The Changing Face of MLB Aces in 2025

In 2025, the role of an MLB ace has evolved dramatically from the days of 20-game winners and complete games. Pitchers like Paul Skenes and Tarik Skubal are leading the charge, showcasing dominance in a modern era where pitch counts, innings limits, and advanced metrics reign supreme.

The Modern Ace: Dominance Over Durability

Gone are the days when pitchers like Dwight Gooden and John Tudor would rack up 250+ innings and complete games. In 2025, the focus has shifted to efficiency and dominance over shorter outings. Skenes, the NL Cy Young favorite, boasts an MLB-best 2.03 ERA and leads the league in strikeouts, despite a modest 10-10 win-loss record. Skubal, the AL Cy Young frontrunner, is equally dominant with just 13 wins and fewer than 200 innings pitched.

Comparing Eras: 1975 vs. 2025

To understand the evolution, let's compare 2025 to past eras:

• 1975: Aces like Jim Palmer and Tom Seaver averaged 288 innings per season, with 19 complete games and 5 shutouts.
• 2025: Aces average just 174 innings, 1 complete game, and 0 shutouts. Yet, their ERA+ (162) and WAR (5.4) remain elite.

The Rise of Strikeouts and Efficiency

One of the defining traits of 2025 aces is their ability to strike out batters at an unprecedented rate. Skenes and Skubal average 9.3 strikeouts per nine innings, a far cry from the 6.0 K/9 of 1975 aces. This shift reflects the modern emphasis on velocity, spin rate, and pitch variety.

The Future of Pitching

As the game continues to evolve, the definition of an ace will likely keep changing. While we may never see another 20-game winner or 300-inning season, pitchers like Skenes and Skubal are proving that dominance can take many forms. Whether it's through WAR, ERA+, or strikeout rates, the modern ace is just as valuable as their predecessors—just in a different way.

Conclusion

The days of Dwight Gooden and Greg Maddux may be behind us, but the legacy of the ace lives on in 2025. With Paul Skenes and Tarik Skubal leading the way, the future of pitching looks as bright as ever—even if it looks a little different.