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.”

‘He’s a guy that you can talk to when he’s starting’

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,” Tigers infielder Zach McKinstry said when it’s a Skubal day. “Defense is kind of boring that game.”

As a smiling teammate Spencer Torkelson added, “You can almost be blindfolded playing behind him.”

Pirates outfielder Tommy Pham has his own way of recognizing when Pittsburgh’s ace is pitching. It begins when Pham gets dressed to come to the park.

“He wears a suit to the field, so I started trying to keep up with him on ‘Skenes Day,'” Pham said. “I call out Skenes Day by wearing a suit with him so he’s not the only one.

“And we normally don’t need to score a lot of runs that day.”

Despite Skenes’ formal attire and nasty stuff, it stands out to his teammates that Skenes is still approachable when it is his day to take the mound.

“He’s a guy that you can talk to when he’s starting,” Pham stated. “I’ve played with guys, when they’re starting, you can’t talk to them, which I feel is bulls—. But he’s not like that.”

Skubal exhibits that trait, as well, according to Detroit infielder Zach McKinstry. Skubal will talk to teammates like it’s any other game.

The confidence in each pitcher’s crafts allows for a normal day, according to the players in both locker rooms.

The Tigers also get an extra jolt of energy during their pennant race as they play meaningful games down the stretch: Comerica Park comes alive when their ace takes the mound.

“Every jersey you see is a No. 29 jersey,” McKinstry said. “They love him. And he loves what he does. And we love to play behind him.”

‘We play a defensive position, but he makes it look like offense’

If there is one difference between Skubal and Skenes, it is that Skubal is in attack mode more than anyone in the league. He leads MLB in throwing his first pitch for a strike at 70% of the time. Overall, he throws strikes 55% of the time — good for third most in baseball.

Being in the zone so often is one reason Skubal is third in the majors in innings pitched this season, after finishing eighth in that category last season.

“When it gets to those later innings, you do feel like he has a chance to go the distance,” Tigers reliever Will Vest said. “It’s because he’s so efficient with his pitches.”

Skubal has pitched at least seven innings in 10 starts this season, including his signature outing: a 13-strikeout shutout against the Cleveland Guardians on May 25. That performance still resonates in the Tigers’ clubhouse three months later, especially after his last pitch registered at 103 mph.

“The aggressiveness,” Mize explained. “We play a defensive position, but he makes it look like offense. He’s going at everybody. He doesn’t care. That game illustrated that.”

Skenes, on the other hand, ranks 33rd in first-strike percentage (62.1) with a full arsenal that allows him to attack hitters differently.

“He has a larger tool box,” Pirates assistant pitching coach Brent Strom said. “It enables him to have weapons against different types of hitters. He pitches to his strengths.”

According to Baseball Savant, Skenes has thrown seven different types of pitches this season — as compared with Skubal’s five — and Skenes’ swinging-strike percentage ranks seventh. It all adds up to a pitch mix that keeps hitters baffled, even when they get pitches to hit.

“It’s full-on ‘here it is, hit it,'” Pirates catcher Joey Bart said. “He’s not scared of anyone.”

‘Everything is by the numbers, and he leaves nothing to chance’

Every player, no matter the position, has a routine to prepare for competition. But Skenes is especially unique in that regard.

One day, between starts, Pham asked to stand in the batter’s box while Skenes threw a bullpen session.

“Then the next day, I asked who’s throwing a pen because I needed to test out my contact lenses again,” Pham explained. “And Skenes says, ‘Hey, I’m throwing a pen.'”

Pham gave him a confused look, knowing Skenes had thrown the day before.

“He’s like, ‘Yeah, I throw every day, except for the day before my start,'” Pham recalled. “When I found that out, I was like, yeah, he’s different. I’ve never seen anybody do that.”

Strom noted that not every bullpen session is built the same. There’s purpose to the preparation.

“His work is very organized,” Strom said. “Very thoughtful. Everything is by the numbers, and he leaves nothing to chance. He’s very cerebral. He understands what’s necessary.”

Bart recalled Skenes’ early days with the club after getting called up in May 2024. The catcher recognized the detailed preparation of the former LSU star even then, including how Skenes readied for his very first outing against the Chicago Cubs.

