Paul Skenes faces American League sluggers in All-Star Game

ARLINGTON — Right off the bat, a hearty apology is due to the members of the National League Central who were forced to relive their bad memories of facing Paul Skenes — though, for once, the rookie phenom will be on their side when he makes the start for the National League in Tuesday’s All-Star Game.

That’s because, gauging from their reactions when asked what advice they’d give to the American League hitters, those memories are thoroughly unpleasant.

“They’re going to … ” said Reds shortstop Elly De La Cruz before chuckling uncontrollably, and putting his head in his hands. “It’s not going to be easy for them. He’s nasty. He’s nasty.”

De La Cruz started laughing to himself again — and by the way, this is coming from the rare guy who actually has hit Skenes, as De La Cruz went 2-for-3 in their meeting. A former MVP can’t say the same.

“Do better than the Brewers did against him,” came the advice from Christian Yelich. “We almost got no-hit.”

So yeah, good luck to Steven Kwan, Gunnar Henderson and Juan Soto, who are slated to face Skenes in the first — and possibly only — inning set to be thrown by the young fireballer with the five-pitch mix that includes a fastball that hits triple digits in the late innings and a unique “splinker.”

Perhaps it’s best not to think too hard about it — and Kwan hadn’t until he found out from his family group text Monday afternoon that he’d be leading off.

“I actually — maybe self-deprecatingly — didn’t think I would face him,” Kwan said. “I thought I was going to be in the eight- or nine-hole, so I didn’t even worry about it. I haven’t even processed it.”

Be ready for velocity
Not processing it seems to be the name of the game. The consensus from seven other All-Stars who have faced Skenes this season is that all a hitter can really do is to be ready to hit velocity.

“There’s not a lot of things you can do,” De La Cruz said. “You’ve just got to react.”

“When he starts his windup, just start swinging,” Isaac Paredes said.

That’s a good bet, because whether it’s the fastball or the splinker, it’s a good bet that Skenes will be throwing something really hard. He has thrown 44% of his pitches at 95 mph or harder — and now he’ll be pitching in a shorter outing where he doesn’t need to hold back.

So, gear up for velocity and hope you guess right.

“I just feel like you can’t worry too much about everything,” said Giants outfielder Heliot Ramos, who is 1-for-2 vs. Skenes. “All the stuff that he’s got is nasty, so the best chance that you’ve got to hit is the fastball.”

“Get ready for 100 [mph],” said Pete Alonso, who is 2-for-3 off Skenes. “I was ready to hit 100, and then that kind of made everything else slower.”

Don’t get psyched out by the splinker
That splinker does carry a reputation — as it should considering Skenes gets as much swing-and-miss with that hybrid splitter-sinker pitch (30.2% whiff rate) as he does with his heater (30.3% whiff rate). It’s relatively unique, but at least Ramos had a good sense of defeatist humor about seeing it.

“Look for the fastball — and swing over the split,” Ramos said with a laugh.

“A lot of people, when they think splitter, it’s more of, like, a changeup or an offspeed pitch,” Alonso said. “For me, it’s two separate fastballs. It’s a 100 mph four-seam, and a 95-96 mph sinker. I see it as two different fastballs.”

Just enjoy the show
Ultimately, many echoed the sentiment that it wasn’t even worth planning too hard, because in an exhibition of one of the game’s premier young talents, those opposing hitters, too, were simply excited to enjoy Skenes’ showcase from the best vantage point in the house.

“He’s a complete pitcher, man,” said Yankees outfielder Aaron Judge, who is hitting fourth for the AL. “It’s going to be fun. I think we’re all excited to see him on the mound, see him do his thing in his first All-Star Game.”

“We will see how electric his fastball is,” Soto said.

Added Kwan: “I’m excited. That’s going to be a generational pitching talent right there.”

And that’s what Tuesday’s first inning will be all about: Celebrating one of the game’s rising young stars in front of his fans not only watching on televisions across the country, but from both All-Star clubhouses.

“I think people want to see the best against the best,” Yelich said. “I’m glad that it worked out that way and you get to see him against the top of the American League lineup. Let’s get it.”