Paul Skenes' WBC decision gives him popularity edge over Tarik Skubal in MLB debate

There is a real, good-faith baseball debate happening right now. Who is the best pitcher in the sport — Paul Skenes or Tarik Skubal?

On pure résumé, Skubal has the hardware edge. Back-to-back American League Cy Young Awards. Established dominance. A left-hander entering his prime and staring at a potential $400 million free-agent jackpot.

Skenes, meanwhile, is the reigning National League Cy Young winner, still pre-arbitration, still under club control for four more seasons, still somehow just scratching the surface of his ceiling.

From a baseball standpoint, it’s razor thin. But popularity isn’t built on WAR charts alone — and that’s where the World Baseball Classic changes the equation.

Skubal will pitch once in the WBC, facing Great Britain in the pool play round. Skenes expects to make two starts, per Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic — assuming Team USA advances.

To be fair, that difference isn’t about courage versus caution. Skubal is entering his walk year. He’s pitching for a Detroit club that believes it can win the World Series. He’s protecting generational money and a contender’s outlook. That’s rational.

Skenes, meanwhile, is in a different career window. He hasn’t hit arbitration and doesn’t have nine figures at stake (not yet, anyway). His team, the Pittsburgh Pirates, is improving — but they are not yet established contenders.

So yes, the financial calculus is different. But perception isn’t a calculator. It's emotional. And that's where Skenes gains the edge.

When Team USA manager Mark DeRosa approached Skenes in April about pitching in the WBC, he didn’t hesitate. He accepted immediately — not for branding or contract leverage, but for service. Skenes attended the U.S. Air Force Academy before transferring to LSU. He spoke openly about honoring servicemen and women and about representing something bigger than baseball.

The WBC is a global spotlight. Casual fans, international fans and even non-baseball fans tune in. If Skubal pitching once keeps him present. But Skenes makes two high-leverage starts and dominates on that stage, he doesn’t just strengthen a statistical case to be recognized as the top arm in the game — he builds mythology.

Paul Skenes' WBC decision makes him feel like the true face of American pitching

Skubal pitches for the Detroit Tigers — a proud franchise with resurgent energy and legitimate October aspirations. Skenes pitches for Pittsburgh — a franchise still clawing back toward relevance. But the WBC neutralizes market size. When you wear USA across your chest, payroll size and contract year risk don't matter. The stage belongs to whoever seizes it, and Skenes is positioning himself to seize more of it.

Fair or not, fans interpret workload decisions emotionally. Where one start feels cautious, two starts feel committed — even if the underlying reasons are perfectly logical. That’s not a criticism of Skubal. It’s an acknowledgment of how fandom works.

Skenes is leaning into the moment, and that carries weight in the “who’s the best?” debate. Because fans often equate willingness with confidence.

Both pitchers have elite arsenals. Both have elite results. Both have Cy Young credentials. But popularity — the kind that shapes All-Star voting, jersey sales, endorsement momentum and national profile — is built on moments.

Skenes’ decision creates the possibility for more moments — more pressure innings, more flag-waving visuals, more highlight packages. And in an era where baseball craves personality and stakes, that matters.

If you’re building a case strictly off analytics, this debate remains wide open. But if you’re measuring cultural footprint and emotional resonance, Skenes just grabbed the early edge as the face of American pitching.

Sometimes the difference between two great pitchers isn’t velocity or ERA; it’s who steps forward when the spotlight gets brighter. And in this case, the Pirates’ ace didn’t blink.