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74 articles
DET • Pitcher • #29
6 days ago
Skubal was cruising early in this one, allowing just one run in the first four innings on a bloop double down the right field line. But he came out for the top of the sixth, gave up two singles and a 2-RBI double to Blake Perkins, and left. The Tigers bullpen let his inherited runner score as well. A 2.72 ERA is very, very good. It’s also fair to say that Skubal’s been a bit disappointing compared to first-round expectations. He’ll look to bounce back against the Braves next week.
DET • Pitcher • #29
11 days ago
Skubal was sharp to start his day, tossing three perfect frames before walking the leadoff man in the fourth. He got into some trouble in the fifth, loading the bases on two hits and a walk. The Red Sox would bring just one run home on a groundout. Skubal allowed the first two runners to reach in the sixth before leaving them stranded once again. Ten strikeouts on 19 whiffs certainly help. The 29-year-old left-hander ends the day with an excellent 2.08 ERA, 0.96 WHIP, and a 33/6 K/BB ratio across 30 1/3 innings. He’ll take on the Brewers in Detroit on Thursday.
DET • Pitcher • #29
17 days ago
Skubal struck out seven, finishing with 11 whiffs on 44 swings and a 30-percent CSW. With his velocity and strikeout rate down a tad, he still hasn’t had a vintage Skubal outing just yet, even if he has allowed one run or fewer in three of his four outings. Maybe it’ll happen against the Red Sox next weekend.
DET • Pitcher • #29
22 days ago
Skubal did strike out seven while getting the Twins to swing and miss 19 times on 51 attempts, and only four balls registered as hard hits. His command was clearly off, however, and he gave up eight hits and two walks in one of his worst outings of the past two seasons. These things happen. Expect Skubal to bounce back just fine Sunday when he faces a not-so-great Miami Marlins’ lineup.
DET • Pitcher • #29
28 days ago
Don’t get me wrong, Skubal was great here. Any time a pitcher allows one run they can head back to the locker room and feel like they did their job. At the same time, he was not sharp in this one. The Diamondbacks scorched 11 hard-hit balls and Skubal had to work around all that hard contact to keep that lone run on the board. On top of that, the lowly seven swings-and-misses he forced tied his fewest in a single game going back to the start of the 2024 season. His pitch movements were mostly normal and velocity was fine, again he just wasn’t his usual sharp self. That’s what an ace does though: work a great start without their best stuff. Skubal is scheduled to face the Twins next time out.
DET • Pitcher • #29
about 1 month ago
The two-time reigning American League Cy Young award winner punched out six on the afternoon and did not allow a base on balls. The lone tally against him came on an RBI double off the bat of Xander Bogaerts in his final inning of work. Skubal got 11 swings and misses on 74 pitches on the day — nine of those on his changeup — while registering a CSW of 34 percent. As long as he stays healthy, there’s no reason to expect that he won’t challenge for the Cy Young award yet again. His next test will come on Wednesday against the Diamondbacks in Arizona.
DET • Pitcher • #29
about 1 month ago
Skubal’s final spring start was far from his best, although he did strike out five and didn’t issue a walk. The defending Cy Young winner will be on the bump against the Padres on Thursday in San Diego. If you’re at all concerned about Skubal’s spring numbers, maybe go for a walk or go see a movie and stop thinking about baseball for a while.
DET • Pitcher • #29
about 2 months ago
The run came on a Daulton Varsho homer in the fourth. Back from the World Baseball Classic, Skubal remains in line to start on Opening Day. He threw 44 of his 61 pitches for strikes today, and he has a 12/1 K/BB in 9 2/3 innings in his three spring starts for the Tigers.
DET • Pitcher • #29
about 2 months ago
The 29-year-old southpaw plans to leave after Monday’s contest against Mexico to rejoin the Tigers’ camp in Lakeland. Skubal had been pushing to make another start after taking the mound against Great Britain over the weekend, and it sounds like the Tigers were going to support his decision, so either he had a change of heart or his agent, Scott Boras, shut the idea down. Now he’ll finish getting himself ready for his Opening Day assignment against the Padres.
Source: Jeff Passan
DET • Pitcher • #29
about 2 months ago
The original plan had been for the star southpaw to make just one start in the tournament before returning to Tigers’ camp, but Skubal said after Saturday’s start, “I didn’t expect these types of emotions to run through my brain or my thoughts to differ. I was pretty committed to making a start and getting back to camp. Things have changed, obviously.” It’s nice to see that type of passion from the 29-year-old left-hander. Hopefully Boras and the Tigers sign off on the decision, and we get to see Skubal pitch for the Red, White and Blue once again during the tournament.
