This season, the Detroit Tigers had one of the strongest starts in baseball. The Tigers are 26-13 a season after their incredible run to the American League Divisional series. They have won five of their previous six games and are two and a half games ahead of their rivals in the American League Central division.
A great rotation for Detroit
The Tigers’ starting rotation has been the driving force behind their rise. Detroit’s starters have a 3.2 ERA, which puts them fourth in the Major Leagues. The Tigers have an 18-10 record, 1.16 WHIP, and a.227 opponent batting average thanks to the rotation. Ace Tarik Skubal, however, has been more essential to Detroit’s success than any other pitcher or player.
Since 2012, Skubal has been a standout player for a young Detroit club vying for their first championship.
OptaSTATS used their X account to highlight Detroit’s Ace’s record start.
“Since ERA was made an official statistic in both leagues in 1913, Tigers pitcher Tarik Skubal is the only MLB pitcher to have 50+ strikeouts, no more than one walk, and an ERA under 1.00 over a 6-start span.”
A scorching hot start this season
Skubal has been a mainstay for the Tigers following a difficult opening two outings. In his previous six outings, he has given up only four runs, lowering his season ERA to 2.08. Even more remarkable is the fact that his WHIP to date is a pitiful 0.881 over 47.2 innings.
His ability to strike out hitters at an exceptional rate while limiting walks has stood out the most. has the second-best K/BB ratio in the Majors thus far this season, only surpassed by Nathan Eovaldi. Furthermore, he has one of baseball’s greatest K/9 ratios this season (11.3).
After becoming the sixth Tiger to win the Cy Young award, the 28-year-old seeks to extend his impressive streak. This season has undoubtedly started better for the sixth-year veteran than the successful campaign from the previous year. Last season, Skubal topped the American League in ERA, Winning Percent, ERA+, and FIP.
Skubal excelled in the postseason as well. Skubal had 20 strikeouts and a 2.37 ERA in three outings against the Cleveland Guardians and Houston Astros last season.
The product of Hayward, California, was excellent in his most recent start. Skubal pitched one-run ball for seven innings against the Texas Rangers. He walked zero and struck out twelve hitters. The Tigers would win 2-1, and he gave up only two hits.
His Baseball Savant page is a thing of beauty. Skubal ranks in the 90th percentile or higher in xERA, Whiff rate, K rate, BB rate, and hard hit rate. Not to mention his velocity, which is 97 mph for his fastball and sinker, much above the league average. His slider, curveball, and changeup are all above average in terms of velocity, as are his other offerings.
Skubal will look to maintain his good start and lead his side to their first American League Central Division title since 2014. In addition, the 2027 free agent-to-be will aim to rank among the highest-paid athletes in sports history.