“I remember the first pregame meeting last year,” Bart said. “He ran the meeting in his debut. I was like, ‘Go ahead and take it, dude. You got it.’ He has been groomed for this.”

That kind of intense and directed preparedness has gained attention and admiration around the league, and it is what Skubal identified as Skenes’ most impressive trait.

“He seems like he has his routine and preparation already figured out at a young age,” Skubal said. “It took me until I was 26 to be a good big league baseball player and figure that out. And he’s doing it at 23. That’s four years faster than me. Yeah, that’s really impressive.”

‘He just wants to show that there is something memorable about greatness’

There’s an aura of self-assuredness to Skubal that stands out as compared with even other aces, according to those around him. He has been called a “bulldog” with a “killer” mentality by his teammates: He won’t back down, no matter the circumstance.

“He comes after you,” Torkelson said. “In big situations, he trusts his best stuff. You kind of know what you’re going to get, and it’s still hard to hit.”

That confidence enables Skubal to put himself in pitcher’s counts (0-1, 0-2, 1-2, 2-2) 45.7% of the time, more than any other hurler in the game, according to ESPN Research. And until you show you can hit one of his best offers, he’ll just keep throwing it. He has 93 strikeouts on his changeup, second only to Philadelphia Phillies starter Cristopher Sanchez.

That mindset is what stands out most about Skubal to Skenes.

“He can go after hitters straight up,” Skenes said. “He gets them out quickly, which is why he pitches deep in games. He does that better than anyone else in the game. But it starts with going right at them. That takes confidence.”

Skubal has a commanding presence, according to Tigers play-by-play announcer Jason Benetti. It doesn’t hurt that his size (6-foot-3 and 240 pounds) naturally creates some intimidation when he is on the mound, but he makes himself known whenever he is in the game.

“On the day the All-Stars were announced last year, the Tigers were in Cincinnati, and he struck out [Elly] De La Cruz and there was this big primal scream — and that’s this indelible memory for me,” Benetti said of Skubal. “Because that is a guy that people hear about that there’s noise about, and he wants that.

“He ends innings and outings at 102 mph because he just wants to show that there is something memorable about greatness, is the way I would put it. He has greatness.”

Energy bills are now expected to rise in autumn, a reversal from the previously anticipated price drop, a prominent forecaster has said.

Households will be charged £17 more for a typical annual bill from October as the energy price cap is due to rise, according to consultants Cornwall Insight.

In roughly six weeks, an average dual fuel bill will be £1,737 a year, Cornwall Insights predicted, 1% above the current price cap of £1,720 a year.

The price cap limits the cost per unit of energy and is revised every three months by the energy regulator Ofgem.

Bills had previously been forecast by the consultants to fall in October. Such an increase had not been anticipated until now.

Why are bills getting more expensive?

Charges are predicted to be introduced from October to fund government policies. Measures such as the expansion of the warm home discount, announced in June, will add roughly £15 to an average monthly bill.

The discount will provide £150 in support to 2.7 million extra people this year, bringing the total number of beneficiaries to 6 million.

Volatile electricity and gas prices are also to blame for the forecast increase.

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Turbulent geopolitical events during Ofgem’s observation period for determining the cap, including the unpredictability of US trade policy, have also had an impact, while Israel’s airstrikes on Iran intensified concerns about disruption to gas shipments.

Prices have eased, however, with British wholesale gas costs dropping to the lowest level in more than a year.

Also helping to keep the possible bill rise relatively small is news from the European Parliament that rules on gas storage stocks for the winter would be eased.

Bulk buying and storage of gas in warmer months helps eliminate pressure on supplies when demand is at its highest during cold snaps.

When will bills go down?

A small drop in bills is forecast for January, but it is subject to geopolitical movements, weather patterns and changes to policy costs.

An extra charge, for example, could be added to support new nuclear generating capacity.

The official Ofgem announcement will be made on 27 August.

