But the game featured an intriguing matchup within the matchup: two starting pitchers with vastly different backgrounds and histories who happened to be leading contenders for the Rookie of the Year Award in their respective leagues to the mound opposite each other.

Skenes beat out Jackson Chourio of the Milwaukee Brewers and Jackson Merril of the San Diego Padres for the NL Jackie Robinson Rookie of the Year award. Skenes had 23 first-place votes to finish first, while Merril finished second with seven first-place votes.

Hard-throwing Pittsburgh Pirates ace Paul Skenes capped a remarkable season by winning the National League Rookie of the Year Award while Luis Gil of the New York Yankees edged Baltimore’s Colton Cowser to take the AL honor.