On a day when the Detroit Tigers desperately needed a lift, Tarik Skubal delivered the best performance of his career – and perhaps the most dominant pitching display in baseball so far this season.
The left-hander threw his first complete game on Sunday, leading the Tigers to a 9-inning, 13-strikeout gem in a 4–0 shutout over the Cleveland Guardians.
Skubal needed just 94 pitches to finish the job, walking none and firing 72 strikes with only 22 balls. He allowed just three hits and didn’t allow a runner past second base.
After dropping the first three games of the series, Detroit leaned heavily on their ace to avoid a sweep. He responded in spectacular fashion.
“He just came right after us,” Cleveland manager Stephen Vogt said after the game. “It’s an 11:35 game, he’s throwing 97-99. He’s the best. He’s the best pitcher in baseball, and he showed it today.”
Calling Skubal “the best pitcher in baseball” is quite a compliment. But it’s an opinion shared by many – and for good reason.
On Sunday, Skubal saved his most electrifying moment for the end. With the crowd at Comerica Park on its feet, the lefty unleashed a blazing 103 MPH fastball – his fastest pitch of the day – for a swinging strikeout to seal his 13th K and complete his masterpiece.
“I’m an emotional player. I feed off of energy in the stadiums,” Skubal admitted. “When everyone’s on their feet, special things kinda happen when you’re in my shoes. … I knew it was going to come out hot. I didn’t necessarily know where it was going to go, though.”
That final heater capped what’s known as a “Maddux” – a complete game shutout on fewer than 100 pitches – a rare feat in modern baseball and a mark of Skubal’s ruthless efficiency.
Tigers manager A.J. Hinch praised his starter’s intensity and control, noting just how difficult it is to match up against Skubal when he’s locked in.
“When he’s got full intensity and full throttle, the sky’s the limit,” Hinch proudly stated.
For the season, Skubal currently holds a 5-2 record with a 2.49 ERA, 92 strikeouts, and just 7 walks in 68.2 innings pitched.
Sitting atop the AL Central with a 35-20 record, Detroit is emerging as one of the league’s most well-rounded clubs – and Skubal is a major reason why.
Anytime he takes the mound, the Tigers know they’ve got more than just a chance – they’ve got one of baseball’s most dominant arms leading the charge.
All of this begs the question: WHO is the best pitcher in all of baseball? … Is it indeed Tarik Skubal???