We have three different EVs leading our Green Deals today, with the first being Navee’s newest GT3 Max Smart Electric Scooter hitting a new $561 low during the brand’s ongoing Back to School Sale. Next, Tenways’ newly launched pre-semester sale has returned its AGO X All-Terrain Mid-Drive e-bike to its $1,899 low while also offering $307 in free gear, as well as a spotlight on Segway’s new E2 Plus II eKickScooter at $300. We also have others from EcoFlow, Greenworks, Aiper, and more waiting for you below. Plus, all the hangover savings are at the bottom of the page, like yesterday’s Segway Upgrade Your Daily Grind sale offers, the final day of deals from EcoFlow’s 48-hour accessory flash sale, and more.

Head below for other New Green Deals we’ve found today and, of course, Electrek’s best EV buying and leasing deals. Also, check out the new Electrek Tesla Shop for the best deals on Tesla accessories.

Navee’s latest 47-mile travelling GT3 Max electric scooter gets further price cuts to new $561 low

As part of its ongoing Back to School Sale that will continue through August 25, Navee has dropped the price lower than ever on its new GT3 Max Electric Scooter to $561 shipped, after using the promo code SCHOOL15 at checkout, which beats out its Amazon pricing by $132.49. What’s more, you’ll also be getting a FREE carbon fiber riser bag ($59 value) that is automatically added in the cart. Since its release mid-way through July, carrying a $750 price tag, we’ve seen discounts direct from the site (before this week) only take things down to $730 (and later $620 with the extra savings code last week), while at Amazon we’ve seen it regularly repeat to $693 for Prime members. All those rates are getting beaten out here by the combined 25% markdown that cuts $189 off the price tag for the best new rate that we have tracked.

While the GT3 and GT3 Pro are equally new models that first launched during CES 2025, Navee has already upgraded the series’ design with the GT3 Max electric scooter, which mainly focuses on its travel range. There is a 400W motor housing within the sleek frame (peaking at 1,000W) and a 597.6Wh battery that affords it a longer 46.6-mile range over the Pro models’ 37.3-mile range, with a top speed of 19.9 MPH. This puts it squarely in competition with the flagship ST3 Pro e-scooter, which mainly differs in its damping arm suspension system. There are three riding modes here, as well as the full array of smart features/controls we’ve seen on the latest models, including Apple Find My, Bluetooth proximity locking, and more – all controlled via the companion app.

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Of course, Navee’s 49-pound GT3 Max e-scooter comes with the usual folding design that helps you to carry it inside or up stairs more easily, not to mention making storage less of a headache. There are also other solid stock features like the tubeless tires to protect against flats, front fork and rear cylinder suspension, turn signal functionality integrated into the handlebars, a front drum brake paired with a rear electronic regenerative brake, and more.

You can check out the full lineup of deals during Navee’s Back to School Sale here, which is seeing particularly low prices for teachers and students who can verify their status.

Commute on streets and dirt alike with Tenways’ AGO X e-bike that gets $307 in free gear at its $1,899 low, more

Tenways has launched its Back to School Sale that is taking up to $600 off select e-bikes alongside offering up to $307 in free gear. Among the models seeing discounts, Tenways has returned its AGO X All-Terrain Mid-Drive e-bike to $1,899 shipped while giving you $307 in free add-on equipment. This model usually fetches $2,499 at full price, which has mostly been brought down to $1,999 over the last year, though we’ve been seeing more regular drops to the $1,899 low, like today. You’re saving $600 while the sale lasts at the best price we have tracked, not to mention the bonus mudguards, kickstand, and rear carrier you’ll be getting that puts you at $907 in total savings. What’s more, if you buy two of them (or any e-bike) together, you’ll receive an additional $300 discount on your cart’s total.

If you want to learn more about this model or the other deals, be sure to check out our original coverage of this sale here.

Segway’s new entry-level Ninebot E2 Plus II eKickScooter with a 16-mile range drops to $300 in latest sale

Looking back in on Segway’s Upgrade Your Daily Grind sale, which will continue through the rest of the month, we wanted to shine a spotlight on the brand’s new Ninebot E2 Plus II eKickScooter at $299.99 shipped, which is also matching in price at Amazon too. This model launched back in May with a $400 price tag direct from the brand but never went higher than $370 at Amazon, which we saw dropped to $350 for its preorder period on both sites, with today’s deal being the second-ever fall to $300 that we’ve spotted. It did go $4 lower last month through and after Prime Day, with this otherwise being the best price we have tracked with $100 taken off the tag.

