How Skubal and Skenes dominate MLB, according to teammates - ESPN

Editor's note: This story originally published on Aug. 19, 2025. Paul Skenes and Tarik Skubal are both finalists for the 2025 Cy Young awards to be announced on Nov. 12, 2025.

Both of MLB's 2025 Cy Young favorites came from humble pitching beginnings. Pittsburgh Pirates ace Paul Skenes started his meteoric rise to stardom at the Air Force Academy, while Detroit Tigers lefty Tarik Skubal came of age at Seattle University. Neither place screams baseball immortality, but both pitchers could be flirting with historic achievements for the rest of their careers provided they stay healthy.

Skenes was the 2024 National League Rookie of the Year, while Skubal won the American League Cy Young Award last season — and their paths recently crossed as the 2025 All-Star Game starting pitchers in Atlanta. As they head down the stretch with the opportunity to collect more hardware this season, ESPN asked their teammates, team personnel and Skubal and Skenes themselves what makes the two best pitchers in the sport so special.

«Really advanced stuff and fill up the strike zone; they go right at guys,» Tigers starter Casey Mize said, summing up the feelings of those who have watched both aces. «So, they're in advantageous counts a lot, applying a lot of pressure. The biggest thing to worry about is getting jumped early in counts, so they have to be good early on. But it feels like when they get strike one, the at-bat is over.»

The similarities between the two pitchers begin with the vibe they generate throughout the stadium when it's their turn to pitch. There's a different feeling in the clubhouse on a Skenes or Skubal day because of how games play out when they're on the mound.

«You just know the other team isn't going to do very much,»