Source: Chandler Rome
DET • Pitcher • #29
about 2 months ago
Skubal gave up a homer to Nate Eaton on the very first pitch of the game, but he retired nine of 10 after that, striking out five in the process. Ken Rosenthal tried to talk him into pitching again for Team USA after his outing, but Skubal deflected the question. It’s already been decided between he and the Tigers that he’d make just the one start.
DET • Pitcher • #29
about 2 months ago
We’re inclined to believe Nightengale on this one since Skubal is unlikely to approach the century mark in an abbreviated outing at this early stage of his ramp-up process. The two-time AL Cy Young Award winner will head back to rejoin the Tigers following his lone outing during the international showcase.
Source: Bob Nightengale
DET • Pitcher • #29
about 2 months ago
The two-time reigning American League Cy Young Award winner struck out one and walked one on the afternoon. He cruised through his first two innings unscathed, but ran into trouble in the third as Rafael Lantigua worked a leadoff walk and Sean Keys smacked a one-out double to right. Jonathan Clase then followed with a two-run double to left-center. Skubal got four whiffs on 44 pitches on the day, posting an uncharacteristically low CSW of just 20 percent. It’s just one spring training start, there’s no reason to worry. Skubal is still the top starting pitcher on the board in all fantasy drafts.
DET • Pitcher • #29
2 months ago
Skubal generated eight whiffs on 19 swings in his 31-pitch outing today. He’ll pitch once more for Detroit this weekend before his abbreviated WBC stint with Team USA next week.
DET • Pitcher • #29
2 months ago
That’s surely what the Tigers wanted, and they’ll get their way here as they try to contend for a championship in Skubal’s final season before free agency. With Joe Ryan now iffy for the tournament, Team USA’s vaunted pitching staff isn’t looking quite as strong as it did a week ago.
Source: Bob Nightengale
DET • Pitcher • #29
3 months ago
Well, yeah. Not a lot of debate to be had here. The Tigers open up against the Padres on Thursday, March 26. Skubal will be a must-start, as always, unless something incredibly concerning happens during spring training.
Source: Evan Petzold
DET • Pitcher • #29
3 months ago
In one of the most highly anticipated arbitration hearings ever, the two-time reigning American League Cy Young Award winner lands a record $32 million via arbitration — $1 million more than the previous record held by Juan Soto in 2024. It’s a gargantuan raise over the $10.15 million that he took home in 2025, but it’s hard to imagine any pitcher in baseball more deserving at the moment. Provided the Tigers don’t attempt to trade him and his new increased salary, they’ll boast perhaps the best 1-2 punch atop any rotation in the American League.
Source: Mark Feinsand
DET • Pitcher • #29
4 months ago
Good for Skubal actually daring to push some boundaries here in his final season before free agency. The back-to-back AL Cy Young Award winner is seeking a raise from the $10.15 million he earned last season. The Tigers filed just under the $19.75 million that David Price made in 2015, which is the record for an arbitration-eligible pitcher. Skubal’s $32 million submission would top Juan Soto’s $31 million earned in 2024 as the record for any arbitration-eligible player.
Source: Mark Feinsand
DET • Pitcher • #29
4 months ago
This means that the two sides will go to an arbitration hearing. Each side will present the amount they are requesting/offering and why, and an independent hearing will determine which side ultimately wins. That will be the deal Skubal plays under, if he chooses, in 2026.
Source: Evan Petzold
DET • Pitcher • #29
4 months ago
Mason Miller and David Bednar are also being added to the bullpen. Skubal will join Paul Skenes in the Team USA rotation, which will also have Joe Ryan, Nolan McLean, Clay Holmes and Matthew Boyd available as starting options. Some announced players might drop out in March, but so far, this definitely looks like the best roster Team USA has managed to assemble for a WBC.
Source: Tarik Skubal
DET • Pitcher • #29
5 months ago
He added that the Tigers were intrigued by the possibility of a deal with the Dodgers, though he still doesn’t think Skubal will be traded this winter. It’s going to be very difficult to come up with a deal that makes sense for both the Tigers, who very much want to contend in 2026, and a suitor that knows it would only be getting baseball’s best pitcher for one year prior to free agency.
Source: USA TODAY
DET • Pitcher • #29
6 months ago
Skubal beat out finalists Garret Crochet and Hunter Brown to win his second consecutive Cy Young. Skubal received 26 of the 30 first-place votes, with Crochet getting the other four. He’s the first to do it in the American League since Pedro Martinez back in 1999-2000, which is pretty good company. Skubal finished 2025 with a 241/33 K/BB ratio and 2.59 ERA, and while there’s some question as to where he’ll be playing in 2026, he’ll be well worth taking early in every league he’s eligible to play in.