If you want to learn more about this particular model, be sure to check out our original coverage of this deal here, with the full lineup of Segway’s e-scooter sale available here.

EcoFlow’s RIVER 2 Pro 768Wh LiFePO4 power station tackles personal backup support at $379

By way of its official Amazon storefront, EcoFlow is offering its RIVER 2 Pro Portable Power Station at $379 shipped, which is matching directly from the brand’s website. While it carries a $599 MSRP directly from the brand, it keeps down lower at $529 in full at Amazon. We’ve seen discounts in 2025 bouncing the price around between $399 and its one-time $352 low that popped up in early May. Today’s deal gives you a 28% markdown off the going rate for $150 savings ($220 off the MSRP) and lands it at the third-lowest price we have tracked, beaten out by falls to $359, most recently in July, and the $352 low.

If you want to learn more about this model, be sure to check out our original coverage of this deal here.

Greenworks’ 2025 13A 2,100 PSI compact electric pressure washer is down at $160, more

Amazon is offering the newer Greenworks 13A 2,100 PSI Compact Electric Pressure Washer at $159.99 shipped, which is also matching in price directly from the brand’s website. This is one of a number of newer models that were released at the top of the year, with discounts having mostly repeated to this same rate, save for the two Prime Day rates of $150 and a $140 low that was available to Prime members, exclusively. Today’s deal brings back the usual 20% markdown to cut $40 off the tag at the best non-Prime Day price that we have tracked.

If you want to learn more about this new model or the others we spotted getting discounts, be sure to check out our original coverage of the deals here.

Aiper’s HydroComm smart monitor offers 5-in-1 testing for your pool and/or hot tub at a return $250 low

Through its official Amazon storefront, Aiper is offering a return low price on its latest HydroComm Smart Pool Monitor for $249.99 shipped in its blue colorway, which beats out the brand’s direct website pricing by $50. Originally priced at $500 when it released in April, we see it carrying a lower $400 price tag from the brand and keeping at $350 at Amazon, where discounts have given us this same low rate twice before since Prime Day last month. It’s coming back for a third time here today, cutting $100 off the going rate (and $150 off the MSRP) at the best price we have tracked. You can also check out the array of discounts on the brand’s various pool cleaners on the official Amazon storefront page here.

If you want to learn more about this newer smart device, be sure to check out our original coverage of the deal here.

Best Summer EV deals!

