Tigers split a doubleheader with the Pirates on June 20, 2025. Tarik Skubal and Riley Greene starred in a 9-2 win before an 8-4 extra-inning loss.
StatPro MLB Beat Reporter
It was the best of times, it was the worst of times. A Thursday doubleheader against the Pittsburgh Pirates gave Tigers fans a full spectrum of emotions, from the pure dominance of a 9-2 victory powered by their ace and hottest hitter, to the gut-punch of an 8-4 extra-inning loss that saw the manager get tossed. When the dust settled, the Tigers had a split, a ton of questions, and the undeniable fact that Riley Greene and Tarik Skubal are playing on another level.
Tarik Skubal is now 8-0 over his last 13 starts, cementing his status as one of the best pitchers in the American League.
Game 1 was a clinic. Tarik Skubal was his usual brilliant self, and the offense, led by Riley Greene's four RBIs, exploded for a 9-2 win. But the nightcap was a different story. The Tigers clawed back, with rookie Colt Keith launching a massive two-run homer in the seventh to tie it 4-4. The game stretched into extras, where a controversial call and a four-run Pirates rally in the 10th sealed Detroit's fate. Manager A.J. Hinch's ejection after the play just added salt to the wound, ending a promising day on a sour note.
If there's a hotter hitter in baseball this month, we haven't seen him. Riley Greene was the engine of the Game 1 victory, driving in four runs for the second time this week. His June has been absurd: he's hitting .333 with 15 RBIs in just 16 games. The offense runs through him, and his at-bats are must-see TV. The Tigers even had a rare four-sacrifice-fly performance in the win, a testament to the kind of productive, team-first offense Greene is leading.
Every time Tarik Skubal takes the mound, it feels like an event. Thursday was no different. He battled through 5 2/3 innings, allowing just two runs and picking up six strikeouts to move his record to 8-2. More importantly, he has now gone 13 straight starts without a loss, posting a perfect 8-0 record in that span. He is the anchor of this rotation and the single biggest reason for optimism in Detroit. His starts aren't just games; they're statements.
While the loss stings, the contributions of young players offer a silver lining. Colt Keith's homer was a prime example, but the impact of the farm system is visible all over the field. With prospects like Jackson Jobe, Trey Sweeney, and Dillon Dingler graduating and contributing, the core of the next great Tigers team is taking shape. Dingler is already looking like one of the better catchers in the AL, and Sweeney has stabilized the shortstop position. The talent pipeline is finally flowing to the big leagues.
The split feels disappointing, but the Tigers have no time to dwell on it. They'll have to shake off the nightcap loss and carry the momentum from Riley Greene's bat and Tarik Skubal's arm into a crucial weekend series against the Tampa Bay Rays. Jack Flaherty gets the ball in the opener against Shane Baz in what promises to be a test of this team's resilience. It's a chance to prove the Game 1 dominance is the rule, and the Game 2 collapse was the exception.