DET • Pitcher • #29
6 months ago
Despite rumors swirling around the Tigers trying to trade Skubal away due to failed contract negotiations, Nightengale reports that “The Tigers will at least listen on Skubal, but would have to be completely overwhelmed.” However, with Skubal making it clear that he won’t sign an extension with any team that trades for him, it’s unlikely anybody will make a sizable offer for the left-hander. As far as Skenes goes, “The Pirates won’t even listen to trade proposals for Skenes, so don’t bother calling.”
Source: USA Today
DET • Pitcher • #29
6 months ago
Skubal enters as the overwhelming favorite to capture his second consecutive Cy Young Award after posting a dominant 2.21 ERA with a 241/33 K/BB ratio across 195 1/3 innings over 31 starts. Crochet, the likely runner-up, wrapped up his first season in Boston with a stellar 2.59 ERA and a 255/46 K/BB ratio across a junior-circuit-leading 205 1/3 innings in 32 starts. Brown’s inclusion among the three finalists guarantees Houston a compensatory pick after the first round of the 2026 MLB Draft. The 27-year-old right-hander logged a sharp 2.43 ERA across 185 1/3 innings in 31 starts. The winner will be announced on Wednesday, November 12.
Source: MLB
DET • Pitcher • #29
6 months ago
If Skubal hits the trade market, every general manager with a pulse should already be calling Detroit. Sammon’s addition to the offseason rumor mix comes just days after Jon Heyman of The New York Post noted that the Tigers and Skubal remain nearly $250 million apart in long-term extension talks. The 28-year-old ace is set to hit free agency next offseason, making it increasingly plausible Detroit could explore trade offers if that massive gap proves unbridgeable. Barring major offseason moves, New York will open next season with one of the most intriguing young cores in baseball, featuring top pitching prospects Nolan McLean, Jonah Tong and Brandon Sproat. What they lack is a proven frontline starter — making Skubal a near-perfect fit. It’s conceivable that McLean or Tong could headline a prospect package in a potential blockbuster.
Source: The Athletic
DET • Pitcher • #29
6 months ago
Heyman adds that Skubal, who will reach free agency at the conclusion of next season, is seeking a contract extension in the $400 million range and that Detroit’s offer last offseason was shy of the $170 million that Garrett Crochet received from the Red Sox back in April. It’s unsurprising to see a significant gap in any negotiation, but this is a Grand Canyon-sized divide. The 28-year-old southpaw is the odds-on favorite to win his second straight AL Cy Young Award in a couple weeks after another dominant campaign where he posted a magnificent 2.21 ERA and 241/33 K/BB ratio across 195 1/3 innings over 31 starts. It’s within the realm of possibility the Tigers could consider dealing Skubal before he reaches free agency if it becomes apparent that the two sides aren’t close to finalizing a long-term extension.
Source: The New York Post
DET • Pitcher • #29
7 months ago
As far as non-answers go, this one is pretty fascinating. It’s true that Harris can’t say, “I’m going to let him walk in free agency.” That’s against the rules, since it could take away from Skubal’s market. Harris absolutely could say, “I’m going to make every effort to keep Tarik in a Tigers uniform for many years to come.” Except he didn’t. Let the trade speculation begin.
Source: Woodward Sports Network
DET • Pitcher • #29
7 months ago
Skubal was pulled after throwing 99 pitches in the sixth, and one can’t help but wonder if A.J. Hinch regrets that decision. The 28-year-old was spectacular; at one point striking out seven straight hitters while mixing in his devastating change and touching triple digits on the radar gun. Skubal’s season is over, but he should be one of — maybe the — first pitcher’s off the board in all eligible formats.
DET • Pitcher • #29
7 months ago
The Tigers are facing elimination today, but they’re not going to crush their chances in a potential Game 5 by using Skubal on short rest today. Casey Mize is getting the start against the Mariners.
Source: Evan Woodbery
DET • Pitcher • #29
7 months ago
The 28-year-old southpaw racked up nine strikeouts on the evening while issuing just one base on balls. All of the damage done against him came via the long ball as Jorge Polanco tagged him for solo homers in the fourth and sixth innings. Skubal got 16 swings and misses on 97 pitches on the night, registering a CSW of 31 percent. He’ll now need the Tigers to at least split at home in order for him to take the mound in a decisive Game 5 back in Seattle on Friday.