• Velotric Nomad 2X e-bike (camo) with DELTA 3 Plus station: $3,048 (Reg. $3,298)
• Velotric Nomad 2X e-bike (sage or fig) with DELTA 3 Plus station: $2,948 (Reg. $3,298)
• Aventon Ramblas Electric Mountain Bike: $2,599 (Reg. $2,899)
• Ride1Up Prodigy v2 Brose Mid-Drive Gates Belt CVT e-bike: $2,595 (Reg. $2,795)
• Ride1Up Revv 1 DRT Off-Road Moped-Style e-bike: $2,395 (Reg. $2,595)
• Ride1Up Revv 1 Full Suspension Moped-Style e-bike: $2,395 (Reg. $2,595)
• Segway Xafari Red e-bike: $2,000 (Reg. $2,400)
• Velotric Nomad 2 All-Terrain e-bike with $120 bundle (new): $1,999 (No price cut)
• Rad Power Radster Road Commuter e-bike: $1,999 (Reg. $2,199)
• Rad Power Radster Trail Off-Road e-bike: $1,999 (Reg. $2,199)
• Lectric XPedition 2.0 35Ah Cargo e-bike w/ up to $654 bundle: $1,999 (Reg. $2,653)
• Ride1Up Prodigy v2 Brose Mid-Drive 9-Speed e-bike: $1,995 (Reg. $2,495)
• Tenways AGO X All-Terrain e-bike with $307 bundle: $1,899 (Reg. $2,499)
• Velotric Fold 1 Plus e-bike (gray or white) with DELTA 2 station: $1,898 (Reg. $2,198)
• Velotric Fold 1 Plus e-bike (mango or blue) with DELTA 2 station: $1,828 (Reg. $2,198)
• Aventon Abound SR Smart Cargo e-bike (new, first discount): $1,799 (Reg. $1,899)
• Velotric Breeze 1 Cruiser e-bike with $150 bundle (new, first discount): $1,699 (Reg. $1,799)
• Aventon Pace 4 Smart Cruiser e-bike (new, second-ever discount): $1,699 (Reg. $1,799)
• Rad Power RadExpand 5 Plus Folding e-bike (lowest price): $1,699 (Reg. $1,899)
• Lectric XPedition 2.0 26Ah Cargo e-bike w/ $505 bundle: $1,699 (Reg. $2,204)
• Lectric XPeak 2.0 Long-Range Off-Road e-bike with $316 bundle: $1,699 (Reg. $2,015)
• Aventon Aventure 2 All-Terrain e-bike: $1,699 (Reg. $1,999)
• Aventon Abound Cargo e-bike: $1,599 (Reg. $1,999)
• Heybike Limited Miami Sunset Ranger 3.0 Pro Folding e-bike (new): $1,599 (Reg. $1,699)
• Rad Power RadRunner Cargo Utility e-bike with $109 bundle: $1,499 (No pirce cut)
• Lectric XPeak 2.0 Standard Off-Road e-bike with $227 bundle: $1,499 (Reg. $1,726)
• Lectric XP Trike2 with $227 preorder bundle: $1,499 (Reg. $1,726)
• Rad Power RadWagon 4 Cargo e-bike: $1,499 (Reg. $1,799)
• Tenways CGO600 Pro e-bikes with $118 bundle: $1,499 (Reg. $1,899)
• Velotric Nomad 1 Plus All-Terrain e-bike: $1,499 (Reg. $1,899)
• Aventon Sinch 2 Folding e-bike (lowest price): $1,399 (Reg. $1,699)
• Lectric XPedition 2.0 13Ah Cargo e-bike with $326 bundle: $1,399 (Reg. $1,725)
• Aventon Level 2 Commuter e-bike (2025 low): $1,399 (Reg. $1,899)
• Heybike Ranger 3.0 Pro Folding Fat-Tire e-bike (new): $1,399 (Reg. $1,499)
• Ride1Up Roadster V3 Lightweight Premium e-bike: $1,395 (Reg. $1,495)
• Velotric T1 ST Plus Lightweight e-bike: $1,399 (Reg. $1,649)
• Lectric XPress 750 Commuter e-bikes with $366 bundle: $1,299 (Reg. $1,665)
• Lectric XP4 750 LR Folding Utility e-bikes with $356 bundle: $1,299 (Reg. $1,655)
• Heybike Mars 3.0 Folding Fat-Tire e-bike (new): $1,199 (Reg. $1,299)
• Lectric XP Lite 2.0 JW Black LR e-bike with $365 bundle: $1,099 (Reg. $1,464)
• Ride1Up Portola Folding e-bike with BOGO accessory promo: $995 (Reg. $1,095)
• Lectric XP4 Standard Folding Utility e-bikes with $79 bundle: $999 (Reg. $1,078)
• Lectric XP Lite 2.0 Long-Range e-bikes with up to $365 bundles: $999 (Reg. $1,364)
• Heybike Hauler Single-Battery Cargo e-bike: $999 (Reg. $1,499)
• Rad Power RadExpand 5 Folding e-bike: $999 (Reg. $1,599)
• Segway ZT3 Pro All-Terrain Electric KickScooter (code ZT3AUG100OFF): $900 (Reg. $1,300)
• Segway F3 Electric KickScooter: $750 (Reg. $1,000)
• Navee ST3 Pro Electric Scooter (code SCHOOL15): $727 (Reg. $1,014)
• ENGWE Engine Pro Folding e-bike (use code 9TO5ENGWE50): $750 (Reg. $1,500)
• Navee GT3 Max Smart Electric Scooter (code SCHOOL15): $561 (Reg. $750)

Best new Green Deals landing this week

The savings this week are also continuing to a collection of other markdowns. To the same tune as the offers above, these all help you take a more energy-conscious approach to your routine. Winter means you can lock in even better off-season price cuts on electric tools for the lawn while saving on EVs and tons of other gear.