Tarik Skubal struggles in the 2025 All-Star Game as the NL beats the AL 4-3. Read how the Tigers ace's rough start can't overshadow Detroit's bright future.
StatPro MLB Beat Reporter
The national spotlight shone brightly on Detroit's ace Tarik Skubal Wednesday night as he took the mound to start the 2025 MLB All-Star Game. While his outing was shorter and rougher than Tiger fans hoped, the moment itself was a massive validation of his dominant season and a symbol of the Tigers' incredible first half, which sees them sitting atop the AL Central as they recharge for the stretch run.
The game ended in a 4-3 National League victory after a Home Run Derby-style swing-off, the first in All-Star Game history.
Tarik Skubal's dream start for the American League in Atlanta turned into a brief, challenging appearance. The Tigers' ace recorded just one out, surrendering a two-RBI double to the Diamondbacks' Ketel Marte that put the AL in an early 2-0 hole. His final line—0.1 IP, 2 ER, 1 H—is a far cry from the shutdown performances that earned him the honor. But let's be clear: this single outing doesn't tarnish his spectacular season. Earning the start is the real story, a testament to the elite level he's reached and the primary reason the Tigers entered the break as division leaders.
Though Skubal's night was over early, the game itself delivered a memorable and bizarre finish. After being tied 3-3, the contest was decided by a Home Run Derby-style swing-off, the first time in MLB history the All-Star Game has ended this way. The National League ultimately prevailed 4-3 in a spectacle that will be talked about for years. While no other Tigers made a mark on the box score, the event provided a wild backdrop to Skubal's milestone night.
With the All-Star festivities concluded, the focus for the Tigers organization shifts back to the ultimate goal: an AL Central crown. The break provides a crucial period of rest and recovery. Key players like RF Kerry Carpenter, nursing a hamstring strain, get valuable time to heal without the team missing his bat in the lineup. Meanwhile, RHP Sawyer Gipson-Long continues his rehab assignment from neck stiffness, aiming to rejoin the club for the second half. The front office was quiet on Wednesday, but recent moves show they are continually fine-tuning the roster for the battles ahead.
The All-Star break offered a moment of celebration for Tarik Skubal and a much-needed breather for the rest of the squad. Now, the page turns. The Tigers are in first place, the target is on their back, and the second half of the season is where championships are forged. It's time to get back to business and finish the job.
