off the injured list and picked up the save, his 17th of the season.

Michael A. Taylor, Nick Gonzales, and Andrew McCutchen hit doubles in the win. The Pirates now sit two games under .500 with two games left until the All-Star break.

Altoona Curve placed RHP Bubba Chandler on the temporarily inactive list
RHP Scott Randall assigned to Altoona Curve from Greensboro Grasshoppers
SS Edwarli Brioso assigned to DSL Pirates Gold from DSL Pirates Black
Greensboro Grasshoppers placed SS Termarr Johnson on the temporarily inactive list
Indianapolis Indians activated SS Alika Williams
Indianapolis Indians placed RHP Braxton Ashcraft on the 7-day injured list retroactive to July 11, 2024
Pittsburgh Pirates optioned RHP Ryder Ryan to Indianapolis Indians

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